A Running Joke...Literally!

Posted on June 8, 2015

I truly belive that it's healthy to make fun of ourselves. Not be mean or talk down about our accomplishments - but to make fun. You know, have a good laugh at our own expense once in a while. Life is tough and sometimes not so fun - humour can be quite refreshing. That said...

There is a running joke amongst my family and friends - that whenever there are "candid" photos taken of me, I am giving the "thumbs up" pose. Sometimes I do it on purpose but more often than not, I don't even know I'm doing it. Most embarrassing was a photo taken about 18 years ago when I was dancing - not at all flattering, but in hindsight, completely hilarious.

How does this apply now - as in today? Well, on the weekend I ran a 5k in my hometown. It was the first "official" one that I've run - you know, where there is an actual timing device affixed to your body. And, of course, race photographers at the start/finish line. I was expecting a truly awful photo - because my hair gets crazy (actually, I should say CRAZY) flyaways in the best of conditions and running lakefront on a windy day could only make things terribly worse. So, imagine my surprise when I saw my photo - and my hair actually looked pretty damn good! I didn't have a horrendous race photo! Yipee!

And then I sent it to my sister - and her response was "thumbs up!" Gah! Of course! And I hadn't even noticed! The running joke has now become the most literal of all things I find humourous about myself - and I love that it was completely unintentional. And I can't help but wonder just how many of these thumbs up race photos that I will collect from here on out...

Thanks for reading - and I wish you all a big laugh today! (And, of course, I give you a thumbs up!)

Comment Now!

Amy B.

06/08/2015 9:07PM

Wonderful story, and wonderful photo. Love that you are calm, cool, collected. In my running photos I always look like I am murdering someone or like I am dying, both of which are possibly true depending how long the race was. Lol. Great job on finishing your first official 5k. Inspiring!

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Cathy

06/08/2015 7:50PM

???? (couldn't resist)

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Odette O

06/08/2015 3:23PM

Awesome job and great pic.. OK from now (next 5K next Saturday) Thumbs up it is and smiling to the camera I shall try to be.. :-)!! -

Jocey

Odette, if you get a picture with your thumbs up I want to see it! Good luck at your 5k!

Les

06/08/2015 1:52PM

Congrats money - and I think thumbs up shows you are always thinking on the positive side and how wonderful is that!?

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Les

Jocey - not money. Geesh autocorrect

Jocey

haha - I figured it out Les. :)

Krista C

06/08/2015 11:16AM

Jocey, this is so great! And I 100% commiserate; I too have this weird thing I do in running photos especially where it looks like I'm giving two very weak thumbs-up. My husband loves to tease me about it. ;) All joking aside, your photo is awesome, and you look great! Most of all, congrats on your first "official" 5k - that's a fantastic accomplishment! :)

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Jocey

Thanks Krista. I'm glad that I'm not the only one that has these little quirks. (And that I'm not the only one that gets teased about it!) I wonder if there are enough of us to start a group...

Aimes

06/08/2015 11:08AM

What a great photo! You look like a cool, calm, collected serious runner here. This is much more flattering than my tomato-faced, exasperated look ;-) Thumbs up to you on the photo and the finish!

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Jocey

Thanks Amy. I feel like I always look tomato-faced and exasperated when I'm running, too. I think the reason I don't look that way is because there was quite a lake breeze to keep me cool! I'm generally soaked to the core with sweat, too!