Rules to Run By

Sometimes I think the writers at Runner's World have it made.

Imagine being a writer for the most-read publication that caters to a specific audience like runners.  The writers at RW have the chance to spread their love for running.  They get to share the moments of "rave runs" with running addicts like all of us (who appreciate the idea of running the first steps on a trail or along busy streets before a city wakes up).  They get to try out all of the latest and greatest in run gear and races - and then tell us what to buy and what races to run.  They get to feed our confidence whether we are the front of the pack, the back of the pack, or somewhere in the middle (you know we all read the Penguin Chronicles!).  And they get to help us relate to other runners - and how running fits into our lives (I fee like I have traversed miles of terrain with RW writer Kristin Armstrong - and if we met I think we could begin a conversation like instant friends - I think I know her THAT well!). 

But the really cool thing that the RW writers get to do is they get to teach people how to be cool runners.  And no - I'm not a fan of the article that tells us that you are only cool if you have the NEWEST and BEST of a certain piece of gear.  And I don't mean you are only a cool runner if you place in your age group every-other race you run.  I mean the other rules of the road.  The ones like:  Don't jog in place at stop lights - it makes you look like you have to go to the bathroom, and it makes drivers nervous.  Or this one:  If you are running with someone faster than you just start asking them open ended questions... that will slow them down (or at least save you from feeling compelled to chat!)

So when I stumbled on this article in RW my RW-Writer-Envy sky rocketed.  I think that perhaps the author has been sucking my thoughts right out of my head. 

Wanna be a cool runner?  Check this out: 

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-238-267--13385-0,00.html