While healthy doses of concern and street smarts are critical to bring along on a run, so is a sense of humor. Rolling all those elements into one, we asked on our Facebook page and on Instagram Stories this open-ended question:
Here is a trick-or-treat bowl-worth of responses:
when it’s dark out, and squirrels sound really big. -Amanda
when my IBS is bad: Will running become “running?” —Melanie
when I run through a dark area of my neighborhood, and I think a scary clown is going to jump out at me. —Theresa
Boo!
when dogs are on “retractable” leashes and their humans do NOTHING to keep them from lunging or darting underfoot. —Julie
when I see eyes glowing in the dark. “They are just kitties. They are just kitties.” —Kim
when it’s been a rough week, and I consider just running forever and never looking back. I would never carry through on the idea, but the fact it’s possible in my mind scares me a little. —Jessica
when I have to push the pace, and I am afraid to fail. —Jamie
when there’s no sign of a bathroom around. -Jennifer
when people don’t leash their dogs!! —Jillian
on an evening run on a rural road while listening to a true crime podcast. —Deanne
when people do not stop at stop signs. —Tracy
when I don’t know if that’s ice under snow.. —Alison
when snakes come out of hibernation. —Catherine
when I’m dealing with GI issues and I have no idea how it will end. —Sylvia
When drivers seem to be aiming for me, instead of veering away and slowing down. —Linda
When I start a race not feeling 100%. —Gay
when I run by an open field covered in early morning mist: I don’t worry about creepy people, I worry about zombies! —Amanda
My first thought is always loose animals. BUT my favorite answer here is Amanda’s with zombies!