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Original poster

Why do runners run on the road?

13 replies

Passmethecrisps · 28/08/2018 21:03

Not sure if this is a thing everywhere but it happens a lot on the wee road out of my village. Last week I was caught behind someone running on the road for ages before they moved onto the pavement.

So there is a pavement. There is one the length of the road. The road isn’t very windy so I don’t think it’s about saving distance.

Runners, please shed some light on this odd practice for me. Why do some runners run on the road?

OP posts:

WordWeasel · 28/08/2018 21:08

I am a runner, and I have no idea why this happens. Granted the road is nice and flat whereas the pavement can be a bit up-and-down if it's an urban area with driveways, but I'd still run on the pavement in order to avoid being squished by a car.

LastOneDancing · 28/08/2018 21:10

Overgrown bushes
Avoiding puddles
Pacement in poor condition.
Because the pavement us more sloped so the rain runs off - it makes your ankles ache after a while.
Lots of driveways - see issue with slopes above.

But I would always move for cars - did they have earphones in & didn't see you I wonder?

Original poster

Passmethecrisps · 28/08/2018 21:10

Have you seen it though, word? I was wondering if it was unique to this particular part of the country.

My village is in essentially a dead end. You only go up the road to get to be village. It is a 40 as well. I suppose the road could be an easier surface

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Freshprincess · 28/08/2018 21:10

If there's a lot of over hanging bushes ready to poke me in the face, or nettles at ankle height then I might move onto the road, if it was really quiet.

Kezzie200 · 28/08/2018 21:12

Does seem odd but is the pavement uneven, badly lit, lots of kerbs, tree stumps....

tattychicken · 28/08/2018 21:13

The pavement running out of my village is in bad condition, lots of lumps and uneven bits, and puddles in them when it rains. It also has lots of kerbs when it goes past people's driveways so you're constantly adjusting your running stride to go up and down the kerbs. I much prefer to run on the road though to be fair the road is wide enough that cars wouldn't get stuck behind me. Unless my arse is a lot bigger than I think.

Original poster

Passmethecrisps · 28/08/2018 21:13

There aren’t driveways as this is a road out of a rural village towards a main road

The condition of the pavement is probably a fair point. My dd has taken a nasty tumble from her scooter as the tar has been lifted by mare’s tail.

I used to jog myself a long time ago so I have no anamosity at all I just wondered what the reasoning is when I see it so often.

The runner recently almost certainly had earphones in - doesn’t everyone - and it took her a very, very long time to twig I was behind her. I was keeping my distance though so maybe it was just background noise to her

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Original poster

Passmethecrisps · 28/08/2018 21:15

Do people just get in the zone maybe? It is a popular circuit for people to take walks often with dogs and buggies. I wondered if people were getting off the pavement to avoid them and just getting into a stride so forget to move back?

OP posts:

JynxaSmoochum · 28/08/2018 21:20

What's the state of the pavement like?

It can be hard going if the pavement is too up/ down or too much of a camber from driveways. They can be obstructed by low branches/ bins/ dog poo etc or just poor condition and a trip hazard.

JynxaSmoochum · 28/08/2018 21:26

You can get into a bit of a trance-like zone when you're going! Dodging pedestrians, dogwalkers etc can put you off your stride once you're in the zone, and when it's gone it can be hard to get back.

There is an awful section of pavement I use along a busy, bendy rural 40mph road so going off it isn't an option. It's narrow, over grown in places, worn out and gravelly and recently the mound of earth displaced on to it by an animal burrow has finally been moved off it after at least 2 or 3 years!

WomanInBoots · 28/08/2018 21:34

I like running on uneven surfaces, prefer trail running to road running really... But if I was doing speedwork and pushing myself I prefer a smoother surface to reduce the risk of tripping.

Pavements, cycle paths and bridleways are often completely unfit for purpose so you end up with vulnerable road users forced onto roads. Which is a bit rubbish for everyone.

megletthesecond · 28/08/2018 21:37

I'm a runner and I have no idea.
Runners who run on the road when there's a perfectly good path must have a death wish.
I don't take routes where there isn't a path, I run to keep healthy, not collide with a tonne of fast moving metal.

Bestseller · 28/08/2018 21:46

Pavements are often in poor condition with trip hazards and over hanging branches etc but if I do run in the road I'm always very aware of vehicles and would step back on the pavement the minute I heard a car behind me. I don't wear earphones for that (and other) reason although electric cars are stealthlike!

I don't know why they wouldn't have got out of your way unless they couldn't hear you.

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