Swanson Middle School

[eminva]

Hello Fellow Late Shift Commuters —

At the risk of being the “Get Off My Lawn You Crazy Kids” lady, I wanted to bring your attention to a new trail hazard. When the weather starts to get warm, the PE teachers at Swanson Middle School (Washington Blvd & Patrick Henry) send the kids to run on the W&OD Trail. You know them by the “Swanson Middle School” t-shirts they all wear. I am all in favor of middle schoolers running, believe me. Most are running in a fairly predictable fashion. However, this morning, about 8:45 a.m., one boy decided it would be cute to lie down in the trail right in front of an approaching cyclist (a man just ahead of me). Last year, the same thing happened to me.

I called the school and asked them to discuss trail etiquette with the students, and the receptionist was very receptive. Just be careful if you ride through there during PE hours.

Liz

Topic

[americancyclo]

or take the cyclocross bike!

[jabberwocky]

Bunnyhop practice!

[pfunkallstar]

While we are on the subject of local middle/high school trail runners. Cross country season (which if my memory of vomiting weekly in high school is correct is in the fall) brings a veritable gaggle of George Mason kids out on the W&OD. I’ve never had issues with them lying down on the road but I did have one ask if “that saddle hurt my balls” while I was at a stop sign once. I replied that “my balls are in constant, agonizing pain,” which took “teenage-awkward” to “for-serious awkward” real fast.

[SpokeGrenadeSR]

passed the long, long, long line of runners today. thankfully i get to go the opposite way but my my i was impressed! i wish all schools did that. when i was in middle school we had the mile run test once a year and that was pretty much it when it came to running for the purpose of running.

[DaveK]

@SpokeGrenadeSR 16467 wrote:

passed the long, long, long line of runners today. thankfully i get to go the opposite way but my my i was impressed! i wish all schools did that. when i was in middle school we had the mile run test once a year and that was pretty much it when it came to running for the purpose of running.

Same. Pretty much after the elementary school President’s physical fitness test which I failed, miserably, I don’t think I did anything physical in school outside of the mile run in high school PE once. I also failed that in that I couldn’t run a mile.

[Author]

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