Miss Plainwell: No, trail runners do not do that every time they see a wildflower.
Caulfield: Then what is it with lake swimmers and seaweed?
Frazz: Don't look at me. I only fear goose e. Coli.
One of the plants is a thistle, so I see why a runner would want to avoid it. These plants are carefully drawn. Do they depict other botanical hazards that trail runners face?
For me, it’s not the lake weeds themselves that skeeve me out…it’s the sudden feeling of being touched by something underwater. I’ve seen too many horror movies…
I’ve been swimming with one of my kids’ friend’s mom (while the small ones also swim and play), and she is stooopid silly freaked by the least little bit of real life floating near her in the water. It’s not fear of entanglement if it’s 1.5" long and floating 2’ away, it’s just stooopid silly! Cement, tiny, artificial, or she hyperventilates. I think it’s THAT is the kind of “water weed fear” Caulfield is referring to.(Needless to say, she and I have a very difficult time together sometimes. Her little girl is truly amazing, or I’d never try!)
Running through a patch of stinging nettles certainly gets your attention. Luckily the pain only lasts a couple of minutes. I think running through spider webs on the trail is worse, especially if there’s a big spider sitting in the middle of the web!
I used to hate plants in the water for two reasons – they felt disgusting between my toes, and I couldn’t tell what was hiding in them (in lakes, that would be broken glass, rusty metal, and snapping turtles).
Richard S. RussellIf they ever compiled a dictionary arranged by etymological origins within the word, -phobia would have the largest number of entries.
Squizzums over 8 years ago
These reactions would make for incredibly long runs!
gmorse76 over 8 years ago
There’s no seaweed in lakes! I guess Caulfield means lake weed?
Robert Wilson Premium Member over 8 years ago
One of the plants is a thistle, so I see why a runner would want to avoid it. These plants are carefully drawn. Do they depict other botanical hazards that trail runners face?
tahoeh2o over 8 years ago
Myriophyllum…
garcoa over 8 years ago
Trilliums are awesome.
Seed_drill over 8 years ago
I can’t run anywhere, but I certainly give that reaction when I see poison oak encroaching on the trail.
ktrabbit over 8 years ago
For me, it’s not the lake weeds themselves that skeeve me out…it’s the sudden feeling of being touched by something underwater. I’ve seen too many horror movies…
Keep on keepin' on over 8 years ago
I’ve been swimming with one of my kids’ friend’s mom (while the small ones also swim and play), and she is stooopid silly freaked by the least little bit of real life floating near her in the water. It’s not fear of entanglement if it’s 1.5" long and floating 2’ away, it’s just stooopid silly! Cement, tiny, artificial, or she hyperventilates. I think it’s THAT is the kind of “water weed fear” Caulfield is referring to.(Needless to say, she and I have a very difficult time together sometimes. Her little girl is truly amazing, or I’d never try!)
pumaman over 8 years ago
Running through a patch of stinging nettles certainly gets your attention. Luckily the pain only lasts a couple of minutes. I think running through spider webs on the trail is worse, especially if there’s a big spider sitting in the middle of the web!
girlbrdr over 8 years ago
Poison oak and snakes on the trails are my downfall.
paul brians over 8 years ago
I think Frazz is trying to avoid green goose turds.
http://www.articles.lovecanadageese.com/ecoli.html
sew-so over 8 years ago
I used to hate plants in the water for two reasons – they felt disgusting between my toes, and I couldn’t tell what was hiding in them (in lakes, that would be broken glass, rusty metal, and snapping turtles).
Dr.DocSmith over 8 years ago
Great art work! Weird topic, but it works.
hippogriff over 8 years ago
Richard S. RussellIf they ever compiled a dictionary arranged by etymological origins within the word, -phobia would have the largest number of entries.
DKHenderson 8 days ago
That bottom left runner looks like a slightly graying Caulfield.