Interview 6

The Bystander

I start by interviewing a fellow who looks about 20 or 23, introduced to me on the street by my friend JD:

So you said you felt kind of strange about running last year?

[Yes,] Because I didn't have any association with the University. I wasn't a graduate. I'd been out of college for 10 years. So I felt kind of funny about whether I should have been there.

You could pass for a student.

But that wasn't the point. I decided, well, I'll do it once, then I can say I did it.

You mentioned to me earlier that the view when you're running is kind of narrow.

Yes, all you're concerned about is the people in front of you., and not getting separated from them.

And what their buns are doing!

[He laughs.]

So how long did you hang out at the Cube last year?

Not very long. Like I said [before you turned on the tape recorder], both my knees were bleeding and it was about 20 degrees cooler than it is right now. So we just wanted to put our clothes on and get out of there.

What happened to your knees?

I fell at one point, and skinned both of my knees badly.

Did I hear you say you were running barefoot?

No, no. I was wearing shoes. [He laughs.]

There ARE some people who run barefoot, but they've got more courage than I do.

That's dangerous. You just don't know what's in the street. 

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