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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think runners are getting a lot of hate atm

298 replies

HerstoryInTheMaking · 07/04/2020 17:45

All over social media I am hearing a lot of nasty and snarky comments towards runners, especially from people who would never usually exercise outdoors anyways.

Aibu to think social distancing is a two way street and that those walking should also attempt social distancing. I as a marathon runner try my best to avoid people often walking in a group along a path who refuse to budge an inch.

OP posts:
Idontbelieveit12 · 09/04/2020 11:48

Some dickhead came running past me the other day from behind, I hadn’t heard him and he was that close he almost brushed past me. Also a knob on a bike in the park didn’t ring his bell and nearly ran my son over 🤬

Fluffybutter · 09/04/2020 12:10

@MonkeyToesOfDoom no because the daily mail is full of shit

MonkeyToesOfDoom · 09/04/2020 13:51

Fluffybutter
Oh, well, here's a link to the actual company that produced the video that the Fill Of Shit reported on.

www.ansys.com/about-ansys/covid-19-simulation-insights

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/04/2020 18:05

To take the car comparison a step further, if you crash into someone when behind them, in a car, you will be at fault. Every time. So slow down and back off.

If someone doing 30 on a motorway, changes into the outside lane without indicating or shoulder checking, they're an idiot.

That's all I'm asking. Keep to the side, don't randomly change direction without checking, don't take up the whole path, don't be a dick. All while pretending runners are the issue.

PotholeParadise · 09/04/2020 18:14

What, you mean everyone should be considerate, instead of just blaming everything on any particular group that can be othered?

What civil, adult madness is this?

larrygrylls · 09/04/2020 18:49

MrsTerry,

Paths in suburban parks are not motorways. If you went to a track to train and a family was ambling in front of you, that would be a motorway.

I really don’t think expecting runners to run around slower walkers is unreasonable and also to take out their (expletive deleted) headphones so they can hear what is going on around them! These are not normal times and Paris has just banned daytime exercise between 10AM and 7PM.

If runners and cyclists want to keep their freedoms in cities like London, they should respect slower park users.

I run myself but I have a brain and slow down or wait if necessary.

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/04/2020 19:00

I am running before 10am, not in heavily used areas, avoiding the most used areas. I already run the 'quiet' side of the place I use. And I try to do what I can. Some of the walkers on here ask that of runners, but aren't willing to change their behaviour at all.

Additionally I was there first. I run somewhere most of the existing users are runners. Happy to budge up. But not happy to be told that we are creating the issue when we've been there all along.

caramelbun · 09/04/2020 19:52

I love jogging. I live somewhere where people are generally friendly and smile and say hi to each other as we pass anyway, walking or jogging . With the 2m distancing rule people are still pleasant and considerate.

I have not heard anything bad about runners or any other group.

BubblesBuddy · 09/04/2020 23:24

“I was there first”. How entitled are you? We learn how to share! DC have to learn this and look out for less mobile DC so you need to learn too. When we are all back to normal, you can do what you want. In the meantime, modify your running. It’s all about sharing!

MrsTerryPratchett · 10/04/2020 01:10

In the meantime, modify your running

Literally the first paragraph was about that.

BubblesBuddy · 10/04/2020 08:56

unfortunately you spoilt your first para by your second. Sigh, sigh, sigh!

Winesalot · 10/04/2020 10:04

Whereas, I get what you meant MrsTerryPratchett.

It is annoying that people who are perhaps newly using the area that you and many runners were using, are complaining while not actually respecting the ‘shared’ nature of the path themselves.

After 3 solid years of using the same path at the same time, you do develop a system. I know to avoid that dog that is ALWAYS running at me because the owner just gets abusive. I have a person who sits on a chair and encourages me everytiMe he sees me (missing him). I know that around this area I have to be more vigilant for walkers as they cut through and that is fine, but I watch for them.

I also am seeing so many more runners out (and they are much faster than me) and they are actually bringing more predictability as they are keeping left and spaced out. And because there is more, the dogs are more under control too.

Winesalot · 10/04/2020 10:05

And I am not saying that anyone ‘owns the path’.

cologne4711 · 10/04/2020 10:54

As for the "study", there are two sides to every story:www.vice.com/en_us/article/v74az9/the-viral-study-about-runners-spreading-coronavirus-is-not-actually-a-study

cologne4711 · 10/04/2020 10:55

I love jogging. I live somewhere where people are generally friendly and smile and say hi to each other as we pass anyway, walking or jogging . With the 2m distancing rule people are still pleasant and considerate

Same here caramel. You get the odd silly couple who refuse to go single file, but more to do with lack of awareness I think.

cologne4711 · 10/04/2020 10:57

I really don’t think expecting runners to run around slower walkers is unreasonable and also to take out their (expletive deleted) headphones so they can hear what is going on around them

Walkers should take out their headphones too. I don't agree with it even in the best of times. You don't know what's going on around you, can't hear traffic or those who may have sinister motives.

SwerfandTurf · 10/04/2020 11:24

I was walking along the Thames Path the other am day, huge wide path, plenty of room to pass. I was all the way over on one side, literally holding onto the wall due to disability. No one else around. A guy was running towards me on the same side, and even though he had buckets of room to get past he still ran straight at me forcing me to jump out of his way, and he passed me by inches.

Some people are just twats.

BubblesBuddy · 10/04/2020 12:14

Just received a message to say the Thames Path at Hammersmith and Fulham is closed to cyclists and runners from 10 am to 6 pm for 4 days, starting today. So it seems we do know where the problem is and measures have been taken to curtail poor etiquette. Other routes are being indicated to runners and cyclists at these times. Separation makes sense to me and it’s being policed.

BubblesBuddy · 10/04/2020 12:17

And by the way, people can walk on any path, in any area they want, whenever they want. “New” people too! Cyclists and runners do not own space.

Winesalot · 10/04/2020 13:16

So it seems we do know where the problem is and measures have been taken to curtail poor etiquette.

And here we go again..... blaming runners and cyclists and completely ignoring the walkers who cannot do the right thing. I am sure it has nothing at all to do with simply the high numbers of people (of ALL exercise categories) using the path... at all. No... just those ill mannered runners and cyclists it seems.

Of course, if there is so many people using the path it makes good sense to separate by user. no need to make it about ‘problem’ users at all.

larrygrylls · 10/04/2020 13:50

Winesalot,

I think you need to think what the open spaces are for right now.

There are a lot of people cooped up in flats who need to get out and many have children. Although I agree that everyone should be considerate, ultimately it is easier to look in front of you than behind you and children do need to be able to enjoy themselves a bit, which is hard in a single file route march.

There is no need to be trying to improve your running or cycling time now, in fact it is detrimental to your immune system and is selfish. Staying fit by running within yourself and unselfishly is what is required.

Cologne,

I do not often see walkers with headphones in, whereas it is rare to see a runner not ‘plugged in’ these days, certainly around me.

Winesalot · 10/04/2020 14:02

And as a walker (as well as a runner) Larrygrylls, I can vouch that in my area there is plenty of space for everyone if they are considerate of other users.

It really does not need to be a competition on who has better etiquette. It actually comes down to simply respecting others. If a group cannot for a minute fall into single file to give others space at this time and then go back to whatever formation they want along a path that is just wide enough to do that, then I am not sure what constitutes respect. Or is it entitlement? I admit it could be cultural differences as I spent my formative years in Australia and yes, many years in a flat.

recrudescence · 10/04/2020 14:22

That's all I'm asking. Keep to the side, don't randomly change direction without checking, don't take up the whole path, don't be a dick.

It has to be noted that you’ve rather sneakily changed what you’re asking.

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