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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed at peoples lack of running race etiquette

55 replies

rookiemater · 11/01/2014 15:46

I ran/lumbered a 5k this morning which I enjoyed as I do 2-3 road races per year of varying distances. Now I'm not particularly fast, but I did have a time I was aiming for, which I managed to meet despite the other people I encountered en route.

I know I am being mean spirited, but some of the participants really annoyed me. It is a fantastic effort to complete the race if you are new to running or whatever, but please if you are going to be walking from the very start - as evidenced through lack of running gear and bobbly knitted hat, then start at the back.

Also you get a colour based on the time you think you will take. It's really poor to stand in a faster area as you are holding back those runners.

Equally if you have an injury and aren't able to run, whilst it's great that your partner/friend is supporting you round the course, if you decide to walk slowly two abreast swinging your arms to the side on a tight bit of the course close to the beginning,then you are holding other people up.

Oh and if you are running/walking as a team, again that's fantastic, but you do not need to run/walk all side by side, taking up all the room and stopping people from going past.

Sorry it's a bit of a rant and it is wonderful to see people out, probably as part of their new year resolution to take more exercise, but honestly a bit of consideration would be nice.

OP posts:
Joules68 · 11/01/2014 15:47

I agree!!

Was it parkrun?

Original poster
rookiemater · 11/01/2014 15:49

Phew - No it was one of the great Edinburgh race runs, as they are big events they attract a diverse lot of people, which is truly great as it's good for everyone to get exercise, just not if they are in my way !

OP posts:
BraveLilBear · 11/01/2014 15:53

Agree x 100!

Nothing winds me up more than the annual city 10k here. It's fab but they have a corporate 'thing' which puts corporate runners at the front regardless of ability. The first 4k are spent weaving around unfit office types who did no training and have started walking or are having an in depth 3-abreast chat. Parts of the course are just 3 metres wide!

If you need to walk or tie a shoelace, get out of the way first please!

louwn · 11/01/2014 16:06

Completely agree! Why enter a race if you're going to walk the entire thing (unless promoted as such eg race for life). I have done a few half marathons where I start with people who are supposedly aiming for around 2 hours or so but start walking after a mile! No real point in my mind unless you do some proper training!

MrsTerryPratchett · 11/01/2014 16:17

Is this the running equivalent of people bunging up the fast lane swimming slowly, doing backstroke at people while splashing wildly, stopping to chat in the lanes and leaving their stuff in lockers without paying for them, so I have nowhere to put my stuff? If it is YWBU not to flamethrower them.

GrumpyInYorkshire · 11/01/2014 16:39

BraveLilBear - are you in Leeds by any chance? As I had that experience at the 10k last summer. Utter nightmare. I was going for a time but spent the first half of the race trying to get round a huge group of "corporate" entrants, several of whom were walking three and four abreast and boasting about how hung over they were.

OP, YANBU. This makes me FURIOUS. When I run a half marathon I stand in the sub- two hour category because that's the time I can realistically get. I want to pace myself with similar runners, not end up stuck behind them as they stroll along...

bigbluebus · 11/01/2014 16:39

These will no doubt be the same people who park in parent & child or disabled parking spaces when they have no business being there, or go to the under 10 items checkout with loads more than 10 items. Some people just don't have the common sense or ability to consider other people.
If you want to get a good time in a race, however, you would do well to avoid races which are renowned for attracting lots of novices!

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 11/01/2014 16:44

YANBU.

If you are slower than those around you get out of the way!

Original poster
rookiemater · 11/01/2014 17:29

MrsTerryPratchet - when swimming I'm just grateful if the swimmers stay in their blinkin lanes.
At our pool there are two lanes, yes two - one for fast swimmers and one for slow, yet despite this people seem to think it's acceptable to plough lengths up and down the family swim area and tut at my DS and his pal when they are trying to have fun in the - uh lady you know why it's called - the family swim area.

Anyone that's a separate rant for another day!

I'm not an elite runner, anything but - I like big races as I have a fear of being last, which has happened once in a smaller race.

OP posts:
TartyMcTart · 11/01/2014 17:45

GrumpyInYorkshire I'm in Leeds and the past few 10k races here have been awful for slow people clogging up the first couple of miles for us (ahem) speedier runners.

However the Abbey Dash in November last year was so much better organised and we all lined up in groups according to the colour of our race numbers which were our anticipated running times. Everyone I set off with ran at a similar speed to me and I even kept alongside most of them for the whole race so we had obviously put our correct times down!

I'm all for a walker, good on you, but start at the back - you're only doing it for fun!

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 11/01/2014 17:50

YANBU.

My db did the London marathon a few years ago. Considered his expected time carefully - decided on "Sub 4 hours". Spent the first 2 miles overtaking walkers!

