Assholes

I run alone more than I run with people.  In fact, even when I run with other people, I often run alone.

I like the peace and quiet.  I settle into the groove, put one earbud in, turn my music to just the right volume, and run.

When I run, I am aware of my surroundings.  I keep one ear and both eyes open for cars.  I scan the road ahead for debris, cracks or dog poop. I stop at stop lights and I look both ways before I cross the street.

I am a respectful runner.

I move out of the way for cars and bikes and, while I do run on the road, I stay to the far left and always yield.

Last night, during my very respectful 10k run, two assholes drove by, screamed some obscenity that I could not make out and proceeded to hurl a full bottle of pop at my head.

Luckily, the thrower lacked aim in addition to lacking brains and he missed.  But not by much. I heard and felt the projectile whiz by my head.  He missed by inches...if that.

He could have caused some serious damage.  A full bottle of pop hurled from a moving vehicle is indeed a projectile.  I know how serious a head injury can be. I don't want to think of what could have happened if his aim had been true.

I prefer to think about what I would like to say to them given the opportunity.

They have made me afraid.

Well, maybe not afraid but they certainly caused a heightened awareness. I was running alone but I was running down a fairly busy street at 5:30pm.  What the hell were they thinking??

They freaked me out but they also really really pissed me off.  I did nothing to them.  They know nothing about me.  There is no excuse for what they tried to do.  It may have been a prank or it may have been downright malicious.  Either way, it's a crime and they could have seriously hurt me.

I don't need to know why they did it.  I just don't want them to ever try that again - to anyone.

Assholes.