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.

I went running at 10.30pm by moonlight. It was cool, quiet, easy to see, really lovely.

There are lots of ways to stay safe while exercising

@Piglet89, I actually signed up to reply to you.

Please stop judging people.

I'm a regular runner (4 times a week) running anything from 5k to half marathons. Yet I breathe heavily, firstly because I'm actually working hard and so improving my aerobic fitness, and too because I have lung damage. I'd hate to think people like you were judging me when I pass them.

I think everyone needs to be less judgy - you've got some non-runners like the couple on BBC last night - who didn't like the 'heavy breathing' runners going past, completely missing the point that they could be just as infectious. Then you've got some runners questioning all the 'new' runners.

If I'm running and see someone ahead I'll move to the other side of the street, even if for me that means running on a NSL road with no pavement. I've also started walking when coming up behind people where it is too narrow to safely pass. Equally some people have moved to the other side before I've had the chance to. The only problem I've encountered since lock down is the occasional large family group, on a narrower section, who were walking four abreast meaning keeping 2 m away was impossible.

@saucyspice We move all the time when out walking - everyone does. No problem moving for a runner at all, but if it's busy and we don't hear them behind us, we obviously aren't looking behind as we walk. I think if you're passing people, you need to take responsibility to do it safely, either that or a simple 'excuse me' or 'coming through' type warning to give people a chance. No point running past people within 2 meters and shouting at them.

I think a lot of the problem is with gyms closed, treadmill runners are getting their exercise on the paths and roads, and for some it just wouldn't occur to them to be mindful of others because on a treadmill you just don't have to. You can get into that zone and pace according to the speed/incline of a machine. Running on a road is a whole different experience, where you have to be aware of other users in the vicinity.

I am HATING the runners.

Sick of being out with my young pup, and two boys and runners taking the absolute pee. It's not our fault that this is the only way we can get out and exercise. I cannot leave the kids at home. The dog needs walking. I need walking! There is no excuse to stop and then wait for me to shift my whole brood out of YOUR way so you can carry on the way you were going. You are so privileged to get that free time to yourself. I would do absolutely anything for that right now.

@lewisville1 - that irks me immensely, the large group spreading several abreast. We are a family of six and have drilled our children into 'single file and wide' as we approach other people, and we aren't afraid to remind the children loudly.

Yes runners have become the new cyclists - slating cyclists is so 2010-2019, so now it's the "joggers"'' turn.

If you are coming face on then both parties should move to the respective edge of the path. In my experience runners and cyclists stay in the middle

In my experience most people are being very considerate with the exception of the odd couple or family who don't want to go single file. Sometimes I find I have to go way into the road to avoid them and even the roads are very quiet, it's not always possible if a car is coming.

But most people wave or say thank you if I cross the road or generally move to give them space.

I went for a run on Saturday, first time in ages. I did a lot of dodging into the road to avoid people. The only people who moved for me were a cyclist in the park (is the faster person usually the one to give way?) and a group of neighbours on the pavement.

On Sunday I went for a run with DH, same route. Lots of people moved for us! I've been pondering, is it because there were two of us, or because he's a man? Near the end of our run we went different ways, and just after he left 3 guys walked abreast towards me and didn't shift - I couldn't as I was next to a wall

Think everyone needs to be less judgy. People moaning about people being out, when they are out themselves! I went to run today - with kids on their bikes. Saw loads of people out, to the point I was worried about kids safety on road with bikes - but I'm doing the same as them - out and about, so I can't judge!

My 14 year old DS was shouted at by a runner when he was out walking alone for his daily exercise last week. She told him that he should have moved into the road as he was a child. As a runner I would always move into the road myself, no matter the age of the pavement inhabitant. As I'd be moving quicker I'd be in the road for less time (these are quiet residential roads). I would also cross in It the lane in which I faced incoming traffic if I wasn't already. I thought she was bang out of order and a more nervous child might have stepped into the road without looking just to appease her.

Wow @Pupsiecola, how entitled of her!

And people who say it a essential for them to be out, but not for runners and cyclists is just laughable. We're all entitled to leave the house for exercise, for some that's walking the dog, for others it's a run or bike ride!

