My DH thinks I wbu, do you agree? People interrupting me whilst out running...

[Livingtothefull]

I know I am being a bit precious but here goes…

I live in an area which has a fair few tourists, this morning I was out for a run. There is one spot in the middle of the route where I have to run up a hill, I choose it purposely as it is v challenging to do.

I was running up the hill, just looking straight ahead and trying to focus and get up there. Then a couple approached me from the side & tried to ask me the way to somewhere (I think) but I just blanked them as I didn't want to stop and couldn't talk while running, not even to say 'Sorry can't stop'.

I did feel rude but then I thought, why ask a runner for directions when there are plenty of other people to ask? It was not an isolated spot, there were literally dozens of other people walking up & down the street. They did not look distressed, if I had thought there was any kind of emergency I would have stopped & helped….but I heard them giggling in amazement at my rudeness after I blanked them & ran past.

This has happened once before & I did the same thing. I told DH about it and he said they probably asked me because they assumed I was local. He thought I was rude and should have stopped, I said they should have known better than to try to interrupt a runner for a non-emergency. We had a bit of an argument about it & I said that they would never have done it if I had been a man, as they would have then assumed I was a 'serious athlete'.

WIBU? This is a genuine question.

Everyone has a right to use pavements, no matter what speed they are going at. I run and I spot and plan for people walking ahead of time, I always go round them on the road if necessary.

There does seem to be some animosity towards runners. I have not been shouted at yet (although have received some 'humourous' but inoffensive comments), but I have been glared at and frowned at by walkers I am running towards. I cannot believe some of these stories. I think I read a thread about a lady who had just started running who was pelted with a McDonalds wrapper and shouted at, which must have been horrific.

I don't see what compos has said wrong

I understood that it was his/her experience she/he was talking about

'running inappropriately quickly along busy footpaths'. There I was thinking that public places like streets and paths belong to everybody

So we all have a duty to behave in a way that doesn't endanger each other.

I have no problems with people running on footpaths per se if it is safe to do so and yes it is stupid and petty to deliberately hold someone up when there's space. But sometime it is neither safe or practical to keep running at high speed on the pavement and not slow down or deviate from your path. For example trying to run down the pavement on Oxford Street on a saturday afternoon.

Likewise small children on scooters, likewise mobility scooter users, sometimes you'll have to adjust your speed to the conditions. A minority of users don't appreciate this.

I wasn't attacking you full but wanted to point out that some, but by no means all, don't show much consideration for other pedestrians.

I think I read a thread about a lady who had just started running who was pelted with a McDonalds wrapper and shouted at, which must have been horrific.

Absolutely shocking behavior.

Since compo's advice was to observe social nicities, unless you are training for the Olympics like Mo Farah, I don't think running is another area I'll be following her with baited breath on either.

For what its worth, I have friends who are runners who might not have made Olympic teams but have done very well with their running, and others who enjoy it, who consider their right to train without being interrupted just as important as anyone else.

I cannot believe that such a simple activity can result in such objections.

Compos if you have not actually been assaulted, as you appeared earlier to have given the impression of being, but have witnessed more than one assaults by runners, then I hope you did provide details to the police. It sounds very strange, what you describe. I personally think you're a bit over-imaginative, and a tad unrealiable, and just drawing attention to your own personal annoyances. Which seem legion.

For example trying to run down the pavement on Oxford Street on a saturday afternoon.

I can't imagine why any runner would choose Oxford St under any circumstances. Surely they are in the minority?

CompostHat - fair enough. I stated previously that I always do my best not to inconvenience, let alone endanger anybody.

There are inconsiderate people everywhere…some are runners, some cyclists, drivers, walkers, swimmers etc. I see no justification for specifically singling out runners as a particularly problematic category of people.

No I wouldn't choose a crowded pavement like Oxford Street to go running. But I don't think iabu in using a fairly broad suburban pavement dotted with people, where mostly there is leeway to easily move out of each other's paths. I think it is perfectly acceptable. All pavement users can be considerate towards each other in trying to accommodate each others' needs/priorities.

chandler please tell me what legal terms you think I've used (and abused).

Compos if you have not actually been assaulted, as you appeared earlier to have given the impression of being

No I didn't.

but have witnessed more than one assaults by runners

No I didn't. Please stop making this up.

then I hope you did provide details to the police

Of something I never claimed happened, amazingly not.

For example trying to run down the pavement on Oxford Street on a saturday afternoon

That was an extreme example I admit, but where I have seen problems is when runners (I assume combining their journey to work with a run) try and run down a street between 8-9am in a city centre on a pavement that is busy with people walking to work, queuing for buses, taking children to school, going in and out of shops. They really shouldn't be trying to run in those sorts of conditions, but if they do accept you'll need to stop and or slow down fairly frequently.

I'm not a runner. I am, however, seriously unfit and when I do attempt excersise I know how it is to be so out of puff you literally can not speak. At all. What kind of person asks a question to a runner in the middle of a run up a steep hill?! It's common sense. There are plenty of other people to ask, why ask the person that's clearly busy? YANBU OP.

Compos - I run down city centre streets at rush hour, because I run to and from work. When you're busy, using your commute as a chance to train is brilliant.

I would highly recommend it. There's nothing like arriving at work with a decent training session already done.

