Top 10 running pet peeves

If you’re a true runner, these running pet peeves are bound to annoy you.

1) When you go to grab water from a volunteer and it slips out of your hand on the exchange.

Neither is at fault, both feel badly. Hopefully it didn’t soak anyone’s shoe.

2) When your sock is determined to slide down despite repeatedly stopping to fix it.

I once took off my shoe, slid an extra hair elastic over my foot and secured a slippery sock around my ankle when this happened to me.

3) When the person heading straight for you is walking and texting.

It’s up to you to do the weaving and dodging.

4) When the person in front of you stops suddenly (this is probably also cell phone related).

If you end up bumping it to them, they’ll also probably death-glare you like it was your fault.

5) When your ponytail gets stuck to the back of your neck.

It’s just gross.

6) When a single horsefly, deerfly or wasp follows you for your entire run.

This eventually gets to the point where you just want to stand still and let them bite you for crying out loud, if it means you can run in peace without a constant buzzing presence circulating your forehead.

7) When you have to pee five minutes after heading out the door.

You’re far enough from home that turning back is not really in the question, but early enough into the run that the thought of holding it for the entire time is excruciating.

8) When you get to the halfway mark and realize you forgot to click the start button on your watch.

Then comes the big question: do you press it and record half the run, or act like it never happened?

9) When the off-leash dog follows you for an extended period of time.

This one is annoying, not only for those who are not dog people, but also for those who feel guilty about being the thing that is luring this animal farther and farther from home. My own personal anxiety: what if they get lost on the way back and it’s all my fault a child’s best friend is missing?

10) When hecklers think they’re original in yelling, “run, Forrest, run!”

This is the least original thing to yell at a runner, ever.