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Run Eat Repeat

People Who Don’t Know They Are My Friends

My Life

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13 Nov

Hello! How’s it going? I’m busy cleaning my house so I come home to a clean place after going away for the weekend.

I stopped for a massive salad and a lil TV break. Sometimes the Duggars are my only frens…

big ol salad (600x800)

But sometimes I make up friends in my head. Okay, a lot.

You know sometimes I (and maybe you) think about the most random things on a run?

Well, I was doing that yesterday as I waved to my “friend” during my run – and I realized this guy doesn’t realize he’s my friend. And he’s not the only one!! I have a lot of friends that don’t realize they are…

making friends

For example:

1. The grandpa with a huge walking stick who tells me “Good morning!” every day on my run.

2. The cute Asian lady who walks with two dogs and a stroller on the path. (We smile at each other but never say good morning.)

3. The man I met at last year’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon – did I ever tell you about this? I spotted a familiar face before the race last year and swore he was a runner I always see on a local path so I went up to him and asked him if he runs in Lake Forest. YES! It was him. Ha! I am so weird.

We always say hello. I’m sad I forgot his name and keep meaning to stop him and ask.

4. The manager at Yogurtland who always gives me sample cups even though he sees me all the time and knows I tried them all…

5. The girl who works at Ralph’s and found the one flavor of Lay’s chips I hadn’t had and then we talked about chips. I see her every now and then and smile.

6. New friend –> The guy with the dog that looks like me.

my twin red head dog (450x800)

 

friends time[3]

As long as I don’t go up to these people and say awkward things I think it’s okay.

i love you weirdo

Question: Do you feel like you ‘know’ people you see at the gym or out running too?

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    34 Comments

    Previous Post: « Pile on the Miles Thursday Check In
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mia says

      2014-11-22 at 2:58 am

      I love this and can totally relate! I have so many friends who don’t know they are my friends too!

      Reply
    2. Tricia @ A Couple of Dashes says

      2014-11-16 at 8:00 pm

      Oh my gosh! I love this! I totally have people who don’t know they are my friend too! So glad I’m not the only one!

      Reply
    3. Amy H. @ Run with Perseverance says

      2014-11-15 at 10:57 am

      Hahah I know the feeling! I have “friends” at the gym and in our neighborhood that I see while walking/running.

      Reply
    4. Jodi Duncan says

      2014-11-14 at 9:39 pm

      I absolutely love this and your adorable sense of humor!

      Reply
    5. Christina @ The Beautiful Balance says

      2014-11-14 at 8:45 pm

      That’s hilarious haha! I can totally relate, after years of being a personal shopper I will randomly greet people or if I’m in the grocery store or even worse a mall shopping I will say goodbye to people and tell them to enjoy the rest of your day because I always feel like I’m working. ay yai yai

      Reply
    6. beth says

      2014-11-14 at 1:27 pm

      WTF do you even talk about anymore?!

      Reply
    7. Livi @ Eat, Pray, Work It Out says

      2014-11-14 at 12:37 pm

      Mindy Kaling is my friend but she doesn’t know 🙂 haha

      Reply
    8. Corrinne says

      2014-11-14 at 11:56 am

      Um so I totally talk about your blog and Hungry Runner Girl’s like you two are my friends…. we are right? Yup that’s what I thought. 😉

      Reply
    9. Lara Ryan @ uptitemamas.com says

      2014-11-14 at 11:30 am

      Seriously??!! I read your blog every day, but this post has got to be my absolute favorite of all time. Thank you! 🙂

      Reply
    10. Carrie (This Fit Chick) says

      2014-11-14 at 7:14 am

      hahaha I love this! I have someone at the gym who I always say hi to and it makes my day– !

      Reply
    11. Anne says

      2014-11-14 at 6:19 am

      Yeessss I used to have this couple who would ride a very early subway with me in Brooklyn, all of us obviously headed into the Manhattan for the gym before work. And then I’d tell my boyfriend about how I saw “hot CrossFit couple” again and stared at them uncontrollably because they’re so in shape. Best friends.

      Reply
    12. Kailin @ Logs and Thoughts says

      2014-11-14 at 5:58 am

      I try to actually chat with the people in situations like this. You never know who knows you or who knows someone you know! One time, I paced 50 feet behind a guy for 8 miles before he turned off. When I finished my run, we ran into each other by our cars and chatted (since I wanted to tell him thank you for the company hah!). Turns out we both had our best runs on that course (it’s a long, hilly road loop in a park) because of each other’s “company.” Can’t say I’ve seen him again, but if I do, I’m sure we’ll pace off of each other again and get stronger “together!”

      Reply
    13. Melisa says

      2014-11-14 at 5:55 am

      cute post. I run most mornings around my neighborhood and always see a guy walking his dog. We wave to each other but his dog, I am certain, wants to tear me apart.

      Reply
    14. Melissa Prange Shirey says

      2014-11-14 at 5:10 am

      I see people walking the trail that I run and then I see them walking in the mall (where I work) when it is cold. I have approached a few of them to ask if they walk at ‘The Savannah”. They say yes and look at me weird, like I am a stalker……..

