to be annoyed at peoples lack of running race etiquette

[rookiemater]

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.

[PiggyPlumPie]

I used to quite often get beaten by a man with one leg!

[rookiemater]

Well done Bumply - I couldn't do that, so even coming last you're a lot better than me.

I like the relative anomynity of a big run I have to say and I guess having some people who don't know how to behave in a race is the downside of that.LessMissabs - I wouldn't want to be closer to the front, I'm certainly not fast and I am in the area appropriate for a realistic time for me, unfortunately not all follow this convention.

Anyway next race is the half kilamathon - I can't remember any irritations like that at it as it's a nice wide flat run.

[Bumply]

Oh, I did come last in the Hunters Bog Trot (twice up Arthur's seat - the actual hilly bit, not on the road) and got a round of applause for finishing.

[Bumply]

Someone in their 70s coming in last (ignoring the ones older than me that did beat me...)
I don't do fun run 5ks as they're just not fun for me, but I like the winter run as it's a good start to my racing calendar.

[Knottingley]

Doesn't matter anyway Bumply. The last finisher is the hero IMO, it's much harder to turn up and come last than it is to win.

[Bumply]

Yy to club races being better if you find the ones with the odd die hard who's slower than me. I've come second to last In a few with s

[GrumpyInYorkshire]

Coco - don't be so daft. I've run every distance of race up to the 26.2 but it's the 5ks I find the toughest, as I'm incapable of sprinting. In a half, for example, I find my pace, settle down and keep going. But I really struggle over 5k. It's a horrible distance IMO - not really a long distance, but not a sprint - just a tough hybrid!

Also in full agreement with those who praised the Abbey Dash. I got a terrible time in November but loved it - far, far better than the Jane T runs or the Bupa 10ks.

[Knottingley]

I ran 5k XC in the county champs today. Not a proper race? You'd be hard pressed to find anything much more competitive.

The worst are the women (and it is usually women I'm afraid) who start too far forward and then run three abreast chatting. How can you race and chat?!

I avoid all the big events now. Small local races organised by running clubs are far better. Cheaper, friendlier, less hanging about at the start and you actually get to run (no you won't come last, even if you're not a club runner, there are still runners of all abilities and there's usually an wizened old club runner in his 70/80s who comes last just for the fun of it)

Daisy, if you're not competitive you're not racing, just running! You might not expect to come first but you're still competing and it matters where you come/who you beat/what your time is

[LessMissAbs]

Rookie maybe you need to start a little further up? I find I run better times when my rhythm is reasonably constant.

Borntorun yes, apparently I should have waited behind her or something so I didn't annoy her by overtaking?

Norman I'm from a track running background (5k is considered really long distance for slower runners if you're a 1500m runner) and believe me, if that man elbowed another man in a male track race, he would have got far worse than a few elbows in his ribs back again!

Most people at races are really nice and friendly, but I find the ones nearer the top end tend towards the most sensible and friendliest. Then you get the men who try to use it as a dating site and try to engage you in detailed conversation because they ran roughly the same time as you. I once had a man who heard me ask me where the toilets were who then looked me up on the internet and sent me several messages, the last of which was "I'd like to run a sub 40 minute 10k but I'm not sure whether this body's up to it" - I didn't even bother with a polite reply to that one!

[rookiemater]

Oh I have never come across the snot rocket - that's one blessing at least !

[daisychain01]

OMG Lifeisamarathon, your comment about the snot just reminded me of someone years ago who had a big bushy beard which was not a pretty sight by the end of his race and the blokes in our club gave him the nickname of "Saliva Stew". Urgh

[daisychain01]

Rookie, no not at all, I think you sound lovely. I was referring to some of the comments made, for example people going up to someone after a race and being nark-y that they'd been beaten over the line. I found that . I guess if people have done lots of training, they start to get v. competitive and forget it is meant to be fun!

But I get exactly where you are coming from, re positioning at the start to make sure you don't get in the way, it makes good sense and is a lot safer.

[cjel]

When my ds did the great north a few years ago they didn't believe his estimated finish time and gave him a number at the back, he didn't want to go(we are down south so a long way) he said whats the point to end up walking behind the walkers, he is competative and wouldn't have wanted his time to show if he hadn't been able to do his best!!
I rang them and they said if he could bring some evidence of other race times they'd move him up and they did Much better to do it that way than let others guess their times and hold you all up.

[Lifeisamarathon]

All very true points when you are trying to PR. How hard is it get over? I'm not a fast runner and don't feel comfortable knowing people are on my heels(I'd hate to be tripped) so I tend to stay more to one side but do get irritated when I have to continually swerve around people who run side by side as a group or those who go from a nice paced jog to an immediate walk(stop)!

The worst etiquette I've witnessed thus far is seeing children left behind because their adult parent or participating partner decided to keep the running spirit fast and alive! One time a girl who looked to be 11 or 12 tripped and fell and skinned up her knees. I didn't PR that race as I stopped to help her and try to calm her emerging fear which was escalating because she was alone with complete strangers feeling embarrassed and in pain.

Oh, another disgusting habit(mostly in longer distance runs) is the infamous snot rocket. Hello! People are behind you! Disgusting!

[rookiemater]

Thanks daisychain1 - you're probably a much nicer person than me hence why everyone else seems nice.

[daisychain01]

Worse race ever for getting boxed in was the Windsor Half because the first 2 miles up to the Monument is a narrow path with grassy banks on either side and bloody hundreds of runners all with elbows sharply pointed outwards. Not good, no P B that day!!

[daisychain01]

Rookie well done for your race, was lovely weather for it!

[backwardpossom]

I hate 5k. I don't get into a decent rhythm until about 2 miles in and then it's almost time to stop. Give me a 10k any time.

Not a proper race. Pfft.

[daisychain01]

I must say, after 20 years of running I havent come up against unfriendly people at races, it all feels very enjoyable, but maybe I have just been lucky.

[rookiemater]

Oh yes piggyplum pie - I have had that on the Glasgow half, 3 women side by side, doing occasional running then walking - did I mention there was 3 of them beside each other. I try to keep a steady pace, so had exactly the experience you describe, except also had to squeeze past them in their slow bits - every blinkin time.

[Borntorun25]

*LessMissAbs] that is jaw dropping! How very dare you overtake someone in a race . I do hope you've learnt your lesson .

[daisychain01]

Coco44 sorry but anything 10k or under is known as "eyeballs out, gun to tape" in my club! And definitely a race. Maybe try it and then decide . Less about distance, more about intensity

[rookiemater]

Yes but Lesmissabs - whilst I agree the people you describe were annoying, with the exception of the first elbowing man, they weren't actually impacting on your own race.

It's kind of hard to focus on your own performance when you're trying to keep a rythym up a steep hill, but forced to detour on to the grass because of two non runners taking up the entire narrow path in front of you.

[PiggyPlumPie]

This may only apply to "slow" runners (i.e. me!)

...the person who sprints to get past you then walks because they are knackered. You plod along and overtake them, so they sprint past you again and then walk. Repeat for 10K.

[Normanpriceisnotarolemodel]

I've made rude comments to people on the startling of HMs before. 'Ooh I hope I'll finish in about 2:15' me 'well why are you standing at the 7 min mile pace starting position then'.
Rude, selfish behaviour.
Less miss, I've had that problem from a male runner too. I made sure he ate my dust.