Did I Just Hear That?

Did I really just hear that? This was how I was when I started running. The simple etiquette that you would find around other people in various situations. I'm not talking about the noises you would hear from running, like feet slapping on the ground, huffing and puffing, wheezing, coughing and so on. Perhaps the cheering spectators, or maybe the few hecklers that are occasionally around.

Nope, I'm talking about farting. Yup, you heard that right. You're running along and all of a sudden this bulbous noise erupts in front of you. You do a double take and look around. At least this was what I did when I first heard the usually ever so private noise. But nobody else even looked around. So you run along again and there it is again.

After having ran a ton of races this year this has, of course, come to be common and accepted. I mean, you're running along and and all that jostling and bouncing around is bound to cause something to happen. In fact I would be remiss if I also didn't mention that I too have let 'em fly when I had to. Yup, I have. When you have to, you have to, right? Don't shake your head and say how uncouth I am. You know you've done it as well.

It is a huge relief, really, after having ran 16 miles and you ever so quietly, at least that was the intention, toot when you can. In fact the whole reason I am writing about this was because at the SJ Half Marathon this past weekend this guy in front of me let it fly and it wasn't a quiet one. It was a horn that someone leaned on for a few seconds. At the 50k you are running on single track trails where you run directly behind someone for miles and they let em fly and you can't get away from it.

Despite all this, hearing someone rip one in front of you always takes you by surprise. I accept them as necessary and almost required, but that doesn't mean I won't be surprised.