I'm a collegiate runner home on spring break. Today, while going through warm up drills on the local high school's track, I was approached by a groundsman of some sort and told to leave because I was trespassing on private property. I had been planning to do some mile repeats.
I had simply walked into the track because the gate was wide open; there was a baseball game taking place on the adjoining field and lacrosse players had just finished up practice on the track's turf infield. These players were still taking their pads off and generally milling about in the bleachers. They clearly didn't give a crap that I was using the track. It was still broad daylight.
Initially I was very polite when this geezer approached me, and told him that I used the track all the time, as did many other village residents. Surely he was aware of that. He started getting nasty, said he didn't care, and asked where I had gone to high school and such. He also spouted some bullshit about how if I tripped and got hurt I was a liability. Like I'd sue the high school for falling on my own face. I got frustrated and responded angrily in kind. Eventually I did leave...since after telling him I'd find my own way out, he told me he'd taken my picture (as if he had a hidden camera) and that he'd call the cops and give them the picture if I left by any means other than the open gate. I gave him a hard-earned smartass comment loud enough for the lacrosse team to hear, and peaced out.
Now, technically this old dude was right. Sure, I was trespassing, and sure, I gave him some lip. At one point, before he threatened to call the cops, he asked if I was an alumni, as if that would have changed the fact that I was trespassing. But that aside, what the hell kind of person takes issue with locals using a high school track? Should the law really take precedent in this case? I'm 99% certain they don't have a sign up or anything warning people to keep out.
Besides, had I been a shuffling old woman in a tracksuit instead of a young dude in short shorts and a singlet, would this guy have approached me? No effing way. Am I going to call the cops every time somebody lets their piss on my front lawn? No. Although that's technically trespassing, too.
Just a vent, but honestly: what do you think about this? Should I write a letter to this so-called christian high school and suggest they share their track like Jesus would have wanted? Not that it'd have much chance of making a difference, but it'd be nice if it could.