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Fun Facts Friday - Running Styles

So today is definitely a rest day for me. I thought I was going to crash out and sleep soundly last night. Not so much. I tossed and turned starting around 2:45 am until I finally just got out of bed at 6. Yawn. Let's just say that coffee never sounded so good as it did this morning.

I really hate it when I am unable to sleep and it's my rest day. I feel like I should go ahead and get up and run anyway, take advantage of the situation. But, I knew it would be a really crappy run if I had attempted it. So I just stayed in bed, thinking.

It's funny when you run the same routes routinely and at the same days/times. You start to see the same set of people. You almost look forward to it, kind of like seeing a friend. Sometimes I think I should just run alongside someone and start up a conversation since we're already out there together all the time. Then I think that people would probably think I was a lunatic. So I refrain.

Along with seeing familiar faces, you start to recognize people from their running styles. I will admit to some people watching while running. So, for Fun Facts Friday, I thought I'd share my list of running styles that I see, some that make me shake my head, make me chuckle a little, or make me envious even.

Fun Facts Friday - Running Styles

Arm flapper - there is one guy that flaps his left arm inward. He may very well have an injury or ailment, I recognize that of course. But I had to laugh when one day he passed by and I wasn't sure if he was waving or it just happened to coincide with the arm flap.

All elbows - this guy runs with his elbows out, arms clinched in tight to his body and they shift from side to side. He looks like he should start a lateral skate motion.

Duck feet - one girl (who actually happened to be in my same pace group for the half marathon, she did the whole) runs with her feet slinging out. Her knees are slightly bent inwards and she seemingly slings her feet out and around.

Tilted head - there is one guy that runs with just one earbud in, and he keeps his head tilted to that side.

Pained runner - for about a year now, I have seen this one man running the route shuffling along so slowly that I think he could really walk faster if he wasn't trying to imitate a jog. I know that sounds terrible, but he looks incredibly pained doing this. Sometimes fast walking is better than trying to do a running motion. If that makes sense...

Left palm up - there is one guy who runs barefoot. Not sure if that is the reason for the upwardly turned palm or not. Maybe totally unrelated. Anyway, he runs with his left palm up and moving back and forth, perhaps keeping rhythm somehow?

Perfection - we have a local running legend named Leah Thorvilson (as in 2012 Olympic trials qualifier). When you pass her on the route, you immediately feel frumpy and slow. It's really something to see her zipping past you with amazing form and speed (and basically sweat free unlike me).

Disclaimer, please don't get the wrong idea that I'm just out there making fun of people, being cruel, thinking I'm perfect. Not at all. In fact, I wonder what people think when they see me. There is probably some weird idiosyncrasy in my step I don't recognize. Some strange something or other. Maybe I'm just "the girl who sweats a lot."

The thing is, no matter how you run, or how these people run, there is a sense of camaraderie. So I might chuckle at the guy with the flapping arm not knowing if he was waving at me, but we still nod and smile at each other. I wave at people with sweat flinging off my fingers, even the guy who looks like he's in pain musters up a nod. We all have something in common - we're out there together getting it done. And in my book, that's just plain awesome.

For you runners, do you notice idiosyncrasies? Do you have any of your own? We can even see these in the gym for the lifters too.

Daily To-Enjoy List:
  • Rest day
  • Happy hour with friends
  • The fact that it's Friday (um hello!)
  • Wine Friday (thanks for the invite Lisa!)
  • Pizza Friday - ok, not tonight. It'll be Pizza Saturday with Sister instead ;-)

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