To think you don't ask a runner for directions

[Nocabbageinmyeye]

I find this so annoying, out running this morning and a car stops to ask me directions, it's not the first time it's happened, I'm not the only one around, why would you stop the person clearly out for a run instead of someone clearly out for a leisurely stroll or go into the local shop. I stopped this morning as I was only into the second km but last time I was almost home after a 10km and the colour of a tomato so just said "ah come off it"as I kept running. Why would you do that, aibu to think it's rude? It's annoying anyway I know I'm not unreasonable in saying that

i run, and i get why being stopped is annoying, but it's a downfall of running in public as supposed to on a treadmill, swimmers, gym goers, aerobic fans will never be stopped in this way, they can enjoy their time without being interupted but hey ho.
I had a fellow runner stop his car once, flag me down and want to chat, i was really annoyed, its a time when i want to exercise, zone out and have precious time to do something for me, all other mums will appreciate it when you cant even wee in peace with out kids wanting stuff, or have a conversation or do anything in peace with out kids needing stuff or asking stuff so yes my run time is precious.

"Has anyone said that B stopped and asked A for directions when there was C D and E stood idly about?"

OP did.

I'm not the only one around, why would you stop the person clearly out for a run instead of someone clearly out for a leisurely stroll or go into the local shop

Freshhorizons clearly you don't run/do any exercise at all otherwise you would understand that it's not "weak" to find it harder to start again after stopping, it's just a fact no matter how fit you are. Once your heart rate slows, kicking it up again is more difficult. That's why many runners do interval training, however there is more science to it than simply stopping randomly and starting again. Pace, recovery time etc much all be taken into account. I suggest you get some exercise 

There's a lot of wilful misunderstanding going on here. - I agree WonderDog, I will say AGAIN that there were plenty of other people around, is their time less important that mine? No of course not but they were not rushing for buses or doctors as has been suggested, they were clearly families/friends out walking with buggies/dogs/toddlers in a rural village/large estate type setting, that doesn't make me more important it is just scene setting that people had several other options and in my opinion I was the least obvious choice out of all of those people. I say AGAIN that I did stop the other day, was it annoying - yes, was I rude - no, was I a bit miffed because there were other options - yes but I stopped because I'd not long set off so it was easier to stop, I did not stop the other time because after 9km I was struggling and there were other options available, these people are no less important than me but neither was the person looking for directions any more or less important than me either. Would I have stopped if we were alone with nobody else around? of course, my aibu was not about stopping alone, I would NOT leave someone high and dry and stuck not knowing where to go, I would not pass someone who had fallen/had an accident. I stopped over the winter to tell an older couple that the path ahead was treacherously slippy, but that's not relevant, but aibu was clearly about me believing I was an odd choice not about me believing I am super important and expect people to part like I am Moses so I can run through.

Most of the people who have run on this thread have said they either don't mind stopping at all or wouldn't mind if there was nobody around, they all explained it's a focus, fitness, pain, comfort etc etc reason, nobody has said it is because they believe they are more important. Being called rude, cunts, thugs, self important twats though , anyway, I will continue to find it annoying, rude/odd (when there are others around), and necessary and polite (when alone on a road).

And I never thought of jogging on the spot for some reason, so there you go, everyday is a school day as they say!

Yep, also agree there's a lot of wilful misunderstanding on this thread and possibly sour grapes? The people that are always the most scornful of others who exercise/eat healthily/have healthy lifestyles often seem to be the least fit. I remember a colleague scoffing that I was "obsessed with 'elf" once because I was eating yogurt and blueberries for breakfast, she was eating a twix and drinking a redbull
Anyway, look at it another way, imagine there's three people stood at a bus stop. One person is talking on the phone and the other two aren't obviously doing anything. Asking the person on the phone would be rude as they are clearly in the middle of something. Same thing as someone in the middle of a run. If someone is engaged doing something else and there are other options/people around, then asking the busy person is rude. Even if I'm (shock, horror) daring to exercise in public, why should I be interrupted?

tsk tsk, piggywanda. FreshHorizons' comment was good natured.
Plenty of runners here have said they don't mind being stopped.

I would find it disruptive to break up an interval... but not really a biggie. How does one do intervals in town, anyway? You've got to pause to look for traffic & traffic lights & doggies & buggies to dodge & so on. It's bad enough for me to juggle interval timing for stiles & downhill stretches.