If you are coming face on then both parties should move to the respective edge of the path

actually thinking about this further you shouldn't be in the middle at all. Stay on the left hand side and then you won't need to move, and people can also overtake easily. But we have zero pavement etiquette in the UK, when I was in the Netherlands I was surprised how everyone kept to the right.

As for having two kids and a dog, you should be single file and the dog should be on a short lead. People out on their own are not privileged. Admittedly I am lucky this happened now and not when ds was a toddler. But I chose not to have more than one child and I also chose not to have a dog or any other pet demanding a lot of attention.

Pupsiecola that's just rude! She should have gone in road - as a runner I always go in road. Would never allow a child or young person to step in road .

Wow @Pupsiecola, how entitled of her

Totally agree. If I am approaching someone and it's safe to do so, I cross the road or go in the road. It's really not hard! As for "you're only a child" - bog off!

Runners need to observe proper distancing, wear masks and turn their heads away when they pass people. I have been very careful and only walk for half an hour a day trying to observe proper social distancing. It is always runners who pass too close and who pant all over you as they do so.

If I get coronavirus it will be due to a runner.

The main trouble with runners - and cyclists if they're on the pavement, which quite a few seem to be despite the roads being quiet - is that, if you need to get out of their way because they're not observing social distancing, you have less time to do it because they're moving faster.

@HerstoryInTheMaking Not heard anything against runners tbh.

Take no notice. They're probably jealous that you are fit, and they're not.

I think a huge problem is the government 'guidelines' have been as clear as mud. By saying you CAN go out for exercise everyone is going well I MUST go out or it's my right to go out once a day running or with my family of 5 or whatever

actually we should all be finding ways to not go out - so I have stopped running for now - I might try the night time suggestion (less people) but I am doing things at home now to lessen the risk of passing anything on.

Maybe we should all stop thinking it's our right to be out once a day (and everyone else who is out if being a CF) and start doing it less

I usually run with others in the woods but I can't do that now and I'm too scared to run off road on my own (assuming covid doesn't specifically target bad guys) so I'm on the pavements when I wouldn't usually be. I guess people like me plus gym goers plus swimmers adds up to a lot of extra people you wouldn't usually see. And the people who are used to having the pavements to themselves are not coping with the extra traffic very well!

I’m a runner and have been for several years now. I now know, or should I say recognise most other local runners however since the lockdown I’ve noticed lots of newbies.

I always try and be respectful of others as I think most regulars are.

Most joggers I've met have been very courteous.

But I posted my concerns about one jogger who passed so close he touched me and I was told on my thread to get a grip because it's impossible to catch Covid-19 from the breath of a runner

So perhaps it's good everyone is out running because mumsnet wisdom is that they are immune 😆

I’ve seen no reference to runners or joggers anywhere really, which surprises me as my bugbear is runners and cyclists.
It’s not that I’ve experienced any rudeness. I’m just really nervous about people powering past me breathing heavily. I dodge runners as much as I can but if a runner comes up behind me, I’m not always prepared. If they’re running towards me, I always cross the road. They never ever alter their trajectory, though some have thanked me for being the one to move.
I’m thinking of giving up my daily walk because the lack of social distance and heavy breathing is making it too stressful for me.
If I sound a bit over the top, it’s because I don’t want to get infected. I don’t think that’s too much to want.

I’ve been mainly a treadmill jogger until the gyms closed. For the last two weeks I’ve been jogging in my local park instead. I must say, most people are being sensible and polite. If I’m jogging (and definitely breathing heavily) I give someone else on the path the whole path to themselves and I jog on the grass instead. I usually get thanks and a wave, and people seeing me jogging towards them sometimes pre-empt me moving by getting out of my way first.

There are a lot of runners around here and the majority of them make no attempt to avoid walkers meaning that we have to jump off pavements to abide by social distancing rules .
Anyway yesterday there was a guy racing towards me so I didn’t move . As he approached he waved his arm for me to move but I didn’t so he had to step off the pavement. He swore as he passed but I felt pathetically pleased that I had stayed out .