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

My feminist lens is saying that people get this angry about women prioritizing their health, time and needs. How dare women not be friendly helpful and selfless at all times?

I'm willing to bet that my 200lb, built like a brick shithouse DH gets stopped never, as he thunders past, red faced and sweaty.

It reminds me of a recent article by a man in a men's magazine on how to talk to women wearing headphones. Just don't should be the answer!

If you were in the gym and you needed to know where the loos were, would you ask someone in the middle of a bench-press or spin class, or would you ask someone who was standing, or walking between activities...?

I can't believe people have such little social cop on (and are seemingly proud of it). If you need a favour from a stranger, ask the person who'll be least inconvenienced. They'll probably be more likely to want to help you.

"Do you find it hard to be assertive, do you just let anyone walk all over you?"

Aye, because stopping a run for 30 seconds is exactly letting people do that.

FFS . I would stop because it's rude to just ignore someone who might need some help, and because, like every other runner on this thread, I'm not training for anything actually important in the grand scheme of things.

alrightarekid, you really think that?

My feminist lens is saying that people get this angry about women prioritizing their health, time and needs. How dare women not be friendly helpful and selfless at all times?

Hadn't thought this before, but now I do. Nicely put.

If you were in the gym and you needed to know where the loos were, would you ask someone in the middle of a bench-press or spin class, or would you ask someone who was standing, or walking between activities...?

I asked this upthread and no one answered, except for someone rather maddeningly suggesting that they'd ask the receptionist; I asked what if there's no receptionist on duty; the even more maddening response as that this would be illegal and can gyms even do this?

Huh, why is a park not an appropriate venue for going for a run? How exactly would you hire an appropriate venue to train for a marathon? Running on a treadmill is not appropriate for training for a marathon btw , road running is completely different.

The only time I have been stopped when running for directions is when I am running with my male running partner. Talking to him he is often stopped. Not sure it's a gender issue at all.

Yes I'm being facetious Kid😚
But, you say its rude to ignore someone asking for directions, the other side says its rude to ask someone who will clearly be inconvenienced when there are multiple other options

Its the same as the gym scenario, if you'd like ask someone where the toilets are you pick someone who's idling rather than exerting themselves

Unless you sincerely believe that people should not be running in public?
How then should they train for long distance running events?

Perhaps you think such events should be banned? Or only for the very rich who have a large private estate on which to run?

If I'm asked for directions whilst running I'm going to point in the wrong direction in case it's the pp who's now going to deliberately target runners.

Well, as I am a pretty serious (multi-marathon, sub 40 min 10k) runner myself it would be rather self-defeating to advocate ban running in public.

I just don't accept the excuse that people are too involved in their training that they can't stop for 10 seconds to say "oh, that building? it's down there", other than for the reason that yes, they are a bit rude. How do they cope with, say, a loose shoelace or having to wait to cross a road? It's nonsense, really. GPS watches have a pause facility, heart rates do not jump down 100 bpm instantly.

And the gym scenario is not the same thing at all. I'm not aware of any village/town or country road that specifically employs people to hang around the streets to answer questions.

Everyone in a gym is doing something, but some are busier than others.

Everyone out and about is doing something - some people are more available than others.

When you're asking a stranger for a favour, why wouldn't you ask the person least likely to be inconvenienced?

If I stop when I'm running I find it very hard to start again and find my rhythm. So shoot me. I'm unsure of the exact science behind this, whether it's physical or mental, I suspect both, it's just a fact. It is the same for many other runners I'm sure. Nothing wrong with a breathless "sorry can't stop" if some entitled lost person thinks you must stop what you're doing to help them, despite there being many non-busy people around they could choose.

