Latest Pet Peeve

[pen_grunt]

My latest and greatest pet peeve? Now that I've started running outside, it's people in general.

Sure, it's annoying when the people bike on the (clearly marked and parallel-to-the-bike-path) jogging trail.

Sure, it's irritating when people take up the whole path in a slow-moving cluster, oblivious to people trying to get around them and share the freaking path.

Yeah, it's irksome when parents let their children zig-zag all over *whatever* path on scooters and bikes, laughing when they dart out in front of you and you nearly break your ankles trying to avoid running into them.

Yes. These things are annoying.

But you know what's super-annoying? People smoking on the jogging trail. I'm not a vehement anti-smoker by any stretch, and it really doesn't generally bother me that much. But when I'm running--gulping in air after already doing 4 miles--and I can't see the group smoking in order to hold my breath in preparation, and I run by and inhale a big billowing cloud of smoke and nearly collapse because it immediately attacks all the exercise-opened blood vessels and cells in my lungs....

...it's not fun. I almost passed out on the trail today after taking in a big puff of smoke inadvertently whilst passing a group of walking teens. I'm sure they thought I was just being dramatic when I doubled over in coughing fits.

 Seriously--who smokes when they're out on a walk for their health anyway?

Comments

[tabby-of-doom.livejournal.com]

Who smokes when they're out on a walk for their health?

Oxy-mega-morons?

A healthy smoke? HA!

Nicotine addicts crack me up.

[(Anonymous)]

My favorite was the large woman on the treadmill at the gym wearing tight jeans, and you could clearly see the outline of a pack of cigarettes in the back pocket. She reeked of smoke so badly, and I had to suffer inhaling her as I was right behind on an elliptical. There should be some sort of etiquette course for those who don't exercise often.

[gwangi.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who's doing the South Beach Diet because she wants to eat more healthily. Every day, she has some salad with chicken for lunch, then goes out behind our building and lights up. I don't reckon I'll ever understand that.

[pointedthings.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I also love all the nurses that congregate by the park by North Memorial for their smoke breaks. Wow, is our health care system broken in more ways than I'd thought.

[irishinmn.livejournal.com]

Seriously--who smokes when they're out on a walk for their health anyway?

Perhaps .. because its pretty much impossible to smoke indoors anymore .....

It could be their way of relaxing......