Can people say thanks when I run into the road for them?

[Fizzysours]

I am a runner and going out once a day. I try to choose a quieter time. I ALWAYS run into the road to give pedestrians of any age plenty of safe space. It's usually really obvious to see that I have done this as our area is fairly quiet. A quarter of people say thanks or a cheery morning. By 'thanks' I mean a smile, a raised hand or ANYTHING. It would be nice if more people could manage the tiny pleasantries that make everyone's day a bit friendlier, especially when we are all so divided?

Runners should always be the ones to move out into the road. You are going at a much faster pace and others may not have enough time to get out of the way. I don’t think you should expect a thanks either, if we were moving at the same pace and you moved out of the way, of course I would thank you. You thundering down the road towards me, not so much.

I think you are being a little entitled 😬. As a runner I always veer well into the road around a walker and give them a smile and a wave. I don’t expect anything back. In these times I start with the assumption that people may be struggling psychologically with the lock down so might not be feeling particularly smiley/ communicative.

Jeez you people must live in horrid places everyone here is so nice friendly good mornings to other walkers the odd cyclist always gives a smile and gets a thank you for giving my dog that is very unhappy at the sight of their bike a wide birth. Runners the same intrigued to know why runners and cyclists should be in the middle of the road here it’s a fast busy country road with lots of tractors I certainly would not be in the middle of the road cycling or running I would however look ahead to position safely even if that means stopping and crossing to other side. There are really some horrible people on here that have obviously just forgotten how to be nice a smile and a good morning goes a very long way to brighten up the world right now is that really so hard for you people humanity and politeness cost nothing. Hope you enjoyed your cheese on toast op good choice nice healthy dinner mine and the kids favourite.

Yes yes yes. Thank you. I feel like this. I'm so fed up of feeling like the second class citizen as a runner when I was running well before these people suddenly decided to start walking.

You have no more right to the road as a seasoned runner than 'new walkers'. They probably can't get to the gym, go for their lunchtime walk at work etc.

I'm sick of sweaty, heavy breathing runners not moving out the way. When I see one coming I move to the side as much as possible, they rarely do. I also move out onto the road if it's safe to do so. I don't expect a thanks.

Politeness costs nothing and is the best way to ease the inevitable social friction when people interact. I always thank anyone who steps aside for me, and I appreciate it when someone thanks me if I step aside. Politeness is NEVER a bad thing.

There isn’t really any other alternative, as you’re travelling at speed the walker would not be able to move by the time you’d got to them; if you’re coming up behind they might not know and if you’re coming towards, they’d have to judge your speed and by the time they’ve seen you it’s too late. So I think YABU for wanting thanks for following the unwritten pavement code.
And I’m bloody sick of cyclists using the park paths as well. Go on the roads! They’re empty!

You should be going on the road though.

I’m with you op, I’ve run into the road countless times, or when this isn’t possible practically climbed into a hedge to wait for people to pass and they’ve just glared at me! Also fed up with bikes on the pavement that should be on the road! What happened to courtesy and manners?

This is a really bitter thread, led by a really bitter OP.

God Chestnut that's a bit of a leap! Where do you get off calling OP bitter? 😳😳

YANBU. Manners cost nothing.

Yes we're all mentally consumed but that makes small kindneses more important than ever.

OP you are a runner after my own heart 💓 If someone moves out of your way, you thank them don't you? You also make a valid point about runners being responsible and taking care of their health so less likely to be a burden on the NHS. Yes there is bitterness on this post but it's not from you 🏃😂

I would agree it’s polite to say thanks. I too run and I’m often on the road to avoid people (who insist on continuing to walk 2 or 3 abreast). Giving a nod, wave, smile or thanks is just good manners I’d say

Seriously? How hard is is to say thanks? Or to smile? It really is no effort!!!

No. Jog on

I think running on pavements where you have to pass pedestrians is rather selfish. You should slow to a walk and pass them at normal speed, they’re probably frightened when you bounce up behind them!

I’m a frontline NHS worker, I commute, runners are really annoying, why can’t you exercise at night or very early morning before commuting times?

I'm a runner, have been for years. I go out now and try to stick to quiet routes but there are more pedestrians than usual so that can be tricky unless you live in the countryside, which I don't.

I run facing oncoming traffic (not that there is much) so I can safely step into the road to avoid people, no matter what direction they are going in.

I don't expect thanks, I'm moving faster than them (usually) and it's easier for me to move quickly. I'm also well aware that people are a bit nervous of runners just now due to the heavy breathing! I want to be respectful of that. I have no desire to get in anyone's way or make them feel uncomfortable when they are just walking along the street.

My personal bugbear is the cyclists on the pavement who all seem to have appeared recently, but that's another thread...

Society has grown more selfish and grumpy over the past few decades and although these past few weeks have brought out some good in human nature, most people have forgotten that a smile, manners, kindness and time rarely cost us much if anything to give but mean a lot to receive. So do the world a favour and when this Nation gets back to “normal” after all this, can we please not return to all our awful old ways please?

Yanbu- and I thought of this thread when a runner ran into the road to avoid me and my daughter (she was coming towards us.) and we both loudly shouted thank you.

I genuinely cannot imagine caring about this.

I stay out of everyone's way, they stay out of mine, and it's fine. I don't need random strangers thanking me for doing normal sensible things.

My ex MIL would get upset about this sort of thing because she is the kind of person who doesn't have much self worth and gets very delicate about other people elaborately thanking her for existing/breathing/etc. I just find it exhausting to care this much tbh

I wouldn't thankyou. And I pretty much thank everyone or apologise all the time. It wouldn't even cross my mind to thank you for not running into me. I'd be too busy thinking "fucking runners"

I have been doing a passive aggressive ‘thank you!’ at people for years when I hold open doors for them etc and they don’t acknowledge. I’m going into stratospheric with it on the 2 metre thing!

I have quit going out for my daily exercise with kids. Way too much effort trying to avoid people, getting the look when my kids dash off near to people. Tired of telling kids not to go too close to people. Fed up withbfolks who spot friends and stand on opposite sides of a path to chat forcing us to go through them. My problem for living in a city near the Riverside. We play in our small garden. Will probably be overweight by the end of lockdown. Please don't add a DNR.

It really annoys me. I'm prepared to run into the road or break stride for someone and they cant even acknowledge it... rude!
I tend to say a passive aggressive "you're welcome" actually because it makes me feel better.

I understand where you're coming from OP, but at the same time, I don't agree. Sorry.

A 'thank you' is nice, yes, and generally I do thank others for the gesture as its thoughtful, but I get very irritated by those feeling entitled to being thanked. When out in public I move out of people's way to accommodate them or to be polite. I honestly couldn't care less if they thanked me or not for doing so. In fact, usually, they don't. But it's my choice to move or not to move. So what?

What however does annoy me is when I move to allow someone to pass by, and then straight afterwards that person unnecessarily also moves to allow me to pass, so we're now both waiting for each other iyswim, AND then they expect a thank you for doing so.... ridiculous! I never thank those people. They can get as shirty about it as they like