Ryan, Running and Waving

Ryan’s resting blank face (above), my resting blank face (below)

Ryan Reynolds and me has been a thing for a bit of time, especially when he’s filming in Vancouver. The kind: you look like his slightly older, slightly less fit brother. The less kind: his dad. The ugly: oh, you’re the stunt double after he’s horribly disfigured in Deadpool. To those people, I say… whatever.

We have so much in common: an undeniable love for British Columbia; the derring –do to wear dangerously tight tights; he looks great with his shirt off, I look so much better when I’m covered up. The list goes on.

But there is one attribute, above all, that unites us: it’s our resting face.

I’ve known for a long time that I don’t have a friendly visage, no one looks and goes he looks nice. On an airplane,  I’m the guy the person next doesn’t speak to except for ‘Can I get out, please?’ and ‘Sorry, can I get back in?’ It’s the reason I don’t like going door-to-door, who wants to see this blank face when you dinner is being interrupted.

And Ryan has the same problem. There’s the now-famous pic of him and wife Blake Lively celebrating a holiday with Taylor Swift’s crew, where everyone looks so ‘happy’ and Ryan looks like thunder. Many thought it was a commentary from the Canadian on the absurdity of celebrity; turns out that’s what his face looks like when relaxed and unaware of the camera.

What does this have to do with running? Well, it’s about the wave or the nod. It’s about runners acknowledging each other as they’re out getting a run in.

At first, I wondered, was it me. Was it this resting face that doesn’t exactly invite contact as I lumber along? But then no, some runners will acknowledge.

The acknowledgment can take a variety of forms: a slight nod, a raise of the hand or, for some, the full wave wear they appear to be signaling a right-hand turn. But they do it.

So, I’ve been trying to understand why it’s not more prevalent. Is it an age thing? I’d say no, young and old seem to do it equally. Is it about fairweather runners? I’ve noticed the more inclement the weather the greater likelihood of getting the nod. Is it an old protocol that newer runners don’t know? Could be, if you don’t read Runners World or take a clinic at Running Room (it’s a Canadian thing, Ryan gets it), that this act of generosity is overlooked.

But does it really matter? Did my long run today and as I’m slow, I had plenty of time to contemplate that question. And I say it does.

Each time you come across someone on a path all you know is what you see – super fit, just blew past me, looks like me, just starting out. But what we don’t know is what they’re dealing with. Is the super fit trying to recover from injury and get back the form they once had? Is someone blowing past as they work towards a PB in race two weeks from now? Is the person just starting thinking about quitting because it’s too hard. Most runners have experienced all of these scenarios, no matter you’re fitness level or experience.

That’s why the nod, wave, peace sign from the waist is so important – it’s simply a good luck, keep running and you’re not alone salute of support.  And no matter where you are on your run – spring in your step at the start or staggering along to the finish – it’s nice to know you’re part of the community.

So, if someone in Victoria (occasionally Vancouver) who looks slightly like Ryan Reynolds with blank face gives you a nod, it’s probably me.