Despite being a keen runner, I am not very adventurous when it comes to running routes.
Never know who you may come across on this long, winding path.
During the week, the pounding usually takes place on a path that stretches along the picturesque Sydney Harbour, either around the Opera House and its nearby greenery, or near Pyrmont and its surrounding waterfront properties. On weekends, it is always along the Cooks River where a walking/running/cycling path meanders past several municipalities, through serene reserves and beautiful parks.
It is on this second route during Saturday and Sunday afternoon runs that I often come across various familar faces. There is the guy who is always practicing the art of La Passeggiata while wearing a typical knock-about Aussie attire, namely, a cricket hat, a football jersey and a pair of shorts that is way too short.
There is also this fellow runner who is always without a shirt, whether it is raining, hailing or shining. I often think about stopping and imploring him to “for God’s sake, please put on a top!“, until I realise that I am myself shirtless or on the verge of shedding it.
Then there is the pair of early-twenty girls, dressed in full lululemon spandex, doing power-walking while exercising even more power doing some serious talking. They always say hello to me, not in an overly friendly way, but more in a way that sounds like: “for God’s sake, please put on a top!“.
There is one young guy, though, who never fails to cross paths with me on these weekend afternoon runs. For over a year now, we meet each other at around the 3km mark of my jog – me with a laboured look on my face while running, his always etched in a boyish grin while walking. It is partly based on that constant grin and his general demeanour that I have recently concluded that the guy could be somewhat mentally incapacitated.
I have, over time, found a certain degree of comfort in his immutable presence on these weekend runs. This is notwithstanding the fact that he never verbally acknowledges my greetings, aside from allowing a brief eye contact amidst his permanent grin.
Last Saturday, however, something strange happened.
As usual at the 3km mark, I was approaching the guy on my run. Again, his face was sculpted in its characteristic boyish grin. But, as I passed him, he actually began to run behind me! It was for no more than 100 or 150 metres. And, as if to prove that it was no spur-of-the-moment act, on my return trip back (which would have been at least 40 minutes later), there he was again at the same spot, and again ran behind me for another 100 or so metres.
Perhaps it was all in my own self-absorbed head, but I really felt a connection with the guy during those ultra-brief runs together. It was as if he wanted to make up for his inability to communicate with me in a normal way, by doing so in a way that required no words except putting one foot in front of another behind me.
To me, all runs are rewarding, irrespective of distance, weather or time. However, last Saturday’s run somehow felt more rewarding than usual. It may be because I felt like I may have planted the seeds of love for running in the mind of this young person. Or it could be because I may have finally developed a connection with him after all this time, no matter how tenuous it may be at this stage.
Whatever it was, my passion continues to grow with this thing called running – a physically and mentally therapeutic hobby that just keeps on giving in many unexpected ways.
Keep on pounding.
JOGGING DAD 
lol did you find it weird for a second too? Still, kinda cool. It’s funny the connections we can make with people without ever seeing them or knowing them.
Now that you mention it, I can see how that would freak me out if I was a girl. But it was actually quite good to have him trailing behind me, albeit very brief!
Maybe he was doing repeats?
Lol, though. I never see the same folks on my running routes. Or at least I don’t think I do. I usually will smile in greeting or sometimes say “hi”, but I must admit that I’m usually in a zone ad wouldn’t recognize my mother if she jogged right up to me.
I’m usually in my own little zone also, except that zone includes paying heed to all those things in my running path! 🙂
Now that you’ve told everyone the exact route you take, and on what days and what times, you may expect to find a few more stalkers:)!
I would love to have stalkers! You know, like the ones that Forrest Gump had when he was running. 🙂
Great post…wonder if you will see him running next weekend. And the Lululemon spandex group cracked me up!
You see how running has expanded my horizon? A couple of years ago, if somebody had said lululemon to me, I would have assumed it was some kind of citrus fruit from France! 🙂
Yeah, as a gal I would have been a little freaked out by it. Still, the gesture sounds sweet.
Yeah, after a year of seeing him on this route, I felt pretty comfortable. But, if you’ve never seen him, I can see how it could be more than just disconcerting to have him running behind you, even for a guy!
Hilarious post— I was laughing the whole time. Maybe you did inspire this man to run. You never know who are you inspiring—– what a great post!
Thanks, although ‘inspire’ would be too strong a word – I can’t even inspire my kids to eat their vegetables, even with bribes!
Ha! That was a good one. This has never happened to me while running … what an interesting episode. Too funny.
It is funny how many ‘episodes’ I encounter during my runs, although I’m not sure whether I’m reading too much into situations sometimes!
I know you love awards, so I sent you another one of versatility:)… Keep on keeping on!
Madame, you are beyond kind … and to do so despite my ruining your great website with stupid comments sometimes! 🙂
I rather enjoy the stupid comments!! Keeps me on my toes!!
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I know that dude! I always thought he was a drug dealer (just hanging around looking for customers), but my friend is convinced that he’s just plain old crazy. Was he running after you asking if you wanted to score?
Hey, I’m a little offended. He again ran about 100m behind me last week but never offered me any crack at all! WTF? 🙂