THE JERSEY IN ME - WAS I WRONG?

Normally my Tuesday and Thursday night runs provide me with a sense of relaxation and stress relief. Last night however, was the complete and total opposite.

I decided at the last minute to run to Rio High School instead of drive. It's only 3 miles to the school but it also was 95 degrees outside AND I had worked an 8 hour day (with minimal sleep the night before). Yet I had wanted to get some extra miles in since I have been some what slacking lately.

The run to Rio was fairly uneventful. I had one turkey crossing to deal with but otherwise no problems. My pace was around 8:30 because I wanted to get there fast so Pigeon wasn't waiting too long. As it turns out, I am not fast . . . she had been waiting 10 minutes. Ooops.

Without any chit chat involved we immediately headed for the bike trail. I was already out of breath and quite exhausted from my 3 mile run to get there. I realized not long after Pigeon and I started running, that my energy level was almost zero. Luckily I had some SCaps in my water bottle because I was getting mild chills from dehydration on the miles leading to our turn around spot.

Pigeon was feeling good or at least pretending to feel good because she stayed in front of me the entire way. About a half mile from our turn around spot I noticed two cyclists coming at us on the bike trail. The one closest to us was waving his hand in a sweeping motion and as he passed he said "off the pavement." What? Wait a minute, did he say what I think he just said? I immediately got in my defensive mode because annoying pompous cyclists are my BIGGEST pet peeve when running on the bike trail. I have a bike. I cycle and I know how to SHARE the bike trail with runners and cyclists alike. This gentleman apparently does not feel the need to share. I yelled back to him that I had a right to be on the pavement AND that he should not be riding shoulder to shoulder with another cyclist especially if he wants more space on the trail. That was it.

Pigeon and I made it to the turn around and sort laughed at what had just happened. She was sort of incredulous that he was actually sweeping us off the pavement. Normally, Pigeon runs on the dirt portion and I run on the pavement. She's training for a trail race and I am training for a road race. Even with me on the edge of the pavement, there is PLENTY of room for a cyclist to pass.

We turned around and headed back the way we came on the opposite side of the bike trail because if you're smart, you know that you always run against bike traffic and against car traffic.

While we were running, I was talking to Pigeon as usual, sharing with her some recently good news that I had learned when out of no where a cyclist, rather an "older" "larger" man on a bike came veering right at me! He was riding solo, not paired with anyone and yet swerved INTENTIONALLY at me, missing me by inches and ultimately shoving me into the dirt portion of the bike trail. He also said "off the trail!" or something along those lines.

Oh no he didn't!? Yes. He did. In a matter of nanoseconds I morphed into Jersey Trailmomma. Remember the old show the Incredible Hulk? Yeah, that was me but instead of transforming into a giant green monster, I transformed into a head bobbing, finger pointing, obscenity yelling Jersey Girl. I made the cast of the Jersey Shore look quaint. I dropped several curse words and called him a slew of names (most of which I have no idea what they even mean they just came flying outta my mouth). I was so angry tears came to my eyes. I yelled to him to come back! I yelled that I had every right to be on the pavement. I yelled that there is such thing as common courtesy sprinkled with a few F bombs and Mother F bombs etc etc. I am not proud of my instant potty mouth but at the same time, I was fed up. He was the straw that broke this Trailmomma's back!

The only thing amusing at this time was Pigeon's face. I think she was shocked to say the least and I knew she'd have my back should that aggro cyclist return. The only thing I am regretting at this moment though is that I didn't yell "COME BACK LANCE!" because obviously this tool thinks he is Lance Armstrong yet I know, being a Lance fan, that even Lance wouldn't shove a runner off the bike trail.

I ask you, readers, was I wrong? I know many of you run and cycle and so do I. I told Vans about the incident when I got home and it even angered him although his California back ground did not lend itself to as many curse words. Ah well, I'll be ready next time . . . I'll work on my come backs and my insults. Pigeon and I are running 20 out there this weekend, same course too so I am sure this won't be the last I hear from the cyclists.

I leave you with a peaceful image . . . not me yelling at a cyclist but of the Peanut reading Eat, Pray, Love to her mommy.

Let me read to you mommy!

See, no pictures!

Truly Sweet.

And of course . . . proof of my heritage! She has my spitfire that's for sure!

New Jersey!