Monday, March 01, 2010

BE HAPPY.............
Happy people learn that happiness, like sweat, is a by-product of activity. You can only achieve happiness if you are too busy living your life to notice whether you are happy or not. Frank PittmanI noticed while running the other day with my friend Julia and her dog.
That as I ran alone down the peak I came in contact with at least 200 hikers and a few runners.
I said hi to all of them and noticed that maybe 30 of them said hi back.
Really people ,does it take that much effort to be friendly. I understand people are shy ,or don't want to be bothered but come on.
The world would be a better place if you just took a second to smile back, you don't really need to say anything. A smile means hello as far as I'm concerned.


I just would never be rude and not say hi back unless I didn't hear someone. Even in races when I am feeling lower then low I usually muster up a grunt at least if not a smile to.

I was happy to be out on the trail with Julia and her dog Sophie it was a very beautiful day.





Today Rocky and I went to the first bench on Mission Peak, 3.5 miles round trip. He ran the whole way up the hill proud of that little man ;-)
I often feel Rocky and I are alike he is stubborn yet determined, and is always excited to go for a run. We kind of look the same, Short and compact ;-)



I am getting very excited about Coyote 2 moons 100 miler which starts for me Friday at 11pm I'm in the #3 start group. I would love it if you all could send me positive vibes starting then until Sunday at 10am since I should be finished before then.





21 comments:

RunSueRun said...

Agree w/you Catra. This is one of my pet peeves, too! Grrr...

Looking forward to seeing you at Coyote this weekend!! :)

KG said...

Hello Catra, I just started following your blog because I saw you were a crossfitter who enjoyed running. I'm sorry that some people are so rude. I live in a gated community and am always surprised when my own neighbors don't wave or smile. I agree that it doesn't take much effort to display a little kindness. Therefore, I say to you smiling that I hope your run is amazing this weekend.

Leslie said...

Short, compact and BUFF! Hey - We'll see you at C2M this year. I'm making the pilgrimage from Canadia and bringing my hubby along for the fun. Ow-oooooo!

Lauren said...

I agree. A smile does mean hello. I smile at every runner or hiker I come across. I must run at a pretty cool place, because I get "hello's" from about 95% of the people. There are those people, it's kinda odd, that look down at the ground when they pass. Perhaps it is an extreme case of shyness.

Nazzer said...

Totally agree with you about the smiling! Good luck in the 100 miler on Friday.

One of the great things about races are that there are so many other people that will smile back!

Ewa said...

Good vibes are on your way already.

I find that on less crowded trails than Mission Peak people are more likely to greet each other and smile. Maybe since there are so many people hiking Mission their faces get tired from smiling too much. Now that is sad.

Have fun this Fri.

PunkRockRunner said...

I don't know how you manage so many miles. I've been increasing my miles so my average normal run is 9-miles and my weekend runs are 20+ miles but I am always wrecked after the long runs.

At any rate, keep saying hello and know that it's the right thing to do. At the end of the day, I'm sure some of those who did not say say "hi" back will questions themselves as to why they didn't and they'll start. So, you did make a difference in their lives. Does that make sense?

All the best this weekend.

Ron

Rob said...

I always can manage the appropriate man nod in any situation.

Rocky is awesome I couldn't imagine running that far on those short little legs! I miss having a dog, almost broke down and adopted a friends husky last week but someone else took him in.

Good luck coyote hills is a blast I miss biking those crazy hills!

Unknown said...

It would be tough not to smile when you or anyone is out doing something they love to do. I mean, who wouldn't want to be out breaking a trail or two and enjoying the fresh air. Good luck at C2M Catra. You are going to rock just like you usually do. Just don't think of Shutter Island when you start at 11:00PM. Think of your beautiful puppy. -cr

Unknown said...

Huge pet peeve for me too! Good for you for continuing to say HI even though the feedback was subpar. Good luck on your race. you'll rock it I'm sure!

Neil Scott said...

Hi Catra,
Totally agree. One of my pet peeves are runners or walkers who ignore greetings I make as I go about my run.
That is second only to my annoyance of people wearing earphones while running or walking. It is like wearing a sign saying "Don't bother talking to me". It is pervasive these days, in gyms, running walking, what has happened to us!
I'll always say hi and actually smile when I run, it doesn't cost anything.

Neil

Snakebite said...

Positive vibes ====> You

Catra said...

Hey Neil I mostly wear an ipod when I run. But I still am saying hi. I love my music when I run and I know a lot of people that wear them. I run with only one earbud in so I can still hear. I run alone so want to hear if something is after me. and of course in a race I want to know when another running is coming up so they can pass.
No all people who wear ipods are a-holes.

Thanks for all the comments everyone.
Hey Sunshine girl see you on thursday night at bowling ;-)

Jen said...

Positive vibes coming your way! My friend Carmela will be there. Sounds like a crazy race. No pacers! Love it!

wirehairedrunner said...

Me too, about the people NOT saying hi. I am always amazed at people that don't respond to a greeting. If you got 30 hellos, that's a good day. And Catra, I'm stubborn like my dog(s) too (German Wirehairs are known for their stubbornness). Good luck at Coyote!!!!!! Keep smiling.

Anonymous said...

It's a California thing. People are just not friendly. I lived in California for 30+ years and moved to Idaho 5 years ago. Here, complete strangers will strike-up a conversation with you. On the trails just about everyone will say hello.

In California people avoid contact with others by looking 5 feet ahead of them and not at others.

Evan said...

Chalk it up to the fact that you're doing the unexpected. People just aren't used to it. Anyone living in Reno during the 70s became familiar with "The Waver"--a guy who walked everywhere and waved at every passing car. He got lots of honks and waves everywhere he went. I think his job is available if you're interested. :-)

Jaydog said...

I totally agre. I also wear an ipod when I run but I still smile when I pass by someone. What happened with the calendar Catra?

Anonymous said...

Good luck this weekend! Challenge for you - come out to the east coast next year and do MMT100. Love to see you there!

Anonymous said...

Catra,

Good luck this weekend!! (Probably to late for that) Challenge for you- come out to Virginia next year and do MMT100. You'll never regret it! Look forward to seeing you!

Bruce

Unknown said...

I agree with you Catra--quite rude when you look at someone and say "hi!" and nothing!! But that is third behind all the people who drop PowerBar and energy gel wrappers down on the ground and take the shortcuts down Mission Peak!!!