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When we were returning from Houston a couple of weeks ago, there were two women sitting in the row in front of us on the plane. I noticed them when one of them opened up an eye-shadow palette the size of a pizza box and began applying some to her friend. Odd, yes? Why would one be applying makeup on a plane let alone carry on a pizza-box size container?? Maybe a meeting/interview/conference as soon as she got off?
Then I noticed the layers up on layers of bracelets, lip piercing, jet-black hair with blue streak. I postulated about what these two were up to. They definitely looked creative: Makeup artists? Stylists? When we landed and headed to baggage claim there was a vivacious greeting party clad in green T-shirts for the Ulta Conference. Bingo! The pizza-box eye-shadow duo no doubt is part of the Ulta clan. Sure enough they, and droves of others, gathered together, animal print luggage in hand and were herded out to board hotel shuttles.
It got me to thinking: Are runners the same way? So obvious? Heading to Springfield last weekend I started noticing 13.1 and all other sorts of running stickers on the highway from 50 miles away. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t excite me a little. Logan airport in Boston before marathon weekend is a great example of this too. Heck they even singled out the runners headed to Boston on our plane in the years I went. Fun for a runner but I wonder how it looks to a non-runner? Fun? Obnoxious??
Have you been part of a large convergence of runners or other group? How can you tell a runner in the airport?
So funny! I guess I don’t really think about what we look like to others, since I think runners are cool;) Everyone else must think the same right? I have been told before that I look like a runner even when not in running attire. Not sure what it was about me. I guess people can just tell?
Ha ha! It’s funny you write this! I saw a group of people last night who were so clearly designers! Yo can totally tell the runners by their stickers, and maybe their sneakers, on a plane. But other than that… I can’t tell us apart!
Haha, I definitely notice running/triathlon related stickers, their shoes/shirts give them away and if I eavesdrop on conversations 😉 And for triathletes, a nice bike on the top/back of a car is a pretty good indication.
Nope, I only notice people that stand out like the ones with too much make up on or weird colored hair.
I notice runners everywhere. Shirts, stickers, shoes. To me they stand out like a sore thumb. 🙂
I’m so sad that my marathon magnet came off my car at the carwash recently. Now no one will know I’m a runner! Oh wait, except for the fact that all I wear is running gear and sneakers around.
Yes. We definitely stick out. In airports, you can usually tell a runner by their shoes..especially if you’re traveling to a race. Nobody wants to lose their racing shoes to the black hole of lost luggage. That’s the only time I wear mine outside of actually running.
Oh definitely stickers or IM tattoos even. And I don’t think you usually see non-runners wearing brands like Mizzuno, Brooks, or Newtons just out and about.
Any time I see a bike or running stickers on cars, I smile. As far as picking out runners on the street, though, unless they’re actually running I don’t really think about it.
How come no one is ever on a plane ready to do MY makeup?? I mean, except my kids. And we all know how their makeup skills are! ;)-Ashley
I always wonder if people think “runner” when they see me. I have seen some people and could tell right off they were runners – other times I have asked someone and they say “no.”
I always play spot-the-runner when I’m away for a race. There’s something of a camaraderie amongst us masochists and it’s always fun to find a kindred spirit.
All I can say is that you’d better have that damn SR50 sticker on the back of you car!!!
🙂
So funny, I look at cars & people always. I love watching people & thinking I know their story.
I ran the 1/2 in Springfield last year. It’s such a nice quiet race, but those darn hills can KILL you. Great job! Love your race schedule. Pretty exciting!
LOVE LOVE how you wrote this too.
I used to notice this a lot in the airport on the way to bodybuilding competitions.
Good typecasting there! I’d say yes, I can usually spot a runner and vice versa. Not that long ago we were out with a big group of friends and this complete stranger and I struck up a conversation about running b/c we could both just “tell” we were of the same tribe.
I can definitely spot runners – but I wonder if it’s because I am one? And I now wonder if when they see me, if they think I am one of them? So many thoughts on this! Great post!
Another thing that I do is birding, and birders are obvious. Seems like every birder around here (except me) drives a Subaru. And if you weren’t sure, the binoculars are of course a dead giveaway. Skaters are not so obvious, and food bloggers, I don’t know, I have never been in a crowd of them. Have to remedy that soon with a conference, probably the International Food Bloggers Conference later this year in Seattle. Wanna come?
haha, love this! and yes, 100% know who is a runner on my flight when I’m headed to a race. jeans/yoga pants, old race shirt or run club shirt, running shoes, and especially the jacket (ahem,boston).
When driving to races if you start to see a bunch of race stickers and such then you get excited because we are all going to the same place! lol
I love it when I’m on my way to a race and see car decals! But I don’t think you’d spot me as a runner most days. I mean, sure I have some shirts and things but I typically dress pretty fashionable and wear business casual at school so there’s really nothing to give a hint – unless you can spot my Nike DC Half Marathon Tiffany Necklace on any given day 😉
~Ang