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.

We are going through a pandemic. Your jogging sessions are going to be different for a while.

If somebody is coming towards you you’ll need to stop and both move to one side. Same as if you were walking. If you’re coming up behind you’ll have to stop and wait until you find a gap big enough to overtake.

People are experiencing far bigger problems than less than perfect jogging sessions.

Do you think 'jogging' makes it sound shit? Is that why you're using that word?

I don't use Strava. I'm slow and don't care about times. I do care about trying to be healthy and fit. Especially cardiovascular during a pandemic.

And I know about the bigger issues. I'm still working. In an essential role.

Well then you should realise that everything is different at the moment. The trails you use don’t belong to you. Everybody has to social distance and are being made to use the same spaces. It’s not going to be your normal running experience for quite some time. My son can’t do Parkrun, I can’t swim or hike long routes I normally do, we’re all stuck in doors instead of being on our feet all day as normal..... expecting fitness routines and levels for everybody to stay the same is really silly.

Not really seen dick behavior recently but it grates when runners come up from behind and don't realize that you've only just heard them so didn't have the time to be alert.

In my experience male runners more often than not expect female pedestrians to get out the way but they give male pedestrians a wider berth. I'm female and usually out and about alone so that's me screwed 😂

I suspect that female runners get it in reverse with Male pedestrians expecting them to get out of the way.

I've also noticed an age aspect. I live near a sports ground with narrow pavements and a lot of teenage boys train near the sports ground on weekdays. They always get out of the way of women - especially if they are pushing a buggy or walking with a pre-schooler with a bike or scooter. I've noticed that the adult males rarely do the same (probably their Strava time )

I don't know the science behind virus transmission but I'd expect someone spluttering and heavy breathing to give people a wider berth because they could be expelling more droplets and exhaling more potentially infected air. Everybody is disinfecting and cleaning more so don't want someone else's sweat near them.

All groups have their dick individuals but tbh at the moment I think that cyclists get the most flak, especially on here. You're practically branded a murderer who will cause the downfall of the NHS if you're an experienced cyclist or take your child out on their bike.

The amount of walkers who clearly wanted to meet up with friends 'safely'. So they are two abreast, 2 metres from each other, either side of the path so there is no way to pass. If I go through, I'm not distancing. I can't go around. If I say 'excuse me' they act like startled lemmings and still don't move over. Single file appears to be a concept that escapes them. When there is grass on the side of the path I go onto it. And then get laughed at for my trouble.

This!!! I come across this a lot. Whether I am running or walking. So, I can understand mrsT. And aut0replenish, I do the moving and waiting all the time. But there are times along our path when there is no verge to go onto and there are people who will not give anything near 2 m. When they could if they walked single file. I think that MrsT may be experiencing those people as well.

To say all runners ‘need to adapt’... really? Don’t you think all people exercising need to adapt? The vast majority of runners I have come across lately do, more so than the walkers. But carry on demonizing runners....

Can’t speak about running - never done it - but I think it is a bit unusual, when walking, to be constantly looking behind you.

Perhaps you do not walk on a shared path with cyclists and runners and you don’t walk with a dog.

I went for a run today....i had to stop as my sports bra is useless! Otherwisw was lovely to get out.

Hate a bad bra...

Shock absorber impact. The only option 🤪

Perhaps you do not walk on a shared path with cyclists and runners and you don’t walk with a dog

I do all of that.

Just hold your boobs while you run. Scares away the walkers.

recrudescence ok. But are you complaining that runners don’t yell out before they pass you? I’ve tried the yelling out thing and it scares more people than it seems to help so I don’t do it now.

hold your boobs

I think I’m saying that if a runner wants to get past me that’s on her/him. Not my job to keep looking over my shoulder so I can jump out of the way when required.

I've had to change my route. I was having to run in the road a lot and some people just will not move single file even if I was making very obvious attempts to keep a 2m distance. I think most runners I see are behaving reasonably well. Certainly I see runners coming in the opposite direction also crossing roads / running in the roads to avoid people.

It's really tiresome hearing the walkers or dog walkers moan. You don't get priority's you are meant to keep your distance too - feel free to move a bit as well.

I think if you to the side of the path, staying on one track, then great. Runners will avoid you. If you are taking up the whole path, then you need to be aware and move.

That seems fair.

It's not runners that are the issue, it's just people that are inconsiderate and will breach social distancing without regards to others. Most people that we encounter are fine, but there's the occasional runner or cyclist that will cut through the 2m gap we leave across the path from someone, the family who insist of walking down the middle of the path 4 abreast instead of moving into single file when someone is coming the other way, the people who let their young kids run/cycle ahead that we then have to navigate around or the dog walkers with their dogs off lead who run around and jump up on other people.

Most runners/cyclists/families/dog walkers are absolutely fine, but just as always in life, there are a handful of selfish idiots!

Went for a 6 mile run tonight, encountered 7 sets of people walking. I moved into the road for each set, well into a field for one set, none moved or expressed thanks
I passed a runner and he spat and he didnt move.
I passed a cyclist and they passed without leaving enough space
Therefore walkers, runners, and cyclists are all twats!

Yes whatwouldthedoctordo. This is the point. It would be good for people to stop demonizing the other styles of exercisers and just be considerate.

YANBU, people are thick as mince when they point out that there's more runners than usual - because the gym is closed and people are cooped up in their home, dip shit

I think I’m saying that if a runner wants to get past me that’s on her/him. Not my job to keep looking over my shoulder so I can jump out of the way when required. if you are not leaving someone 2 m to pass you when you are able then, I think it probably should be your job too. If you are leaving plenty of path for others to pass, it shouldn’t be a problem even without social distancing.

Also re "Someone shouted abuse because I didn't walk in single file" - as a keen runner there's nothing more annoying than when people literally take up all the path (especially couples who are soooo in love they won't break holding hands) and refuse to budge up. What do you expect me to do? Pole vault over you? Evaporate? Move FFS, it won't kill you.

What gets me is the ones who call others out, particularly on social media and the reason they're aware of this is because they were there themselves, adding to the problem they're calling others out on. For example, I live near a beauty spot and it is a popular place for a walk on Good Friday. The council and water company have asked people to do away with tradition this year and stay away. They are closing off roads in but people are calling for police presence.
Yesterday some guy commented on our local FB page that he had gone out on his bike to this spot and there were car parks full and people walking dogs etc. My first thought was "well you were there on your bike, you're part of the problem!".
Presumably he rode from his home to this spot for his daily exercise. Why is that ok but it's not ok for someone to drive there and then walk their dog or themselves? It shouldn't be one rule for one, and one rule for others.
I've heard of runners doing laps round their yard or garden to take their miles in! Everyone should be making sacrifices where necessary.
People say you can walk your dog locally, well surely you could ride your bike up.and down your road instead of going into the countryside? I refrained from commenting on the post, in the end!
I think a lot of the issues we're seeing is because there is little clarity and people see other people doing things and think they can too.

One of our household has a disability and struggles to 'do their bit' when a jogger comes running up behind!
I'm considering arming family member with the dog ball thrower stick next time so they can enforce the 2m rule with it.

So, to the runner at the local ponds today, just because you're fit now doesn't mean that one day you won't be elderly or have a disablility that means you can't just hop out the way.
You are also not immune to covid 19 just because you run.

Apologies to most runners and cyclists who are fab

Just can't believe the 'don't give a fuck about the less able' who run round as if they own the outside world.

I'm considering arming family member with the dog ball thrower stick next time so they can enforce the 2m rule with it. I can identify with this some days.

I always think that about drivers who complain about bad traffic. You are the traffic!