These days, there have been a lot of haters with regard to those innocent black and white oval race stickers runners put on their cars. It’s funny, isn’t it, that people really care that much about what you and I put on our cars. Jealous, maybe? Here are some reasons we really don’t care that you hate on our stickers.
- We are too naturally high on running to care. You should try it sometime. It’s free and legal. And, it makes you not focus so much on things like stickers.
- We earned them. Even if you thought you’d never put a race sticker on your car, you might feel differently after you cross that 13.1 or 26.2 finish line. Trust me.
- My car, my choice.
- Did you ever think that maybe those stickers serve an extreme purpose? When we are going to a race, it keeps us from getting lost because all we have to do is look at all the other cars with race stickers on them and we know we are going the right way.
- We don’t complain about your My Child Is an Honor Student and family stick-figure stickers. Well, maybe we do complain, but if you can have those, we can have these. They kind of cancel each other out.
- We won’t make fun of you if you put a 0.0 sticker on your car. If you want to be out of shape and brag about it, be our guest.
- 13.1 or 26.2 represent more to us than you will ever understand. It’s not about bragging (well, maybe a tad), and more about owning and accomplishment that was hard-won and required discipline, determination, grit and guts.
- It’s like show-and-tell for adults. When did it become a bad thing to be proud of something? In first grade, you’d bring your swim team ribbon, and the kids and teachers would clap and cheer. Think of our stickers as your first grade swim team ribbon.
- While some people enjoy their accomplishments quietly and privately, some people relish in sharing. Who’s to say this is right or wrong? Honestly, no one should give a rat’s ass about anyone but themselves when it comes to stickers. Remember: IT IS A STICKER, not a machete or a syringe full of heroin or a vial of smallpox.
- Maybe, just maybe, our distance sticker is seen by someone, and it motivates them. Good deed done for the day.
- Final bonus: It can only be a good thing if you get pulled over by a cop who is also a runner and he/she sees your sticker. Instant bonding and perhaps a warning instead of a ticket. Ever think of that?