There are two groups of people in the world, those who have bumper stickers, and those who don’t. There’s been a lot said about weather or not you ‘should’ have a running bumper sticker like the 26.2 or 13.1, etc. There’s also the controversy over the stick figure family, that seems to be plastered on every mini-van in every town in America, pets included. As controversies go, these are tame, and probably won’t result in hate mail or bar brawls, but there is heated discussion nonetheless.
For whatever reason, my husband has a strong opinion about those who stick their accomplishments on their car. Oddly enough, he actually likes the family ones, and even got upset enough to tell me when he saw this on a local truck:
Saying what an a-hole that driver must be, and why would someone ever put that on their car, blah, blah, blah…all the while I was sitting dismayed that he even pays attention to those things!? After eight years of marriage, he can still surprise me. However, what happened this past weekend did not surprise me, but shocked the hell out of him.
After a blissful lunch sans children, the hubs wanted a Starbucks coffee. Now, around these parts, the lines for the Starbucks drive thru are long and slow moving. It takes about 7 minutes to make each one of their drinks, and if you add in a spinach feta wrap, you’re looking at a good 10 minutes. As we’re waiting, my husband notices the ‘IM’ (which stands for Ironman) sticker on the back of the car in front of us.
Him: “Is that necessary?”
Me: “If I ever did an Ironman, I’m pretty sure I would get it tattooed on my forehead, so I think he’s being humble.”
Him: “Should I go ahead and put all my accomplishments on the back of the car? I don’t get it.”
Me: “Spoken like someone who has never done a half of a half of a half of an Ironman.”
Him: “You know you would never put a 26.2 or running sticker on your car.”
Me: “No, but I don’t care if other people do. I mean, I spend a lot of time writing about running and my running accomplishments, so which is worse?”
Him: “I guess, but it’s just not necessary.”
At this point I reminded him of his love for the stick-figure family stickers and we started laughing.
About this time, the IM in front of us was pulling up to the window. He started talking to the employee while waving his arms around quite a bit. I figured he was Italian, but my husband started mocking him saying, “Oh you see, I’m an Ironman. Yes, I’m super awesome and I even have the bumper sticker to prove it.”
After a minute or so the conversation ended, he drove off, and we were finally next! We pulled up to the window and, as my husband reached his hand out to pay, the employee stopped him, saying “Oh, the guy in front of you paid for your coffee.”
Well, my husband just about pooped himself and said “ugh. I’m an asshole.” Um, no comment.
That’s right, the jerk with the audacity to have the IM sticker on his car turned out to be one hell of a nice guy. Of course we both started laughing hysterically and I immediately said “I have to blog about this!” To which he replied “Oh shit.”
I’m thinking of getting a custom made sticker for my husband’s car that reads “I love triathletes!” Whatdayathink?
How do you feel about bumper stickers?
If you have one, what does it say? If not, what one would you stick on? Sometimes I have to physically restrain myself from putting any number of the Oiselle ones on my car. They send you cool stickers with every order, so I have about 100 now…I put them on my coffee mug instead.
Ever have an a-ha moment like this one?
Ha! I love it! I am all for putting stickers of that nature on my car. I don’t get the family ones either. I did my first half this last spring and I really wanted to put a sticker on my car to reflect that accomplishment. I didn’t do it yet because I really don’t know where to get one. Once I do I will proudly display it. BTW, you handled the hubs very well! LOL!
After all these years, I definitely know how to handle him, but I just loved the outcome of that. You should proudly display your 13.1 sticker and any local running shop worth it’s salt will have them 🙂
OH MAN!!! I am laughing my ass off right now! Isn’t that always the way. Avery’s soccer coach sent an email before the season started and it wasn’t well written. It was kinda aggressive but in reality, I just don’t think the guy knows how to write well. I forward it John and say “great, we get a d bag for a coach.” I quickly noted that I shouldn’t judge based on one email. Turns out he is the best coach ever, would do anything for these girls and is super supportive. It’s a lesson that will stick with me.
Hahahaha!!!! So glad you can relate! I just love it when that happens.
Oh man I can just imagine hubby’s face!! I read the article and thought it was quite amazing that people are bothered by other people’s stickers. It’s a sticker!!!! I kinda think the little people ones are so adorbs and I haven’t seen the IM one yet but like you id have it permanently tatted or maybe officially added in to my name somehow. After I read the article I purchased a 13.1 because well obviously I was missing out 🙂 it’s only on my laptop though 🙂
It was priceless. I couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome from that! And YES you should proudly display your sticker. People who don’t race have no idea how hard-earned that sticker is!
HA, that is hilarious and so true. There are def so many different bumper stickers in this world. It’s pretty crazy now that you think about it.
It really is. I could read them all day! Thanks Hollie.
This is so made me laugh and you know I so would have blogged about this, too. Kevin is always saying when stuff happens here to the girls to watch out mommy will so blog about this. So, not much is off limits here either 🙂
Trust me, I have plenty that is off-limits as well but, luckily, Mike had a really good sense of humor about this and thought it would make a really great post. He was right! Thanks Janine.
Ba, ha, ha, ha! That’s awesome, it really is!
Ok, I’ll admit that I’m not a big fan of the 26.2, 13.1 or 140.6 stickers. It’s just a bit over the top. But I do have a couple of running related stickers on the back of my (oh so badass) mini-van. Which means that I can’t judge!
No you can’t!!! Hahaha!!! As usual, we are like-minded on this one.
I think: Your husband is my new best friend. THAT was hilarious.
Gotta love him Tina!! Thanks 🙂
And, I saw your FB post about the “pumpkin” spice latte which is why neither of us ever order any of those ridiculous drinks. In fact, Mike just gets a boring coffee with a little sugar! That IM guy got off real cheap!!