RunningLulu replied to my suggestion of asking the Receptionist: most 24 hr gyms won't have anyone on duty after 5. Mine doesn't

I responded: That can't be legal, surely? In any event, would anyone have a need to ask where the spinning class is at 2:00am - surely they won't be running then, most especially if no members of staff are present. Wouldn't an exercise class need a member of staff to run it? I would expect classes to be run between the hours of approx. 8:00am to 6:00pm
and went on to say that it could not possibly be legal to have a building open to the public with no member of staff present. As Lulu had said her gym didn't have ANYONE on duty after 5 (comment post cut and pasted above from page 6). I didn't query the fact that it might be illegal to not have a Receptionist on duty, I was questioning why a building would have NO member of staff on duty, and thought that would be illegal. And gave the example that it would be unlikely that someone would be asking the whereabouts of a Spinning Class at, for example, 2:00am. Classes are run between certain hours.

What is maddening about that, unless there are poor comprehension skills, which is perhaps why Lulu didn't respond. Perhaps she didn't understand the comment? It was a genuine worry on my part.

I can't see the comment from you on the subject, but RunningLulu made the point to which I replied.

(Unless, of course, you are Lulu. If so, is this what is generally known as 'sock-puppeting'?)

Sorry - my comment above was to MuseumofCurry - the thread has moved on a bit

My dad is a runner and gets stopped all the time. I know its only anecdotal but I don't think this is a gender thing He is also happy to stop in these situations, he has done marathons and half marathons, so hes obviously a fairly decent runner. He was also furious when we were out for a walk the other day and some runner barged between him and my disabled mother, knocking her out the way (my mum is on crutches so obviously disabled), saying the runner could easily have slowed down/stopped to say excuse me.
Also presumably runners are out doing a hobby, in their leisure time. Whilst someone walking is probably going a to b, therefore busy. Logically you should stop the person carrying out a hobby rather than someone possibly going to work.

Evan, the reason your response is maddening is because you refused to answer if you'd ask someone on a treadmill at the gym directions. You just pointed out that it's illegal to not have a receptionist. Do you not see how that's avoiding the point?

Why do you think I'm Lulu? I think you're Oysterbabe.

If you read my comment, Museum, which was in answer to lulu, I did not suggest it would be illegal to not have a receptionist. I suggested it would be illegal to have no member of staff at all. I cannot find your comments on that particular subject - could you point me to them please? Lulu's comments are on page six. You said you had made the comment, but I can't find it.

Thanks.

Oysterbabe will probably be mortally offended by that!

Please will those who plan to target runners with queries keep us updated on the results?
Has anyone on the thread successfully accosted a runner yet?

Shining I don't think anyone has seriously suggested they will deliberately target runners. I, personally, have never asked a runner, FWIW, and am unlikely ever to do so. That particular comment from someone above was made jokingly. I think it's just come from the fact that SOME runners think their time is more important than others, which is why it's got people's backs up (and they're so flippin' seriously grumpy about it all)! Exercise is meant to relieve tension and anxiety, surely, not exacerbate it.

Comments and insinuations like "Ask someone who is out for a leisurely stroll, or who's time is less important than mine". How do you know how important (or unimportant) someone's time is? Their stroll might not be leisurely - they might be desperately trying to get to an important appointment and are unable to walk fast, let alone run. It doesn't mean their time is less precious. It is simply an assumption from some runners.

This thread is going round and round in circles now. It all boils down to common sense and common decency, in the end.

No it boils down to differing opions of what exactly constitutes common sense and common decency

Few would attempt too argue that one ought not to do the sensible or decent thing, the point of contention centres around what is or isn't sensible or decent!

I'm quite surprised at the number of people who think that stopping a runner when there's alternative options, is the right thing to do.

I'm not a runner, but I wouldn't dream of flagging down someone who's running unless there was no one else to ask. I figure, it's takes quite a bit of effort to get the momentum up, get your pace, and breathing right. I wouldn't want to purposefully mess that up.

Memoires I'm just saying what I understood from your overly dramatic post. Maybe it sounded less hysterical in your head?

EvansOvalPies who said that "Ask someone who is out for a leisurely stroll, or who's time is less important than mine" - the less important than mine bit I mean obviously? Nobody I can see has said it or insinuated it, myself and others have repeatedly said we/our time is not more important than others and most have said they will stop no problem if alone but I/others just don't understand how someone would assess a situation and deem the runner to be the obvious choice when others are around. It's the people who think iabu that are repeatedly throwing out the runners time being more important, no runner has said that.