To think runners are getting a lot of hate atm

[HerstoryInTheMaking]

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.

Thanks cologne for this link

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

Well she’s banned from the Thames path in Hammersmith and Fulham so one small step for mankind.....

BubblesBuddy

"She?" Who is she, the cat's mother?

Let's hope for your sake that this precedent doesn't lead to them banning rude people from any public place. Otherwise you might find yourself put to some inconvenience in future.

I'm running around in Shropshire and I'm enjoying my runs more. I think most people have chilled a little.
To be honest the hardest part is deciding who should step aside and half the time we end up sort of dancing at a distance to avoid each other then smiling or laughing as we pass.

If I see a runner I move if possible. Why wouldn't anybody? It sounds like petty point-scoring. I'm not annoyed by runners keeping fit. My only bugbear is particularly in these times I wouldn't want a runner breathing heavily anywhere near me. I always aim to give them a wide berth. But I only hear outlandish stories about confrontation with runners on MN, I've never come across it in real life

Agree OP. I'm a runner and I blame the mamils. They run so close to you and I hate it.

Well she’s banned from the Thames path in Hammersmith and Fulham so one small step for mankind.....

As I have said....I am sure the ‘ban’ on that part of the Thames path has nothing at all to do with simply the high numbers of people (of ALL exercise categories) using the path... at all. No... It is 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.

Bubblesbuddy you continue to demonize runners and cyclists rather than accept that all people should be responsible and proactive while they are out and about.

As they say on MN, crack on. And you just keep doing ‘you’.

I run, if the path is busy with walkers a shout out excuse me, if they move great, on the many occasions they don't i do slow and I move round them.
This has become more of an issue over the last few weeks. All of the routes around me are now full of people who I've never seen before due to the lock down.
I try and be patient whilst doing what I normally do but it is hard. These extra people aren't normally out as much I and other runners/ cyclist's are. We are considerate (there are some twonks) but all of a sudden everyone is thrown together and whilst we are used to sharing these spaces many out there at the moment it's a rare treat for them to be getting so much fresh air due to lock down.
It's nice to see on one hand but on the other they aren't as used to being as aware of runners, cyclists, horseriders and their people dogs of lead that when these people get in their way it bothers them.

Just remember op people have been pounding the streets long before lockdown with no issue. Now there is one, that can't be entirely their fault.

The only hate I've seen is on Mumsnet where some posters think it's hilarious to mock Stava, people who want to exercise, wearing lycra, being "speed freaks", thinking they're in the Tour De France, laughing at people being disguting and out of breath because it's not needed, and generally be horribly sneering towards anyone who wants to exercise without stopping every 5 seconds because someone's got a long extendible dog lead blocking the shared use path/a group of 4 people feel the need to walk 4 abreast.

Yes. The MN microcosm. I have seen the word disgusting associated with runners quite often this past few weeks. Oh and... selfish because people in flats should have priority. ... umm. Like runners don’t live in flats too???

I have even seen posts warning runners that being ‘too active’ is detrimental to your health.

I actually think it's going to be more difficult when some of the restrictions are lifted but we're still supposed to do the social distancing thing. If there are more cars on the road you won't be able to go in the road, or cross the roads, as easily.

This situation has really illustrated how little space pedestrians are given. I was thinking about running to a new(ish) estate in my town as it has wide paths and plenty of space to run, but realised that I just can't get up there safely because the main road has one narrow pavement, and is probably still quite busy even now. I thought of other routes but most of the roads only have one narrow pavement on one side.

We shouldn't be berating cyclists or runners, we should be getting annoyed about a world in which the driver is more important than everyone else.

I have even seen posts warning runners that being ‘too active’ is detrimental to your health

If you overdo things you suppress your immune system. One of the coaches at my running club suggested nobody do more than 20 miles a week. But Strava reveals that quite a few runners in the club are doing at least twice that amount. I will do somewhere between 10 and 15.

Surely 20 miles/wk is slightly arbitrary as everyone will have a different starting point. I was at peak marathon training when this started but I've relaxed down to to 5-8 mile runs about 4 or 5 times a week. Lots of friends however have done 10-15 miles but that's still a lower volume (and probably slower) than they were doing a month ago.

You are right cologne, however you know from the other thread it was being used to tell runners off.

“She” is Winesalot. I thought that was obvious from the conversation. Attached is the ban info from H&F council for runners and cyclists. You might not like it but it’s happening. Obviously to ease congestion. There are far fewer cars on the road at the moment so it’s not a big issue to reroute.

We’re a family of five and a dog. When we’re out we like to chat to each other, look at flowers, front garden, buildings etc. There’s no way we’d walk in a single file on the pavement. That would ruin the enjoyment of the walk. I would step a side to let others through if I see them though, its just common courtesy.

Hagbeth. Do you think people are expecting you to walk single file when no one else is there? Or do you mean you won’t fall into single file on a path where there is only 2 metres between someone on one side and someone on the other?

Yes, Bubbles we keep going around. I guess I honestly don’t understand why are so keen to make sure I know that I am banned and demonizing runners but please, crack on!

Sorry. That is ‘why you are so keen’.

@winesalot I would definitely in todays corona environment keep a distance. I probably throw myself off the path if needed I do think generally think that the one moving faster should make sure they move around groups when on the pavement. I’d expect an adult to move off the pavement for a child and not expect the child to go into the road.

Well Winesalot: please read other opinions on the thread beside your own. It’s running too close. Panting over other people. Not slowing down when you come up behind people. Ditto for some cyclists. I have no problems with anyone if they are courteous and accept we are sharing space right now. What I don’t like is the assertion that walkers shouldn’t be there. H&F seem to have taken action that supports the view that separation is necessary and I think, in the circumstances, that’s fair. I’m not against anyone taking exercise but we need faster people to be sensible. That’s all really. Please jog on/cycle on with my blessing!

Well I'm pretty pissed off with the woman who ran straight round a corner into me the other day because I now have symptoms.She looked very shocked as she bounced back off me and I thought yeah love.Try slowing down and being aware. Of course I can't say for sure it was her but as I haven't been near a shop for almost 2 weeks and only done one walk a day in open countryside giving everyone an extra wide berth there a fair chance she was responsible as she exhaled all over me.

Yeah could have been her, then again I might have caught it off the kid coughing in the supermarket who kept running around and touching everything. I had barely been out also, but we live on a planet full of other human beings. It's going to happen

Hagbeth.
I would definitely in todays corona environment keep a distance. I am glad to hear that and hope you don’t have to resort to the throwing manoeuvre

So Bubbles why direct the ‘banning’ comment at me? I am doing all of that while I walk and while I run. I think I have said that I do. I think I have also said as a walker I find other walkers to be just as inconsiderate as people are making runners out to be....