Wednesday Winners: Jenny Crain, If Only a Second Longer....

Recently, I received my November issue of Runner's World, and as I thumbed through it, ran across a story about a runner, Jenny Crain, a 39 yr old who was hit in 2007 as she was finishing a run and was only a few blocks from home. It was the pictures of this woman that first caught my attention, because I happened to see them in reverse (as I often start at the back of a magazine... go figure).  I saw the "after" and then the "before." 

And then, I stopped to read the story.  Jenny, an accomplished athlete, stepped out a fraction of a second before the pedestrian right-of-way light came on, and in that split second, a car bolted out from behind another car whose driver could see her, and was slowing down for the changing light. 

Jenny suffered extensive brain damage that day and still requires 24/7 care in a facility.  It is reported that she has good days and bad....

I'm sharing this story because ironically, when I ran with our rockstar redhead blogging buddy recently, I remember a specific moment that stood out that day and continued to afterward:  As we approached an intersection, I was all set to cross (against the pedestrian right-of-way), because the oncoming car was at least 100 feet away.  She, however, hesitated.  I said, "Let's go!" and off we went... with a car coming our way.  I remember thinking then and later, "Wow, she's conservative w/ the traffic."  Looking back, I think the more appropriate word is "smart." 

After that day and after reading Jenny Crain's story, which has (apparently) raised some controversy about runners and traffic, I've learned a valuable lesson: Cars are heavier than we are and drivers don't always see us. Stop. Be patient. Give them the right-of-way, and live to see another run.  That fraction of a second is not worth a life.

Jenny is a winner in life, facing each day and not giving up.  Perhaps someday she'll find her way back to those streets she loved so much....

Happy (safe) running, friends.....

Robin