Umm - if you can only run half a mile without stopping you are not going to complete the marathon in sub 4 hours. (Roughly 8 min miles.)

(Db completed in 3 hours 56 minutes.)

BearWithBearWith · 11/01/2014 18:05

I hear you Rookie! I ran today's race too and although being a Bupa which can attract novices I'm surprised newbies didn't consider that massive, thankfully extinct,volcano they stuck in the middle of the course.

I hope the rage spurred you on and you got yourself a respectable time :)

Since we may live near each other give me a shout on one of the smaller races and I may solve your coming last problem ;)

Disclaimer- I did wear proper running gear and no bobble hat.

Tailtwister · 11/01/2014 18:09

YANBU, I can see how that would be annoying.

I have signed up for a 5K in May and will be as far to the back as I can get! I've just started the couch to 5k programme, so hopefully will be able to run the whole distance by then. I won't be over estimating my expected time though.

Sirzy · 11/01/2014 18:12

I have my first 10k run in May (or March if I brave it!) and will be making sure I am in the right area for my very slow speed so as not to slow others down. I would rather wait til everyone else has gone so as not to get in anyone elses way

FanFuckingTastic · 11/01/2014 18:16

This title is misleading, I came in expecting chat about casual racism, and actually it is on a subject of running a race. Words are funny things.

BikeRunSki · 11/01/2014 18:17

Tarty I have done a fair few 10k events, and thought that the Abbey Dash this winter was one of the best organised. I've done.

BraveLilBear · 11/01/2014 19:26

Grumpy and Tarty I'm in Hull now but did the inaugural Leeds JT one.

Love the Hull course and the atmosphere is fab but it's bottleneck city in places! I'm aiming to make my return at this year's - tempted by the York one too (love the city orienteering race - now that's really a challenge dodging shoppers and tourists).

Love parkrun too - people there seem to be able to self sort as well (bonus). Not been for ages though (DS is 5 months). Can't wait to get back in my trainers :)

bigbluebus · 11/01/2014 19:33

BraveLilBear. Can't you take DS parkrunning? There are quite a few runners with buggies at our local Park Run - including one runner with a double buggy wonders how the hell that runner managed to push that up the hill, when it took me all my time to get myself up

coco44 · 11/01/2014 19:33

A 5k is hardly a proper race though is it?

BikeRunSki · 11/01/2014 19:39

That's a bit harsh coco. 5k events are often the first event new runners aim for. For some people it may be the only event they'll ever do, for some it may be the furthest they ever run, for some it may be the start of bigger things, but 5k will be significant to somebody.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 11/01/2014 19:50

5k not a proper race? Tell that to the Olympic committeeHmm 5000 metres.......

5k is a great distance because up you can really push the pace if you are a more experienced runner but beginners can tackle it too.

I think race etiquette can be crap at all distances.

Bumply · 11/01/2014 20:05

Rookie, I too was in this mornings race.
Yanbu.

I saw someone with a shoulder bag, as if they'd gone shopping and ended up unexpectedly taking part in a race.

My issue was in the downhill section where some people put their lives at risk by suddenly stopping and turning round while I was using the advantage of gravity to achieve otherwise impossible (for me) pace. If they'd been directly in front of me I'm not sure I could have stopped in time.

LessMissAbs · 11/01/2014 20:25

coco400 A 5k is hardly a proper race though is it?

I think Mo Farah may be surprised to learn that one of his Olympic gold medals was not a proper race!

Original poster
rookiemater · 11/01/2014 20:28

Hello fellow today runners bumply and bearwith. There was also a bloke holding up a tripod and camera, either filming himself or the course for the entire race, fine if he had stayed in place but he kept meandering across the path .
I do have to admit though that I did stop on the downhill bit when I realised it was icy Blush , oops perhaps I am the badly mannered runner.

Coco44 I sort of see what you mean about the distance - it's been a long time since I did a 5k and I was primarily only doing it as it was a handy venue and date, so I can see that a 5k attracts a varied group of participants. I have done the half kilamathon a couple of times and not encountered this problem - I think the slightly odd distance and it's lack of reputation as a charity raising run, puts people off - plus it's a flatter route.

OP posts:
LessMissAbs · 11/01/2014 20:29

Races are full of annoying people:

  • that one man who decides he has to beat you because you are a woman, runs next to you and elbows you every few strides then tuts loudly if you give him it back
  • the runner who missed out part of the course in a cross country, took a shortcut and "beat" me for 3rd place woman
  • the cross woman I beat once by over a minute who came up to me afterwards with her equally cross friend to complain that I had overtaken her!

etc etc don't let them get to you! Focus on your own performance.