I was SO proud of my sister for doing her first marathon I bought her the AME 26.2 sticker THAT day. And I plan on doing the same when I do my first full. (which is supposed to be in January but I have a stupid stress fracture so who knows). Until then I have to settle for my 13.1, BAMR, and Ragnar stickers alongside the Girl Scout stickers on my badass suburban. I LOVE to see other cars with running stickers and always check the driver out to see if I recognize them
Good for you!!! You should absolutely do that and be proud. If someone else has a problem with it, it’s just that – their problem. Good luck with the injury recovery.
I like seeing the running stickers on other cars! I have 2 on my car, I wouldn’t stick any more than 2 running/ tri related stickers on at a time.There is a local car that has almost every distance on his/her car. It is a little overwhelming to read them all! I have also used running stickers to start conversations with other parents at my kids schools! So I guess I use them as a form of social networking.
That is an excellent point! I always crane my neck to see who is driving the running sticker cars and I would def start a conversation with someone over that. Who knows? It could lead to a new running friend. Thanks Jodi!
Ok, so if you had asked me a few years ago if I would ever put a 26.2 sticker on my car I would have said HELL NO. Fast forward 2 years…do I have one? HELL YES. I don’t care what other people think to be honest. It’s not to brag to anyone else, it’s so I never forget that HUGE accomplishment that only 1% of the population share. It’s motivational for me to keep working. Stick figure families I won’t do. And honestly, I think it’s a safety issue. Lots of bad people out there and if some wacka doodle wants to stalk you, they now know how many people are in your family. Paranoid, maybe…but my hubby got his masters in Military Intel, and it’s just another way to share your info. Forget us bloggers…we put way too much out there. We are screwed 😉
Isn’t it great how we change over time? I love that you have converted to the running sticker regime, when you once frowned upon it. And I seriously laughed out loud at that last part. OMG we are totally and completely screwed!!! hahahaha!!!
I have no problem with bumper stickers like this. I feel like you should be able to celebrate what is important to you and accomplishments that you have worked for and earned. This story is hilarious btw. I guess your husband had to eat his words!
Well, he had to drink them 🙂 And I obviously agree – there are plenty of truly offensive stickers out there and none of them have anything to do with running.
THAT is a great story!!
I ran 3 half marathons, failing to meet my goal at the last one by a long shot, before finally putting the sticker on the car. I went back & forth on it for a long time, so I’m compelled to explain that in my defense, I also have my daughter’s college sticker on the car– the places where we’ve most recently been SCHOOLED! They are also the things I’ve invested the most heart, time, and dollars in lately.
Absolutely! That’s what it’s all about and you should be proud 🙂 Thanks Karen!
Oh this is so something my husband would do! He makes fun of all the running stickers out there and has threatened to put a 0.0 sticker on his car. I said I would divorce him if he did. Why? Because I sometimes drive his car. I don’t want anyone to think I’m NOT a runner!
What would be worse then someone thinking you’re NOT a runner? hahahaha!!! I totally get that Angela!
Oh, I love that random act of kindness story just the same!!
I’m all for people doing and showing what they love.
In high school I had a ton of moose bumper stickers for every state I had visited and had successful moose encounters. I also had a bumper sticker that said, “Straight, but not narrow.”
Ha!
Isn’t it great? I loved it too. I also love the “Straight, but not narrow.” That is awesome.
Aww yay for people with IM stickers! To be honest I don’t have a strong opinion… If I ever see those stickers I’m normally pretty impressed actually. Especially Ironman. (LOL to the tattoo on your forehead!) yeah thats something to be proud of. Since I don’t have a car I think I need to figure out the equivalent of bumper stickers for pedestrians!! That might be a multi-million idea! (oh wait, would that just be graphic tees?? Nevermind…)
You were so close to that breakout idea! Keep thinking… 🙂
I don’t like bumper stickers but I do have a decal of my college in my rear window. I figure to each their own- it doesn’t hurt anyone else to have things plastered. Although I do think it’s funny when people have 13.2. I don’t know why.
13.2?? I haven’t seen that one? Very odd. I love the 2.62 one. 🙂
I LOVE this!! I don’t have bumper stickers on my car and I probably would never stick one there. If someone else in my family has stuck one on there (we have had soccer ones in the past), I probably wouldn’t even notice. I like the funny ones…it gives me something to think about when I am driving.
I agree! If I’m going to read it, I want it to make me laugh. I haven’t seen any really funny ones lately…
HaHa!! This made me laugh and laugh because I’m usually the one going off about someone and then I end up feeling like a total ass!!!
No stickers for me – I have one that says 50 miles but since I suck it will never go on the car. (I would have sported that one proudly!!!)
Hunter has a 13.1 sticker on his cello case – that was one of his primary goals while training for his half.
And, I don’t do the stick family either!!!
You are cracking me up with the “but I suck” b/c we both know how awesome you are. I love that Hunter has it on his cello case. He’ll probably pick up some chicks with that 🙂
Laughed out loud at the end of this one. What a nice Ironman! I put all my stickers on my water bottle, just because I don’t like stickers on my car. But my license plate does say RUNFAR…so maybe I am an asshole?! Haha! My husband doesn’t run and I’ve been looking for one of those 0.0 stickers for his truck. Totally necessary.
Hahahaha!!! My husband loves the 2.62 stickers. You are definitely NOT an asshole. I love your plate and I would love to have a VITA one!! And I stick all mine on my coffee mug. Great minds…
Bahahaha! At least he acknowledged that he was an asshole. 🙂
This is true.