      Reply
    15. Staci @ Hoosier Running Mom says

      2014-11-14 at 3:03 am

      I was just telling a co worker yesterday that runners are a rare breed. You only have to run near or by them once and you are friends. It is just a thing we do!

      Reply
    16. Luciana says

      2014-11-13 at 10:06 pm

      LOL! I have friends too that don’t know it. Someone came up to me at work and said “hey I saw you running!” I’m like ooh great.. How was my form ? Lol

      Reply
    17. Sue says

      2014-11-13 at 9:40 pm

      Definitely!!!!!!!!!!! But the sad bit is most of those in my gym seem to know my name but not vice versa on my end. I need to get better on this.

      Reply
    18. Adjusted Reality says

      2014-11-13 at 9:26 pm

      Yep, I definitely have run friends that I say hi to. I also tend to say “I had this friend who… blah blah blah” and then realize it’s just someone who’s blog I read, like yours. 🙂

      Reply
    19. Daisy- Fit Wanderlust Runner says

      2014-11-13 at 8:35 pm

      Haha! I am the exact same way. My running partner always asks me why I have to say hi and wave to everyone. 🙂

      Reply
    20. Liz says

      2014-11-13 at 8:02 pm

      Funny you should ask…because every time you post something we are absolutely best friends in my head. Apologies for the aggressive liking.

      Reply
    21. Angela @ HonestlyAngela says

      2014-11-13 at 7:46 pm

      I do this to. Then I refer to compete strangers as friends in b my conversations. I think I just need to be more friendly and actually make friends with people instead of just being creepy!

      Reply
    22. Charlotte says

      2014-11-13 at 6:58 pm

      Hello friend. You and that doggy have the same hair colour. Actually I met a lot of red-headed Mexicans traveling throughout the country. I met a girl from Mexico City with freckles and red hair. We started to call her Strawberry Shortcake.

      Reply
    23. angela@LoveTheRunning says

      2014-11-13 at 6:54 pm

      Sometimes I feel like bloggers are my friends especially if I read their blog on a regular basis. So basically if I saw you in person I’d be like ‘oh heeey monican’ and totally freak you out.

      But yes, the waitress that gave me 6 Andes candies is my latest BFF.

      Reply
    24. Kelly says

      2014-11-13 at 6:32 pm

      There’s an older guy in my neighborhood. He wears a white visor and no shirt, suntanned weathered skin and a white beard. He runs everyday around the same time. I call him runner man. He is my hero but rarely looks up when I pass, but he totally inspires me every day. Seriously. He’s dedicated!

      Reply
    25. Losing Lindy says

      2014-11-13 at 5:50 pm

      well I consider you my friend, esp since you made a cameo in my dream

      Reply
    26. Cheri @ Overactive Blogger says

      2014-11-13 at 5:33 pm

      When I’m running long, I always make pretend friends with the folks who are also running long who I see multiple times throughout my run. I always say “hay gurl!” in my head!

      Reply
    27. Lizzy says

      2014-11-13 at 5:05 pm

      I had a bike commute friend like this and after a year and a half of smiling at each other at stop lights we finally started talking one day. It turns out we had mutual acquaintances, so we ended up becoming good real life friends after that. You should say hi to some of those people! You never know what might happen.

      Reply
      • Kailin @ Logs and Thoughts says

        2014-11-14 at 5:53 am

        This is great! I assume that everyone I see knows someone I know, so I treat them that way (as if they could at some point be my “real” friend, because you never know).

        Reply
    28. Sarah says

      2014-11-13 at 4:37 pm

      Haha I totally relate to this! When I was in college, people tended to study in the same spots. My real friends and I would see the same people all the time and felt like we really knew them and even made up nicknames for them. Creepy, I know, but it helped us survive some late nights in the library!

      Reply
    29. Alyssa says

      2014-11-13 at 4:15 pm

      yes! waiting to talk to the front desk girl at the gym last week, and this guy was waiting too. he turns to me and says “I swear I see you here all the time”. me: “yeah I guess I’m here a lot”. guy: “it’s ok, I don’t have a life either” ha!

      Reply
    30. Becky @ Olives n Wine says

      2014-11-13 at 4:09 pm

      Haha, I totally resonate with this post! I always tell my husband about my “friends” at the gym or that I see while running even though I’ve never said a word to them 🙂

      Reply
    31. Sally @ sweat out the small stuff says

      2014-11-13 at 4:09 pm

      I have a bike friend. He always makes sure I am running facing traffic thru the neighborhood. If he catches me on the wrong side he reminds me about my safety. Lol. Seriously though I like that there are other people looking out for me. 🙂

      Reply
    32. Sarah says

      2014-11-13 at 4:06 pm

      I have car friends that I recognize during commuting to work that I know by bumper stickers/vanity tags/other identifiable markings. Although, I think that makes me more friends with the car than the occupant.

      weird.

      Reply
    33. Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says

      2014-11-13 at 3:32 pm

      Hi Monica! Happy Thursday to you. I teach group fitness classes all around San Francisco, and so I’ll see people in their “normal clothes” all the time and stare a little too long, because I’m pretty sure they’ve been in my class. Sometimes they recognize me and say hello, other times I’m just staring at people a little too long …

      Reply

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