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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think you don't ask a runner for directions

456 replies

Nocabbageinmyeye · 03/09/2016 17:52

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

OP posts:
Shiningexample · 04/09/2016 09:09

I run with earphones and wrap around sunnies, happily this tends to discourage passers by from attempting to interact with me

TheStoic · 04/09/2016 09:14

Oh right. And how will I know or care that they think I'm a "clueless dick" if they've been polite?

You won't know. But if you don't care that you've been a dick, it obviously won't matter.

NavyandWhite · 04/09/2016 09:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LogicallyLost · 04/09/2016 09:18

Another runner here. Happy to help with directions but agree that if there are others around i am not the best choice. Has happened before and they are talking to me and i need to say "hang on a sec" while i shut my music off, pull out a headphone and get enough breath back to respond (i was on mile 10 and all in).

Kingsizecrochetblanket · 04/09/2016 09:36

I'm temporarily in a wheelchair (bloody eye opener!!)
I had a lycra clad jogger get the arse-ache with me a couple of weeks ago for not getting out of the way and obviously taking up far too much room on the pavement!
Fuck off! I'm not moving, into the road you go snowflake. (Most runners on here would be considerate of wheelchairs I think btw)

tibbawyrots · 04/09/2016 09:49

RestingFace

I presume that by swearing at me the driver could ignore the fact that she was in the wrong location and was looking for Butlins in a tiny rural village 😆

WaitrosePigeon · 04/09/2016 09:52

I'm not a runner but I would never stop a runners flow.

Somanyvipers · 04/09/2016 11:11

I am runner but with terrible local knowledge. I do try to give directions but have been met with incredible rudeness for not being an A to Z and having to say I have no idea.

WhatamessIgotinto · 04/09/2016 11:17

I'm a recent convert to running and have no idea why anyone would have a problem with this. I've only been asked once in the last 6 months since I started and it didn't occur to me that the person was being rude. She was lost, I helped her, big deal. Some folk really are odd.

MephistoMarley · 04/09/2016 11:20

Obviously yanbu.

TaterTots · 04/09/2016 11:21

Somanyvipers - I feel your pain on that score. A couple of times I've been asked for directions and haven't known the way, and both times they've acted like I'm an idiot for not knowing. Not such an idiot that I couldn't read a map!

RichardBucket · 04/09/2016 11:22

CoteDAzur what a stupid post. There really are some terribly entitled runners here!

mygorgeousmilo · 04/09/2016 11:23

Get a grip Biscuit

Shiningexample · 04/09/2016 11:29

YANBU. I invite those handing out biscuits to try running for just 5 minutes before passing judgement
Spot on Cote👍

FreshHorizons · 04/09/2016 11:30

Massively entitled runners!

If it bothers you so much then just say 'sorry don't know' - which takes seconds.

Iggi999 · 04/09/2016 11:32

I entirely agree with Cote.
Stopping a runner is similar to flagging down a passing car to ask directions. You would chose a stationary car surely. My time is not more precious than that of a walker but my ability to start back up again is very different. I have in the past been waved away by someone in a rush when trying to ask them for directions - I did not curse them for this and just looked for someone else. Someone in distress is different of course, but I have never encountered that.

NavyandWhite · 04/09/2016 11:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FreshHorizons · 04/09/2016 11:47

Of course it isn't NavyandWhite- I think that I have been stopped about twice this year and I just do the polite thing and help.
I never knew that we runners we so special that we couldn't be approached!
A fuss about nothing!
Maybe some runners are just naturally rude anyway..

NavyandWhite · 04/09/2016 11:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Applesandpears86 · 04/09/2016 12:16

I got stopped this morning!

I hate having to stop when I'm running; I find it so hard to get back into and for this reason in the week I run at 5am where there are barely any cars let alone people.

This morning I was on a 7am run down a quiet canal path (again I had hoped there would be fewer interruptions) and someone stopped me to ask how far along the path is it to town x (where I live).

I will get flamed for this but I found it incredibly annoying; for a start there are maps and markers all along the route with the distances on!

I'm no Paula Ratcliffe but I do take my training seriously and I work very hard to beat times and distances. I was on mile 8 of a 9 mile run; at this point I am working hard to push my pace whilst my brain tries to focus and ignore my legs (and lungs) screaming at me to stop. Because I did have to stop, I ended up run-walking the last mile.

I don't understand how anyone could not understand that this is very frustrating.

yeOldeTrout · 04/09/2016 13:07

Those of you who find it so awful to stop... I'm intrigued. I am a regular runner, but not a very fit or fast one. I sometimes work at 85%+ of my maxHR for 40+ minutes. So why do I not find the running so excruciating that I need to zone out in a trance to do it at all? Do you all work at 90%+ of maxHR for up to 2 hrs, or can you run 5km

MuseumOfCurry · 04/09/2016 13:11

I just feel like if I stop, I'm not that likely to start again. I'm not a natural athlete.

Applesandpears86 · 04/09/2016 13:14

I can run a 5k in about 24 minutes. I am training for a sub 3:50 marathon in April. I run about 30 miles per week.

Yes when I am working that hard I do find it difficult to stop dead (as in to help someone with directions) and then get going again. If I stop completely then it takes me a few minutes to get my breath back, as opposed to just slowing down if I'm tired (but my breathing not returning to normal).

FreshHorizons · 04/09/2016 13:15

Those of you who find it difficult to start again then maybe they are doing you a favour- obviously a weak spot that you need to practise more!

Memoires · 04/09/2016 16:13

I've seen runners jogging on the spot in order to talk to people, though as I don't know the runners or the others I don't know if it's directions or full on gossip. Is that not a reasonable compromise between stopping to help and being rude/ignoring?

I've read some of the thread now, and so I know that there's rhythm and concentration going on which you don't want broken because you're trying hard, but I still don't really get why it's so different for runners than for anyone else with a hobby or pastime which they need to practise.

There's a chap in our town who's really into tai chi. He does it everywhere, waiting in the queue at the till, or to cross the road. He's clearly concentrating on getting his moves right but he doesn't mind being interrupted - he's out in public fgs! I assume he does the serious stuff somewhere he won't be interrupted, like a dojo or something.

If you're all so serious that you can't be interrupted, that you think it's OK to be rude to people, to behave badly like that runner through the school children, the do your practise in places or at times which are more appropriate.

If you insist on doing it in public, at times when people are out and about, then remember that you are no more important than anyone else and display a bit of humility.

FGS.