Target Practice?

slowsteady

Stopped off on a rural road I have not used before for a run on the way home from work. Typical link road, just shy of justifying a white line, but fine level surface and long straights with few bends, none severe, little traffic. Sun was shining and I was running in a bright orange top against the traffic, enjoying the evening.

I heard a car coming up behind me and as it passed got a thump in the back, just on my left shoulder blade. Thought initially it was something kicked up by the car but, as the surface was clean and dry, turned and looked to see a banana lying on the road. Looked back the way I'd been going to see the car continuing on its way into the distance, didn't slow down.

I thought initially it was just a banana skin thrown away by an ignorant sh*t but as the thump was heavier than that went back for a look to see it was a full fruit now looking a bit the worse for wear. The road at that location was a good half mile straight so the driver would have seen me a long way off.

Yes, it could have been an accident, but I would give that a less than 5% chance. A banana at 80kph is no big deal but what if the only thing to hand had been an apple or a bottle of Coke and it had hit on the back of the head instead? Done for kicks?

Not my area but I won't be running there again:mad:.

rebel_kt

That is extremely childish and possibly dangerous behaviour. You would wonder what goes through someones head to think that was a hilarious thing to do.

TFBubendorfer

I once had a tin of beer thrown at me while cycling, luckily they missed. Disgusting behaviour, but it was a once-off.

roseybear

I had eggs thrown at me while running through the phoenix park one eve (right on the clavicle) abd had some object thrown in my direction out cycling too (I believe it was a stone of decent size but it missed me). How ppl find it entertaining is beyond me

ultrapercy

I had a full 5ooml bottle of coke thrown at me once and it missed very narrowly. It was thrown with intent. The car was forced to stop about 150m up the road but I just failed to catch them before they pulled off. Lucky because Id probably be in jail now if I had but I was very frustrated at the time.

Krusty_Clown

Narrowly missed an apple to the face by a couple of inches, thrown at full force from the safety of a park alongside the road I was running on. Charged into the park, but the group had flee'd. Running buddy got shot by a pellet gun. Sadly, we're not targets because we're runners. We're targets because we're people. Scum.

Outside

Thankfully I haven't been used as target practice yet but but what is the fascination with roaring obscenities at runners/cyclists out of car windows? Do I look funny when I commute to work in a method other than car? If I was to call it was primeval, i'd be insulting our ancestors.

DogSlySmile

roseybear wrote: »

I had eggs thrown at me while running through the phoenix park one eve .... How ppl find it entertaining is beyond me

Same thing happened to my girlfriend, not in the park though. She was in a bit of a state when she got in the door. Her hand was cut and bruised for days. One of those 'I wish it had been me' moments.

I've scraped sh1t off my shoes that had more class than those scumbags.

average_runner

A few years ago running in Lucan, going up the big hill that starts at the Statoil station and up to the church, 2 kids from the school there threw a hard boil egg at my face less than 3 ft away. Bursted me on the mouth(no damage except some shell abrasion to the mouth). Raced in after them into the school and school threaten the gardai on me. I said go ahead but school just escorted me off the premises.

lway

Outside wrote: »

Thankfully I haven't been used as target practice yet but but what is the fascination with roaring obscenities at runners/cyclists out of car windows? Do I look funny when I commute to work in a method other than car? If I was to call it was primeval, i'd be insulting our ancestors.

Same here, first time out cycling in a few years and had a car behind me refusing to overtake and a rather large lady leaning out the passenger window shouting something at me, fortunately I was cycling into the wind so couldn't hear what was being said. They eventually overtook me :rolleyes:. So if anyone knows a female in the Cork city area who drives a dark grey Peugeot 206 with 206 in big letters on the rear window, tell them their friend is a jerk.

On the flip side another time I was out cycling and doing a three mile loop past a pub, there was a group of people sat outside drinking who would cheer me on each time i passed. found that one quite funny.

RoyMcC

Slightly OT but if you are running on the correct side of the road i.e. facing oncoming traffic then at least you have a chance of seeing what's coming and can take evasive action.

Gringo78

Eggs thrown at me on canal near Harold's cross. Missed though.