Someone should take her picture and post it to the Facebook page. I’m sure some of the people she’s been rude to have a cell phone with a camera with them when they run. Someone will know who it is.

I’d happily deck her if this happens when I’m around.

Oh my goodness! I would trip her…I think I may be on a mission to find this lady…anyone know what time of day she’s most likely to jog?

I hadn’t heard of this woman, or anyone noteworthily rude, until the article. My experiences with fellow Steiner residents have been nothing but positive.
It’s too bad home values don’t predict manners.

A response from the rude jogger.

When I first heard of all this “rude jogger” campaign, I initially did not want to respond but this is all getting way out of control so the other side of the story needs to be heard.
First off- I didn’t “come out of nowhere.” I was running down the public sidewalk on the right side. (Meaning, the way traffic flows.)
I pass couples all the time and people will adjust single file when passing someone on the side walk. Even kids know to go behind one another.
I know these two women saw me coming and they just continued to take up the entire sidewalk (one had a baby jogger and the other was walking next to her). I thought the one that was clearly on my side of the sidewalk was going to move over. I guess she thought that I was supposed to run off the sidewalk onto the dirt and grass? When her arm hit mine, she made this obnoxious squeal like I had done something wrong. When I turned around and saw that they were still walking along taking up the entire sidewalk I popped off. It was more along the lines of how big her rear was, not “fat ass.” Yes, I know this was not my finest moment. I should not have said anything, but being run off the sidewalk is not a fun thing to have to put up with. The good thing is that in my 7 years of running in Steiner Ranch, I have never encountered anything like these two.
When I passed these two again later, I was running on the other side of the street. They both stopped and stared at me with the meanest looks. I was laughing when I held out my arms like I was taking up the whole sidewalk running- not saying “fat so”. Seriously, get the chip off your shoulders.
In my opinion, the rude thing is to take up the whole sidewalk and then act like you’re 13 and start a hate campaign on Facebook- (FUN “Fatties United Now”)? Do these people not have anything better to do? This is baffling to me and very sad.
Oh, and side note. I’m not the same woman that did the finger pointing incident. But I’m guessing from the way it sounded that she was just as frustrated by the lack of sidewalk etiquette in that situation.
Single file when passing on a public sidewalk. And keep to the right. That’s all I have.
This is like a mom version of Mean Girls. Unbelievable and really, really sad.

Rude Jogger… thanks for the reply. As a long-term runner in Steiner I am always amazed at the self absorbed people that won’t share the sidewalk. Some people will never learn that the world doesn’t revolve around them. The worst are women with strollers. They even block the streets walking two and three abrest making you drive around them.

Interesting how comments went from “lynch mob” to empathetic once both sides of the story were told.

I’m glad no one ran you over Not-So-Rude-After-All Jogger. I think our resident “Real Estate Expert” may have had other plans for you though.

The whole thing is stoooooopid.

I won’t even run or ride my bike on the sidewalks in Stiener because it’s so frustratingly hard to. I end up having to run or bike in the gutter or in the grass because of people walking abreast, or even better the clueless mommy jogger with a stroller and ipod headphones on in the middle of the sidewalk. I run the trails instead… but I would like to use the sidewalks…

Anon, they are already selling them. I saw the shirts at Cups and Cones last week.

that’s disheartening. Cups and Cones has always been about supporting the community and this does nothing but advertise the few morons that are very publicly shining a bad light on Steiner Ranch. I’m sure the two drama queens who started this are squealing with delight about all of the attention they are getting, but I certainly hope people arnen’t buying them!

Unknown:

Good point about the dog crap in the grass. My experience has been that dog owners are pretty good about cleaning up on Quinlan. I think that the steady traffic helps enable the better behavior. However, the grass along Flat Top Ranch Road, which I love to run on because of decreased traffic is another story.

@ SpandTexPants

You should be ashamed of yourself for mocking someone with a disability. What kind of person are you? It is one thing to comment, but quite another to take a serious disability and poke fun of it in this way. You make me sick

I find the shirt to be hilarious. I think that the message does not side with one party over the other, but merely takes a situation and has fun with it. I think people are way too serious these days and need to learn how to slow down a bit and enjoy life.