I must be the only person who thinks that in general terms, ignoring a stranger who makes any sort of uninvited approach just isn't rude, pretty much regardless of the circumstances. . I'm not talking about Good Samaritan situations here. If I went up to someone and asked durections and they ignored me, I wouldn't think " how rude", i'd think " meh" and ask someone else.

Runningup, you must get a loudhailer so that you can shout
'MAKE WAY, MAKE WAY, RUNNER APPROACHING'
as you run.

Well that's what I do

Compos Either you have witnessed an assault, or you haven't. You described runners as "barrelling into people", which to me implies unwanted some physical contact. However, since an assault can be constituted by an apprehension of unwanted physical contact, what you describe certainly does sound like an assault (or indeed a series of assaults).

So, since you make such a big fuss about the OP not stopping for social niceities (because she is not an Olympic medallist), I assume you would be equally concerned about the victims of the assaults you witnessed, and be able to describe what action you took in comforting them and possibly going to the police.

So which is it? Either you witnessed an assault(s), or you didn't. Make up your mind. Either you were exaggerating, or you didn't act very caringly.

chandler please tell me what legal terms you think I've used (and abused)

Its not my job to go through your posts and educate you. You must surely be aware though that if you use legal terms out of context, you risk coming across as slightly foolish. Its quite amusing, so I wouldn't worry yourself.

The thing is, I respect and admire people who do sport, at whatever level. Because they are doing a damned sight more than the person driving along those streets to work, clogging up the roads. Or anyone who criticises them for not being an Olympic gold medallist. In other words, I'm more respectful of deeds, not who can shout the loudest.

The primary problem seems to be your understanding of the English language is limited.

You described runners as "barrelling into people", which to me implies unwanted some physical contact. However, since an assault can be constituted by an apprehension of unwanted physical contact, what you describe certainly does sound like an assault (or indeed a series of assaults).

It may imply physical contact to you, but you'd be wrong. Barrelling means to travel at speed - the car was barrelling along at 70 mph - not an assault.

if you use legal terms

But I haven't used any legal terms - i have re-read my posts and the only term that you can possibly misconstrue as being legalese is Strawman, which as i've explained before doesn't mean what you think it means. It is a well known term in debating/essay writing (it is a favourite trick of lazy first year undergrads) and resolutely isn't the same as 'man of straw.'

I would imagine that most people on this thread will have heard the term 'strawman' (or an Aunt Sally') argument and will understand what it means. For clarity;

If you won't take my word for it:

Strawman argument

Barrelling into people does imply physical contact. Otherwise it would be "barrelling towards people".

This thread has gone weird.

Compos, I get that you have a problem with (some) runners, but none of what you've mentioned is relevant here, so why bring it up?
Imagine:

OP: So I had a tiny technical problem while driving today, blah blah...
Compos: Yes, but some other drivers use their cars TO MOW PEDESTRIANS DOWN!
Everyone else: whut?

I went for a run today because it's a BRILLIANT way of pissing other people off! (not really, I go because I enjoy it and it makes me feel strong and fit even when I'm not doing it )

Just for the record, I checked, amd the law states that it is utterly unreasonable (and punishable by tarring and feathering) to interrupt someone who is running (esp with obvious effort) except in an emergency

I would have though that was common sense, but as it clearly is not, I thought I woud check the official law book on the matter.

When I was particularly unfit and it felt like my lungs were on fire I would have wanted to beat someone who stopped me to death.

In reality I would have stood bent double and hacking and would have been unable to go on.

I think the fact that the people in the original OP laughed at her and another poster talks about interrupting runners for shits and giggles confirms that people do this for a laugh.

It's not nice.

Compos The primary problem seems to be your understanding of the English language is limited

Well, after you've finished policing the pavements, coaching the British running population (including of course Mo Farah), rewriting Debretts and eradicating the legal profession of both lawyers and legal terminology, perhaps you would like to tell my employers? Otherwise, I fear that I may continue, unabridged.

TurtleBeach I knew I'd read about it on here, it was a terrible, stupid thing for that man to do, and it did stick in my mind. I had wondered how you were afterwards.

Totally depends on the couple that asked. If the people looked worried/vulnerable/panicking at being lost, I'd stop and help even if there were other people around they could have asked.

If they looked fine just mildly inconvenienced at not knowing their way, and no particular reason to think they were vulnerable, I'd probably act exactly as you did and say something like 'sorry can't stop, hope someone else can help' and gesture to the other people.

They didn't look vulnerable riverboat1, if they had I would probably have acted differently.

They were laughing, we were in a very safe area with lots of people around and lots of shops & cafes open where they could have asked for help if needed which is what I usually do if lost (that & having a map with me). There were also maps and signposts all over the place.

They came out of a side street and asked me, either because I was the first person who came along, or maybe because they were purposefully trying to wind me up.

Maybe we live in the same area. I'd be stopped very infrequently by tourists when I ran in the park. While irritating, I always stopped. I don't think they thought they were being rude or irritating at all. They just didn't think.

However, I WAS quite upset when I was walking in the park heavily pregnant. I saw a toddler drop his toy from a pram way ahead. The nanny was walking at a real pace and I couldn't catch her. When I tried to stop a runner (who was running in their direction) to deliver the toy, she just fobbed me off and kept running. I was so embarrassed! So instead I nearly went into early labour trying to catch them. I did, but it took me 20 minutes. The runner would have caught them in 2.