Running Chronicles 2013

sometimes people are doing something incorrectly, or even dangerously. and sometimes you feel compelled to tell them or warn them. maybe they're driving with their lights off, and you flash them your lights, "well, i did all i could. god be with you." and you head on your way. there is however, a small faction of people who need to be thanked or even told "you are correct, and i am ever-thankful for you guidance and prudence." i was running at night in los angeles because i am one of those tough guys you hear about. i was in a very quiet neighborhood where very few cars are ever out. and i was running in the street because the tree roots push up the sidewalk and make it a gauntlet to navigate. as i didn't want to fall on my face, i chose to run in the street where the streetlights illuminate a little better, and the surface is flatter. while doing this, i heard from behind me, "hello." i turned around thinking this must be someone needing directions. instead, it was the passenger in a prius leaning out the window to say, "hi. it's really dark out, and we couldn't see you." (which make sense as they not only saw me but had time to slow down near me and get my attention) I said, "okay" which she didn't enjoy for some reason. i think she had expected a full apology from me or an explanation for why i could be doing something so dangerous. "well ma'am, the speed limit here is 20mph, and as i run at about 8-10mph, i've decided to take my chances with a car approaching me at a net speed of 10mph that i can leap out of the way in time. or more likely - that they will see me, as in your case, and gently pass by without much incident. any car going faster than 20mph might pose a problem, however, i'm assuming i would hear them and be able to leap to safety as i mentioned before. it's essentially a plan hinging on a lot of leaping to safety scenarios. not ideal, but neither is tripping over a root in the sidewalk and falling onto my face. as you are in a prius, i was not able to hear you, thus enacting the "in the unlikely event" portion of my plan - which involves a hero woman, such as yourself, lecturing me on why i'm basically a daredevil just asking to be mercilessly run down in this deathtrap of a neighborhood we find ourselves in." when i didn't say that and instead just moved over to the sidewalk without thanking her, she delivered her parting shot as the prius silently sped away. "you're going to get hit!"