Nerves and tendons

This comic hit a nerve in me today. I've wondered for a long time why it's so hard for racers to carry their water cup to the bag/box/can, which in my experience has ALWAYS been available after water stops. Does it really take an extra second to veer across the road from a chosen course? At worst, they could make the volunteers' job easier by tossing their cup in the general direction of the person holding the bag. This does happen, sometimes. At least near the water stop, volunteers clean up the mess.

While I'm at it, why can't runners put their empty gel package back in the pocket from which it came? I don't know how many empty packets (and sometimes water cups) I've seen on the side of the road, where no volunteer will even think to look. That is littering, and reflects poorly on the sport.

It's not just the participants, either. Why do race organizers throw all the clothing discarded at the beginning of a race into the trash? I know some races donate to homeless shelters or Good Will. Why don't they all? They have to gather everything up anyway. If you're not going to let the racers retrieve their discards (which I also don't understand), does it really have to go into the trash?

These are questions that have plagued me since I started racing. I hear runners talk about fresh air, beautiful scenery, and the environment. Then I see how they behave on race day. Can someone please enlighten me? I just don't get it.


On a completely different note, it appears my pool work is working. Yesterday I was able to climb stairs with almost no pain at all. Today, while I've had twinges both in and out of the pool, I was able to walk down to the store and back with only minor discomfort on occasion. I'm afraid to be hopeful, and afraid to push for fear I'll damage my knee again. That said, it's nice to see a glimmer of light at the end of this tunnel.