What NOT to do when you run!!!!!!!!!

I was brainstorming blog topics today while I was supposed to be finishing some work--isn't it amazing how you always have your best ideas when you should be doing something else? Like sleeping! That's why I keep pen and paper by my bed so I can remember these flashes I have!

One topic I thought of that might help others that are beginning to run is a list of DON'TS........Lots of people will tell you the DOs...but they kindly leave out the DON'TS. Then something crazy happens and you think "Why in the heck didn't they tell me about this!" I don't want to be that person that doesn't inform you of all possible scenarios. You need to be prepared for what you might encounter OUT THERE....The road can be cruel! (Note to Grammar Gurus--I researched how to spell dos and don'ts....and even the experts agree it looks funny--so while it doesn't look right, it is!!!)

DON"T #1--Don't wave at people that drive by while you are running, especially if you are on a rural isolated wooded dirt road. The person(s) in the car will slam on brakes. You see the taillights turn a glowing red. You panic. You've seen this on Criminal Minds. And even though you are with a running buddy, your heart skips a beat. And your mother's words ring in your head--"Did you buy Jogger's Mace?" They reverse until they stop right beside you. They ask, "Are you exercising?" Even though I can hardly breathe I want to scream, "NO WAY dude! We just love to dress in compression wear on a hot humid day and get our shoes dusty all while getting attacked by deer flies!" While you are thinking this, they continue to ask "Or were you flagging me down? Did you need something?" My friend has enough wherewithal to say "No, we are running." The car drives on it's merry way. I did want to ask if they had some G2 and Deep Woods Off.  I immediately thank God for keeping us safe. I will not be throwing my hand up again--call me stuck-up or hoity toity. That's fine with me.

DON'T #2--No matter how fat you feel, and no matter if you got your run on or not, don't run at night with your mama following you in her car. One freezing cold night, I was depressed because I missed my scheduled run. I had  to stay after school for professional development and it was almost 6:00 pm  before I arrived at home, and it was pitch black dark outside. My sweet mama brought pizza to us for supper, and she knew how disappointed I was. I asked Steven to go with me in the golf cart, but he is like a grandpa and he is so cold natured that he said he would never make it out in the weather and what was I thinking? My hero, my mama, said, "Well, I guess I can drive right behind you in the car. That will light your way and if you see something scary you can hop in!" I thought this was a great idea. I can't believe she would enjoy driving 1  mile per hour for 40 minutes, but mothers will do anything for their children. Off we go. I'm having a great run, and a van drives by. Then it turns around and drives by again. My mama says "Something is not right...let's go home." I say, "No, they are just trying to figure out what we are doing." They drive by super slow...and my heart skips a beat. I figure once they look closely and see me with a red fleece exercise pullover on and running shoes, and I have wires going into my ears from my iPod, and I'm not in panic mode or certainly running like I am being chased, they will go away. WRONG. So, I jump into the back seat like a vigilante. We drive a little bit closer to my house, and I see them drive out of sight. I get out of the car to try again. HERE THEY COME! I jump into the backseat again, and we drive up the hill beside my mother-in-law's house because we are frightened to death. I beat on her door, and explain what is going on. The van stops at the end of her driveway and I think, "This is it. We're goners. " Finally they drive off. I'm very angry that I didn't get to finish my run. Once I relay the story to Steven, he knows exactly who it is--someone from our church. Why didn't they roll down the window and ask if I was okay? I would have explained. I talked to my cousin about it and she handled the situation for me because her father is good friends with this caring, concerned citizen. I don't think this van will stalk me ever again. Doesn't really matter, because I'll never run in front of my mama's car!

Stay tuned for DON'Ts #3 and #4 tomorrow..................If you have a "don't" I'd love for you to share it with me!