Loss

There was a death in our community Monday evening. Ashley was out on a group bicycle ride in a pack of three at the time, single file, when the driver of an SUV crossed the center line and hit all three of them. Ashley was pronounced dead at the scene. She was 25, a graduate student at the University of Georgia, and a member of the running/fitness community in town. The two other riders were also injured, one seriously.

Police said the cyclists were doing everything correctly. They also said the driver admitted to looking down at her cell phone, exhibiting signs of impairment, and during questioning made statements indicating drug usage. She's been charged with a bunch of stuff, including first-degree homicide by vehicle.

I started to see reports of this accident on my Facebook feed yesterday. I was sad more because my running friends (people who knew her) were sad. Today I saw more news reports and I saw Ashley's face, and I began to understand the sorrow.

Because then it hit me. I knew who she was. Ashley was a regular at the running shop where I work. Every now and then I would be there and scan her key fob in as she checked in for another Monday evening group run. We'd talk a bit, but not a lot. Our local running club has Wednesday 5:30 am speed sessions, and today lane one was left open for the first drill to honor her.

Ashley's Facebook has already been turned into a memorial page. I can't comment or like anything, because I wasn't her friend. I get that part of it but in scrolling through what others had to say, I'm heartbroken for my friends and for others, and disappointed in myself for not making more of an effort to get to know a remarkable person. Her brother is just crushed by this loss. Here is a snippet of his post to his late sister's page:

"All of us who had the pleasure of knowing Ashley owe it to her to make the world better in her name. In the wake of this tragedy many people have offered to help in some fashion, my personal wish as her brother is right here. Make the world the kind of place Ashley knew it could be."

Anger and hatred won't bring Ashley back. Her brother also suggests sharing a laugh, saying hi to a stranger, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.  

And for God's sake, put down your cell phone if you're driving. This is the kind of pain that's caused. 

As a Runner and Pet Owner...

I'll try hard to not make this sound like a rant.

About four years ago, I got bitten on the right calf by a dog while on a run. It ran across its entire yard to track me down-- maybe 70 feet or so. It wasn't on a leash, and didn't seem to care that I kept running away from it.

I know I'm not the only runner with a dog bite story, but that one time makes me a little skittish whenever I see dogs without a leash in the front yard. It doesn't happen every day, or even every month. But it happens often enough. This post is about another one of those times.

I went out in my neighborhood for my run around 8:45 this morning-- pretty nice out there this time of day now as the overnight low temp has dropped into the upper 60s, and the sun isn't above the tree line yet. Perfect running weather.

I do my part for safety-- I don't listen to music or podcasts, I run against traffic, and I wave at all the drivers who move to the other lane to help. About a mile and a half in I saw a chocolate lab come running toward me from about the same distance. Turned out to be friendly enough, but when a dog is coming at me, I think the worst because it's already happened once. I don't continue, I stop running. All the dog wanted to do was jump on me and be friendly. I have no idea what it wants to do.

The dog's owner, on the other hand, couldn't be bothered. He took a leisurely walk over to get his dog and head back. He didn't see a problem. I called him out for not controlling his pet, but he didn't think he'd done anything wrong. I told him that's because he's not a runner and doesn't understand. It got pretty animated there for a minute or two but not heated. It didn't matter to him as he kept brushing me aside. I don't think he ever cared what I said or tried to have any sort of perspective.

But as a runner, what am I supposed to think? Shouldn't I be prepared for the worst? I can't keep going because that's how I was bitten.

Now I am a dog owner-- a 18-pound Random Terrier who is currently camped out on his favorite chair. My wife and I work hard to be responsible pet owners. When we are in the front yard, he is always, *always* on a leash, and we pick up his dog poop when we go for his walk. Every time.

I don't know what has me more frustrated-- that the guy's dog wasn't leashed, that he totally couldn't be bothered, or that I couldn't make him understand someone else's point of view.

So on behalf of runners and walkers everywhere, please take the few extra seconds to leash your dog. We don't know how it'll react to seeing us. All we want is to get on with our day-- we've got things to do as well.

Moving on... trying to, anyhow.

I blew my 90-mile a month goal out of the water in August by running 110 miles. I've set that goal every month but I haven't reached it every time, so this will help cover a few months when I fell way short. Due to a vacation in scenic Asheville I'm off to a slow start in September but I have no worries that I'll get it done.