Beware the Speed Table

When running in Maui, watch out for those speed tables. A speed table is variously known as a “speed bump” or “speed hump” on the mainland. “Speed table” is the Anglicized wording for the original Hawaiian word speedhumuhumunukunukuapuaa, not to be confused, of course, with the Tlingit version, speedkaagwaantaan. You likely didn’t know that the speed bump signs are there for the protection of runners, not motorists. I was running through an asphalt parking lot and nearly removed the skin from both palms as I skidded to a stop, having tripped over a very deadly, dark, black, unmarked and unseen, nearly invisible speed bump. Hence I’ve grown to appreciate the speed table warning. A safe runner is a happy runner.