âWhen I was in high school, I was running down a dark sidewalk when I came upon a man in a suit and tie, presumably leaving work. As I got close enough for him to hear me, he grabbed his briefcase and sprinted away, before looking back, seeing a 16-year-old runner, and slowing to a walk. I felt bad for startling him, but realized that no matter how much we all think running is a normal part of life, itâs still not. It remains a defiant action to the sedentary pace of modern daily life. In this manâs mind, it was more likely that he was about to get mugged than that a jogger was headed his way. The memory makes me feel bad for inciting such fear, but also proud that Iâm out here running through the city.â âPeter Bromka, runner and writer based in Portland, Oregon