Brandermill Resident Sets Record for Being Surprised by Runners Passing on the Left

By Contributing Writer and Avid Runner Wendell B. Mill

Move over Lou Gehrig!

Brandermill resident Denise O’Startles has set a new standard for athletic consistency by being surprised by runners passing her on 14,493 consecutive walks.

O’Startles set the new record on Wednesday during her daily walk on the paths at Commodore Point.

“Excuse me, passing on the left,” yelled runner Ron Wiggles, as he neared an oblivious O’Startles walking ahead of him.

Moments later, O’Startles yelped in surprise as Wiggles passed her.

“Oh my goodness, where’d you come from?” O’Startles said.

It was a classic performance in a career filled with them, including memorable surprises like that-time-she-dropped-a-baby in 1985 and the-one-where-she-fell-and-broke-a-wrist in 2014.

O’Startles was first surprised by runners passing her on walking paths shortly after moving to Brandermill in 1979. Experts say her unbroken streak is impressive given her refusal to use performance-enhancing equipment like smartphones, ear buds, and other distracting technology.

“I guess I’m old school that way,” O’Startles said, before grabbing her chest in surprise at a group of walkers coming the other way down the path. “Oh, they scared me!”