Maxine al green'd him

[raybear]

It's the first spring day, so it feels. I'm not the only one, tons of folks were out there on the sidewalks too while I was taking my first run in...I can't remember the last time I went for a run. Probably early last summer, before it got wicked hot. I made an ipod mix with lots of Ghostface and Outkast and Missy's "We Run This" which the latter sorta made me feel like I was in tv commercial when it came on, but it got me going. I was wearing grey wind pants and a somewhat tight long sleeve yellow gold t-shirt. I mean, it wasn't tight skin tight, because that would be uncomfortable for running but still, fairly fitted, not hiding the fact that yes, I have a belly. It made me feel pretty sexy when I put it on, which is good inspiration that I would need since I knew I'd be a little out of shape.

I was a few blocks from California, the halfway point, when I gave myself permission to walk the rest of the way home. I was winded. "Just round the corner, then you can walk." But while rounding the corner, my ipod stopped. Or rather, the headphones stopped working, because the ipod seemed to be running just fine. Damn. I put it in my pocket. By then I was headed back home and I'd hit the plateau and the endorphins kicked in. I kept going and felt fine.

As I approached Kedzie, I told myself again. "You can walk the rest of the way home." I stopped at the light, but when it turned, I kept running. This isn't so bad.

From across the four lanes of traffic, I saw a group of people, two adults walking a little dog, and two teens trailing behind. "Step it up, pudgie!"

Wait, what? Did I hear right? I turned and one of the teens was looking at me and the other one appeared to be laughing. Naw, I'm being paranoid. Then I heard him yell again, something something, pudgie, but at this point I was half a block away and not turning.

Not even 50 steps later, I passed some people on the sidewalk, and I heard a woman say, "you got a few more pounds to lose, buddy." It took a second for it to register, but that is definitely what she said. I turned around, jogging backwards. The man she was with had turned around to look at me, but when we locked eyes, he quickly turned back. For a moment I hesitated and started to go towards them. I had no idea what I would say. Maybe just run past them again, circle back, look her in the eye and smile sweetly. I was about to do it, but then I looked at her closer. She was this white lady, a lot older than me, a lot more bedraggled than me (hungover, high, exhausted, or all of the above), and her clothes were worn. I decided, you know what, that was mean, but I think maybe I still have the advantage here. She can have this round. I kept running for home. I didn't stop until I was a block from the house, to cool down and stretch.

I pulled out my ipod and tried it, and guess what? It was suddenly working again. I feel like I passed some sort of test.

I should wear tight shirts more often.

Comments

[0595.livejournal.com]

Wait, that's a dream you had, right?

[raybear.livejournal.com]

nope. welcome to the life of a non-skinny person.

also, thanks for the tip about armageddon.

sexy back

[riverafire.livejournal.com]

I never cease to be apalled at the things people feel emboldened to say to strangers on the street.
I think it is awesome that you didn't let them steal your mojo. Confidence remains the sexiest thing on the street, in my never to be humble opinion. I look forward to reading more of your tight shirt adventures.

[vfc.livejournal.com]

While my mind is boggling that even a rude person might find you pudgy enough to mention it at all, let alone loudly enough for you to hear, your story proves something I've tried to explain several times to incredulous skinnier-than-me people: Some assholes call you fat to your face for no apparent reason, even when you're doing something active. Several times I've told people that there have been times in which I've been mocked/harassed 10-15 times in a week and they thought I was making it up.

[swampgirl.livejournal.com]

speaking as one who recently tried to jog *one block* and couldn't, bravo to you! my housemate recently had a bad experience too -- she was swimming and got out of the pool after a couple laps, and the lifeguard said, "that's all?" (she's recovering from breaking 3 bones in her foot, etc, but again, i can't swim as many laps as she did). i dunno what's up with these crazy people, but, they're crazy, not you. keep on moving your hot self out there!

[gotmce99.livejournal.com]

I bet you're hot when you run.

*rawr*

[unscrambled.livejournal.com]

Fatphobes are fucking annoying. First the idea that exercising will stop fatness, the contstant exhortation that fat people should jog until we're skinny--then when we jog--fattyfattyfatty. So boring. Thank maude my gym contains a whole bunch of gayboys and their straightgirl best friends who don't give a rats ass that I'm a fatty. We'll see how it changes when I jog at the one in your neighborhood (which will eventually be my neighborhood). Maybe a silkscreen (on the belly of course) which says "I realize I'm fat" might be in order.