This week we ran along one of my favorite running routes, with Spot Pond and one of the Winchester reservoirs along the way, running along both sides of the Fells, near Winchester Center, and hills everywhere you turned. But along the way I got distracted by things found on the side of the road. The first was the tiniest of flip flops which made me think who would think a baby would keep a flip flop on, they don’t keep real shoes on. I imagined the scene of the little one in their car seat flinging the shoe out of the window. Now I was looking along the ground for interesting things. This isn’t the best way to get through a long run, hunched over gazing from side to side at things to look at. It became obvious that the most discarded item by litterers is Dunkin Donuts cups. After that, beer cans. So with that, over 16 miles, here is the beer can inventory along the route:
19 Miller Lite cans, by far the drink of choice of drunken litterers.
8 Bud Light cans, interesting, less than half the number of the Miller Lites.
6 Budweiser cans, funny that you see both Bud and Bud Light, but you don’t see Miller along with the Miller Lites. Do they still sell the Champagne of Beers? Or perhaps those that live the High Life don’t litter.
2 Natural Light. An Anheuser-Busch product, the Natty Lite was surprising to me. Given that one was in Stoneham and the other was in Winchester makes me think they were actually being consumed by two different litters. A little research has taught me that it is actually the fifth largest selling beer in America. Who knew? I want to know, though, what’s “natural” about this one that is not natural about other beers. And why would someone who drinks a beer marketed as being natural discard their can in nature?
1 Michelob Ultra. Another A-B product which brings the litter quotient for that brewery nearly to the level of the Miller Brewing Company.
1 Coors Light. The mountains weren’t blue so this one had been on the side of road for a while.
1 Keystone Light. Where’d this one come from? Coors actually, but who drinks this stuff?
I was kinda surprised to see that many cans of beer discarded over a 16 mile stretch (38 in all, plus a bottle of Jack Daniels and Captain Morgan). What would this guy say:
Other than the litter, this was a beautiful run. A little hot at the end, very hilly, scenic in spots… another quality Sunday Long Run. Thanks to Barry, Nancy, and Betty for helping us get through the run with snacks and drinks along the way (all of which were discarded properly).
Yo Jim!
You forgot the red beanie baby on Forest Street just after WS #1! Thanks to all who helped today!
Ngl
I thought that was a memorial to the dead chipmunk on that hill last time we ran it.
That’s a lot of inventory keeping, I’m lucky if I remember where I’m going.
I struggled mightily today but big thanks to Barry et al for the water stops and support.
i’m actually happy that the road kill we encounter now is stuffed animals. It struck me as a bit sureal when i saw it, but i’ll take a little stuffed squirrel in the road over indescribable insides mushed by multiple cars anyday.
thank you barry, nancy and betty. I must’ve been properly hydrated to not notice all those beer cans. usually i eye the half drank bottles of anything on the side of the road when i’m on the long run. didn’t notice them at all this week.
a good run! happy to be back!
Like Nancy, I can’t believe how Jim can remember that inventory of beer cans! But interesting…and funny too:-) @ .05/can deposit, that is almost $2 that is just sitting out there on the Winchester roads! Like Joe, I suffered mightily today. I have a minor infection and was put on some antibiotics this week and they are wiping me out! So….I was fairly non-social:-( and ran solo listening to Podcasts for a 14 miler (7 miles out and back) and then went right home afterwards. Many thanks to Barry who pulled up along side me with Gatorade at mile 12 when I really needed it. Sorry if I seemed unfriendly. I hope to be feeling much better next week! Jen
Amazing! No way I would have been able to keep track. I enjoyed reading that Jim!
It’s so nice running with a group.
When you put that together with nicely spaced water stops that makes the miles go by much faster!
Too funny! Very enjoyable read!!
Jim, you made my day. I look forward to your blog every week so please
keep them coming. As for Barry, and all of the wonderful people that
help at the water stops, I’m not quite sure how much I can say “Thank You”- and for the gu!
I will be away next week but I will check in to see what I missed.