There have been a few vicious and unkind things posted on this site and others by ‘anonymous’ people that cross a serious line. I’ve made the decision to try to diffuse this situation by removing myself from my Facebook group – which was for FUN and HUMOR – foreign concepts to a few out there. The person who is making the shirts is someone I know of, but I had nothing to do with that. I find it funny. If you can’t laugh at this situation, there is something wrong. Life is too short to deal with negative people, so ta ta! I can only hope that I don’t run into you or crazy #2 – you know who you are.

Janis – you say that life is too short to deal with negative people, but you took the time to contact the local newspaper and start and promote a facebook page. Why would YOU do all of this in response to one negative encounter? It’s beyond funny – it’s so pathetic that you have such a need for attention. I do not, which is why I’m anon. Whenever this subject of the rude jogger comes up, EVERYONE I know thinks the two women who started it all are attention seeking morons and a blight on our community. Even on your FB page, you were “so excited” that you were going ot be in the paper. Woo Hoo – way to go!

Janis, I think you ROCK! You have brought awareness to a topic that needed to be addressed.

It is so sad to me that this has whole thing has gotten so far out of hand and has engendered such hostility within our neighborhood. Everyone involved has some level of blame for the conflict and should take responsibility for their part and not continue the blame game. Consider if the so-called “rude jogger” had chosen to respond in this way to the original article (this is an edited version of her actual blog comment, changing the tone and softening some of the more inflammatory statements):
“When I first heard of this “rude jogger” story, I initially did not want to respond but this is all getting way out of hand so I want to clear the air, take responsibility for my part in this encounter, and clarify some misunderstandings.
I was running down the sidewalk in the opposite direction than the two women were walking. I truly expected that they’d adjust single-file so we could pass each other, but they did not and I had to run onto the grass to avoid a collision when we passed. Our arms did bump as we passed, but this was completely accidental. That said, I was irritated at having to run off the sidewalk when there was room to pass single-file and I popped off with a rude comment along the lines of how big her rear was (though I didn’t say “fat ass”). Yes, I know this was not my finest moment; I should not have said anything.
When I passed the same two women again later that same morning, I was running on the other side of the street. They both stopped and stared at me hostilely. I tried to make light of the situation by laughing and holding out my arms like I was taking up the whole sidewalk running- not saying “fatso”- but obviously I was misunderstood and that only made things worse.
So I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize for having made an insulting remark and for my misinterpreted attempt at humor with the arm gesture. I’d also like to suggest that everyone – walkers and runners alike – needs to make a serious effort to pass others single-file to allow everyone to remain on the sidewalk whenever possible. Double-strollers may not be able to do more than hug the right the best they can, which is understandable, but pairs and groups can make more of an effort not to take up the whole sidewalk when passing.
Also, I want to say that my feelings are very much hurt that a group has been formed on Facebook (FUN “Fatties United Now”) trying to identify and insult/attack me. I’d very much appreciate it if the creator of that group would put a stop to that. It does nothing to improve relations in the neighborhood.
Oh, and side note. The other incident discussed in the news story (the finger pointing incident) was not me. ”
I’m thinking that if this had been the initial response, the other side would have considered the single-file issue (and perhaps even apologized for their behavior), accepted the apology for her rude comment, and taken down the Facebook group immediately . I also think it would have ended this thing long before anyone attempted to lighten the mood about it (i.e. with the rude jogger t-shirts that don’t blame anyone but instead poke fun at the whole situation), which would have made that a non-issue as well.
Please everyone, try to consider the other side of things (at least later if not in the heat of the moment) and let’s all have a laugh, smooth this over, and get on with getting along!