Tut tut trout, if you don't find it a biggie then you're probably not pushing yourself enough during intervals.

I personally don't think ahead and interval around where I know lights are etc, I don't find I really have to dodge around buggies, doggies etc as i spot them ahead and give a wide berth

When I started running I deliberately chose circular routes without traffic lights, because I found getting my rhythm going again after stopping really difficult and sometimes actually painful as my legs would stiffen up.

So YANBU OP.

Just call out "sorry can't stop", no need to be a twat about it.

Who's being a twat?

Depends on the run, if it is a 50 min jaunt around my local park I have no problems stopping, when I am training for a marathon and I am on mile 19 of a run and you absolutely have to see it through without stopping then I no I don't like being interrupted!

Not sure why people are clearly wandering aimlessly because they are with friends or walking a dog? They could be walking the dog before they head off to work for eg.

Well if runners are in public areas where there are lots of people, I think they expect to have some disruption.

Having said that, I would also choose to stop the person who looked most approachable and not engaged in anything.

bumsexatthebingo I never said they were wondering around aimlessly I said I was scene setting and they were not rushing for public transport or the doctor (I chose these as they were given as examples up thread), I know this because there is neither in our village. Of course everyone walking anywhere in life COULD be doing something but as someone else said if there was three people standing at a bus stop and one was on the phone would you ask the one on the phone or one of the other two? As i said they were walking with buggies, dogs and toddlers (not in buggies) in a rural village/estate/garden setting in a place with no public transport so say what you like those people in my opinion would be to me a more obvious choice that anyone running with headphones. I say AGAIN had I been alone then that obviously changed things

@Pigwanda: how does one know if they are pushing hard enough thru intervals? Do you use a power meter, % of target pace, train by % of maxHR or perceived effort (X out of 10). What do you recommend is the "hard enough" level of exertion for intervals?

I am recently back from a run, a man tried to engage me in conversation
(despite the fact that I was running with earphones in)
I didn't stop or slow down
I smiled....just like this-> :o,
I gave him a thumbs up and carried on running
no idea what his reaction was...like I said if you dont stop it's highly unlikely that the person you just snubbed will hotfoot it after you and wrestle you to the ground

Who's being a twat?

No one, really. HeddaLettuce regularly stops into threads to call the OP a twat/dick or similar, I've noticed.

YANBU

Headphones! Then just smile and keep running.

I don't go running to 'be nice', I go to exercise. I don't want to stop so don't.

YANBU. Sometimes breaking my rhythm can really ruin the rest of my run if I've got a nice pace going. I'd have just shouted Sorry! and kept going.

I remember I was running in the park once, headphones in. A man started waving at me so I stopped and took the headphones out so he could speak to me. He said "you know running is terrible for your knees". Thanks for mansplaining that you fucking prick.

Once your heart rate slows, kicking it up again is more difficult.

unless you are drawing someone a map of London, your heart rate shouldn't slow down in the time it takes to ask a question.

I run, and have been asked and don't particularly care. I am not training for anything though, nor am I timing myself. It's just a nice thing to do.

I would, however, be a bit annoyed if I was in mid stride when someone asked me if there were others about.

Trout depends on what you're training for, I'm currently training for a 5k PB therefore my intervals are shorter and faster and based on my 5k threshold pace. Other people may use their HR to define their intervals or other methods. The point is that intervals are supposed to be uncomfortable, you're supposed to be training yourself to run with built up lactic acid and also overcome the mental battle of running fast then slow fast then slow. If your thresholds aren't painful, IE if having someone interrupt you half way through doesn't make you want to cry knowing you'll have to start that one again, then rest assured you're not pushing it.

unless you are drawing someone a map of London, your heart rate shouldn't slow down in the time it takes to ask a question

only if you are unfit

if you have a good level of fitness your heart rate will change very quickly in response to your level of exertion, if you are a regular runner it should drop almost immediately when you stop running or slow down to a walk

heart rate recovery time is a good indicator of heart health / efficiency

if you have a good level of fitness your heart rate will change very quickly in response to your level of exertion, if you are a regular runner it should drop almost immediately when you stop running or slow down to a walk

Sorry, but I don't believe it. Professional athletes in many sports have to constantly deal with sitting time. I get plenty of exercise and it takes a few minutes for my heart rate to slow down.

Also, if you are that fit and your heart rate responds that quickly to a slow down, surely it should respond quickly to a restart. It works both ways.