Running in Time and Space

LoneWolfRunner

I was up at 4:30 this morning. It was 27 degrees, with a “real feel” of 18 degrees according to WeatherBug. It had lightly misted all night and the outside world was coated with a tricky glaze of ice. I stepped tentatively outside and shuffled/slid down the driveway and debated about just going back inside to get a little more sleep. But I have a hard time with that kind of surrender. So I made it to the street where the salt trucks had made it more wet than icy. Slightly.
So I am here on the small shoulder running down the streetlamp-lit Main Street of my little borough, trying to make the most of my time. Such a precious commodity. Little windows of time to fill with my miles and my sanity. Moving through time a step at a time… watching the ice… watching nothing… just trying to get through as much space as I can with my small drips of time.
So is it too much to ask for a little space? I know you can see me. I have my reflective clothes, my flashing vest, my head lamp. I know you know I am not, cannot be anything other than a runner occupying a bit of space. I don’t need much on this little shoulder. Just a couple of feet... and I am staying over as far as I can. I just want to share this little stretch of space with you. I know you might not always be expecting me or might be irritated that I am out here on this dark icy morning. But can’t you spare just a few inches. I already have so little time, do you have to take all my space too? Could you please maybe cut the high beams for a second so I don’t stumble blindly into your space? And maybe not swerve at me to be funny or cute? Or keep your plow-blade over just another inch or two? You don’t even have to make an exaggerated swerve into the other lane… a slight nod to the center, a hint of acknowledgement that you at least saw me out there would be much appreciated. When I feel whisper of your side mirror and suck in the salty mist from your tires, I think that maybe space is more precious than time. If you take my space, my time becomes irrelevant.
Running. Fighting for time and space. On the roads and in my head. But no more time to think… time is sprinting away and I am late for work.

BrianSharpe

Yup......that's my run most days. I'm lucky that a good portion of my route is on sidewalks but frequently they're not cleared (or the road gets plowed after the sidewalk and all the crap get pushed back into the path) and it's safer to run on the road.

In winter I have my reflective gear and my flashing LED headlamp and still have people completely oblivious to my presence. I've gotten to the point where I assume they're all trying to kill me (just like when I'm riding my bike) but a little space / consideration would be appreciated!