There is definitely more than enough material here for an episode of The Real Housewives of Steiner Ranch. Great Stuff. (I smell a T-Shirt opportunity – no pun intended)

I am a very confused resident….I’ve lived here 9 years and was not aware that single joggers couldn’t yield to tandum walkers. Personally I think it seems to be the nice thing to do. Our community was built for community and sidewalks are made for strolling along…perhaps talking with a girlfriend, walking with your kids, enjoying our BEAUTIFUL neighborhood. Yes it is also used by joggers and cyclist, but not everyone in this neighborhood is a runner and aware of these “rules”.

anonymous –

It’s not a “rule,” just common courtesy to go single file when approaching someone — whether they are walking or jogging. It’s called “sharing,” something most people learn in , oh, kindergarden

Anon – you are a very mean person. You don’t have the guts to use your own name and say the vindictive things you say. It’s easy to hide behind a wall and shout out anything you want. Rude Jogger has nothing on you.

I am deeply distressed about this whole egregious situation that may undermine any sense of being a neighborhood and be the demise of Steiner Ranch. Before the world ends, I’d like to make a few suggestions that I will formally present at the next Steiner Ranch Home Owners association. My only hope is that one of these solutions will be adopted so that we can return to our prior state of suburban heaven. Here are three potential solutions to the problem.

1) All pedestrians must travel east toward 620 during odd numbered hours and west toward Lake Austin during even numbered hours. One of the downsides to this solution is that would be a no passing rule in effect.

2) Or perhaps between the hours of 5 am to 8 am or 8 pm to 11 pm joggers may use the sidewalks and between the hours of 8 am and 11 am or 5 pm to 8 pm mothers and children may use the sidewalk. All other times are fair game.

3) We could post a google calander online that can only be accessed by Steiner Ranch residents. All residents must sign up for thirty minute blocks of time that they would like to use the sidewalks. But you can only sign up for three thirty minute time blocks each week. If necessary we could separate the sidewalks into one mile segments so that more people could access them at one time. These request will be reviewed by the HOA on a monthly basis. Violators will not be allowed to sign up for future use of the sidewalk.

I personally like the third the best but I will petition for it to be put to a community vote. In the meantime, no one can access the sidewalks until we reach an acceptable agreement for all parties.

On the other hand, we could just share the sidewalks, say hello when passing our neighbors or passing if you’re in a bad mood, and appreciate the fact that we live in one of the nicest neighborhoods in Austin with great neighbors.

Sincerely,

Dear Abby

Monique,

Why are you crying? You are the one who started this whole thing to begin with and now you cant take the heat? You are getting exactly what you deserve.

WOW! Anon and Sarah, you guys have taken hatred and bitterness to a whole new level. I genuinely feel sorry for anyone who has been unfortunate enough to cross you two. Is this how you treat your family, friends and neighbors? Now that I think about it, you two probably don’t have many friends because of how underlyingly nasty you are.

To anyone outside of Steiner Ranch:

If you have been reading this blog, please do not let these few people taint your impression of our neighborhood. These people that comment negatively are less than 1% of the total that live here. The other 99% are wonderful folks who, I think, are very caring, considerate and understanding adults who come together as a community. I’ve never met so many good people and made so many friends since living here. I could never think of living anywhere else that would or could increase the great quality of life that we have here.

I do think the shirts are extremely funny and they are just making light of the situation. I do have an idea for another shirt: beware the rude blogger. On second thought, maybe not.

God bless you all.

I tip my hat to you the Rude Blogger design has been in the works for a few weeks now and shirts will be out shortly. Stay tune!

to doug

I speak nothing but the truth. To ask a business owner to take shirts out of their store because you have your feelings hurt is just wrong. People should think twice before opening their mouths and this kind of thing would never happen. Sometimes the truth hurts

Thanks to everyone for all the continued support with the Rude Jogger shirts. You can still purchase them online and soon at a major retailer in the city. It has been great to see individuals appreciate the message and light hearted humor behind it all. I am glad that people have been able to experience both sides of the drama and hopefully learn a valuable lesson.

Stay tuned for the newest addition to the line up.
The Rude Blogger. This shirt is intended to poke fun at those that are so brave and vocal over the internet, but cowards in person. The design is final and the shirts will be printed soon.