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

When I am running a very fast 5k (my fastest pace for example) and I am pushing it (in the last 2k or so), if I have to actually stop I have to fully catch my breath. As opposed to being tired and just slowing down/breathing not returning fully to normal.

It would be really hard for me to get this breathing rhythm back to carry on running at the same pace.

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

are you saying you dont believe that the time taken for hr to return to resting levels is related to cardio vascular health?
(if so you are wrong)

mine slows down almost immediately, I train with a heart rate monitor,

not that I think that makes any difference to the issue of whether runners should have to submit to approaches from random strangers whilst out in public!

I am in the 'smile and keep on running camp' but if you like to stop for a chat when you go out running then crack on!

plenty of info available on the significant of hr recovery, for example:

The healthier a person's heart is, the quicker it returns to its normal beat; the less healthy the heart is, the longer it takes it to recover from something like an exercise stress test

I've had the treadmill HR recovery test at an NHS hospital and it's exactly as it says in that link. The recovery time is crucial in testing heart health.

and fwiw I'd not stop running to give directions. Unless we are somewhere v remote and there are no other persons around. Other than that I crack on. I am busy and stopping will affect me quite a lot as has been described.

Pigwanda: my intervals [are] based on my 5k threshold pace

My intervals are already quite a bit faster than my PB pace for 3 or 5 miles.
Yes intervals suck. I truly loathe them.

An interruption would be nice :). Bit like climbing (cycling) a steep hill only to meet a red light half way up, phew. I could do an extra (but short) interval, or make the next interval longer to make up for the one that got cut short. It's not really rocket science.

Unless we are somewhere v remote and there are no other persons around

I see your point but I think I might be even more reluctant to stop for someone in a remote and deserted location...personal safety comes first!

ah yes I see that point too! It'd be on a quick risk assessment - any doubts and I'm off.

he he, you'd use your finely tuned runners instincts of course

just out of interest did you find the NHS test useful WheelofPan?

yes extremely so! It was because I was told I'd had a heart attack and spent 3 days in ICU.

Now I was pretty sure I hadn't (despite being told for sure I had) - fortunately I was right when the enzyme tests results eventually came through. Nonetheless I was stress tested on a treadmill. All was well.

Trout - like I said, depends what you're training for. Each persons training plan is different dependent on aim/ability.

The point still remains that if I'm out running (especially doing intervals of something requiring specific timing/focus) and am interrupted, when there are others around that are not in the middle of something, then the person interrupting, is unreasonable. Yes, I can start again, but why should I? Just ask someone else, who doesn't seem busy, I personally can't understand how someone would fail to grasp that it's rude.

are you saying you dont believe that the time taken for hr to return to resting levels is related to cardio vascular health?

Not really. What I didn't believe is that in the amount of time it takes to answer a question, your heart would slow down so much that it would be uncomfortable to start up again. Furthermore, the fitter you are, the more difficult it is to stop, answer a question, and start again.

So, it doesn't at all surprise me that time to resting heart rate is less for fit people. What does surprise me is very fit people find it difficult to restart running after a 20 second question.

There are running tracks. They are places where you can run a lot and not be interrupted.

There are also maps, gps, and road signs.

This thread has made me want to single out runners should I need directions or help. I won't of course. But some of you lot are sounding so utterly entitled it's ridiculous. And rude.

Just because you're running you don't get right of way and no I don't have to get out of your way - run around me. What happens when you need to cross a road in traffic? Do you just run across and the cars have to skid to a stop? Do any of you see lots of accidents?

Bet you don't like kittens either.

Sadly this thread has just convinced there are a lot of angry grumpy people about.

..who need to get out for a stress-busting trot.

lol

Just because you're running you don't get right of way and no I don't have to get out of your way - run around me. What happens when you need to cross a road in traffic? Do you just run across and the cars have to skid to a stop? Do any of you see lots of accidents?**

Memoirs eh??? Who said any of that ^^ ??

Pan (we have 3 cats, all of which were kittens and have managed to survive our loathing)

alrightarekid well, someone said something like the first bit, and there was the incident a poster told of the runner and the school drop off thing which illustrates that it does happen; actually I personally wouldn't be able to get out of someone's way, runner or otherwise, as I'm in a mobility scooter when I'm out and about and those things can't do a quick step aside. I know (at least I assume) that no matter how deep their concentration a runner wouldn't waste their breath on shouting at me to clear out.

The road crossing and imagined result were all my own work! There has been quite a lot of entitlement on the thread.

Well, the 'entitlement' thing goes both ways - if I needed directions, I'd ask someone who looked most likely to be able to help me without too much inconvenience (i.e. someone who wasn't obviously in the middle of something). I wouldn't just flag down the very first person I saw, regardless.

Yabu and a precious tbh. Bit of courtesy costs nothing.

I agree with a pp. Im going to make a beeline for runners when I get lost now.

Please don't ask me, I got lost on my last run and it was a very simple route: run out for x miles, turn round and run back. So please don't assume we all know where we are.

Nobody was looking for right of way or for anybody to get out of their way

Not quite sure how you'd make out I was precious though, granted it's better than cunt, twat, thug and other things that have been thrown out there, although it's only the yabu side that have shown any rudeness here

Nobody was looking for right of way or for anybody to get out of their way
exactly, we runners just want to be able to go about our business without being accosted by random strangers, we are not public officials with a duty to provide assistance to members of the public.

Im going to make a beeline for runners when I get lost now
fabulous, do please report back and tell us how many stopped and how many carried on running.

Whats your plan of attack
run after them?
Step out in front suddenly forcing them to stop?
Stick your foot out and trip them up?

Will you be attempting to accost large burly male runners, or will you stick to the little old lady runners?