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?

Aren't you running into the road for yourself though? Its hardly aultristic to do this.

You are moving faster than those walking, you need to socially distance yourself from others. Its your responsibility. Its not like anyone is forcing you to do this, other than it makes sense to do it. I guess stopping and waiting so others can pass 2 meters from you isn't going to work for a runner. You seem to want to be thanked for doing the bare minimum you need to do to socially distance yourself from others. You expect to be thanked for doing the right thing for you.

We should all be nice and polite but seriously not everyone is focusing on you every time you pass them OP - concentrate on your running and your social distance.

Well I'm not risking myself and stepping into the road if I see a jogger speeding towards me, that's for sure!
A mum with a pushchair yes, but the jogger can jog on.

I am a runner. You are being very unreasonable.

It's nice for people to gesture thank you in some way, and I certainly would, but they really don't have to and you shouldn't give it so much thought.

Runners really aren't less likely to access healthcare really. They are putting themselves at a higher risk of injuries than those walking … just saying.

Oh and athletes never end up with issues with their health...just saying.

Joggers and runners are annoying for those people who are out for a walk, not only are they running along the pavement which makes it hazardous for some people, they also sweat and breath heavily all over the place which, although presents no higher risk of coronavirus, is massively unpleasant especially when you're caught in the backdraft.

But yeah, thanks for running in the road. Really appreciate it. I will never understand those people who demand a thank you for every last little thing. I'm sure people appreciate you running round them rather than into them but you sound massively controlling about how they should be responding.

I run into the road every time I’m out and I don’t expect this at all. As long as other people don’t do something daft like crossing the road towards me (which has happened a few times) I really don’t care.

When I’m out on my bike I come out as far as I can in the road to pass pedestrians on the pavement and nobody’s thanked me then either. I don’t expect them to .

I usually divert into the road, the walker can’t judge how fast I’m going and when I will catch them up. It would be nice to hear a thank you because I’ve as much right to stay on the pavement as they do and I’m moving for them. I always thank people who stop, or move to single file for me.

Can’t wait for a nice rainy day to come so all the fair weather exercisers will stay at home.

Everything seems so miserable, does nothing nice ever happen to people? Just to set the tone
Just before lockdown, when shops were going mad, I spoke to a toddler and his mum, I said I'd only come out for a loaf as DH liked his thick sliced white bread toasted in the morning but they'd all gone. She offered me hers, must have been one of the last in the shop, I declined but was so pleased to have such a nice gesture.

My husband is disabled, walking is extremely slow, 29 years ago we were told he would be in a wheelchair within 10 years. Well he's still walking although slow and not far. We went for a walk the other day, struggled up the path to the local playing field and he suddenly realised there were no benches so sat on the steps of the changing rooms. A family were walking at the far side of the field but the dad came across, maintaining a good 4 metres distance, and asked if we needed any help. Now if DH was ill and needing help I'm assuming this man was willing to help us, risking his own health. We thanked him and assured him DH just needed a rest before setting off home. Again I just felt it was such a kind and generous gesture.

Of course, we're less likely to use healthcare resources... just sayin....

What a load of shit. You aren't coming off well in this thread.

You don’t give to receive op

Hi OP, runner here and I know exactly where you're coming from.

Unfortunately on MN at the mo runners are public enemy number one

Moon aww your littley sounds lovely! A path I take on my regular run had had a hopscotch chalked onto it the other week and I make sure I do just that, much to the joy of its little artists who watch from their living room window! Although I'm now worried it doesn't count as exercise and a Walking Lockdown Enforcer may disapprove of this. And which of us is quicker?!

@Imstillskanking I'll live but thanks for the eloquent contribution. It's kinda a good idea to stay in shape if you are still able to.... Running's a quick way to do it.

How irritating that those that are able to, are keeping their fitness up!! Of course, we're less likely to use healthcare resources... just sayin.

That's nice for you dear.

Anyway I am off for some cheese on toast but THANKS you lot (yes yes I realise I was not contractually obliged to say that 😂😂😂😂)

I voted YABU because I think you'd be unreasonable to expect it, and ultimately it's going to depress / annoy you if you keep looking for it (and don't get it).

You've always had to move out of the way for people, only now the distance you move away from them is exaggerated. That isn't their fault and it isn't your fault. You are not just protecting them, you are protecting you. No one needs to say thank you. Sure, nice if they did, but this isn't the same as someone holding a door open for you. It's a thing that needs to happen for both parties to stay safe.

YANBU. If person A notices person B and adjusts their behaviour to accomodate them, person B should acknowledge it. Speed is irrelevant.

Runners and walkers have an equal right to pavements. Cyclists should be using roads or dedicated cycle routes (easier than usual with reduced traffic volume).

I am trying my best to keep a wide berth whatever speed I'm going at. If I end up stepping into dog shit alley or playing chicken with the traffic, an acknowledgement of that is polite. I'm not generally a passive aggressive responder (although there was the time I did when 8 months pregnant, carrying a toddler in one arm, a swimming bag in the other and a door was shut in my face which was bloody awkward to pull open.) However being a considerate runner and then people whinging all over about how terrible runners are for breathing and trying to maintain a course of velocity is getting rather wearisome.

And I have not yet seen a single cluster of runners running 2, 3, 4 wide without tucking in unlike walkers. The vast majority are solo and less obstruction than many slow walkers drifting around.

Firstly, where did you get the stat about being less likely to use healthcare resources? I’d have assumed runners have more injuries?

Secondly, you’re running onto the road to you don’t have to slow down or stop, aren’t you? Because you’re on a run. So it’s for your benefit, not anyone else’s?

Anyway I am off for some cheese on toast

That's not very healthy 😉

YABU.

I kind of understand as I live in a rural area and I always chuck my car in the hedge to allow cars to pass on small lanes and do get the minor rage when (rarely) the other driver doesn’t acknowledge, so can understand.

But your post comes across as unreasonable because the people you’re passing might be petrified of your sweaty form ambling toward them (if they are vulnerable or one of the very scared MNetters that seem to be everywhere on here)

A lot of people are (rightly or wrongly) scared of dying from the infected droplets of others and quite frankly you should get in the road if you’re working up a sweat and bounding past a group of pedestrians. Why should they thank you?

Eh? You're running, they're walking!
The faster you're going, the easier it is to divert away from someone else. You just run around them
That is indeed a fact, but there is no ruling that says that because you are faster, you're the one who should move. In any case, they are not moving because they are running, they are moving because of the need for distancing when they otherwise wouldn't need to. This responsibility applies similarly to walkers and runners.

Runners move because it's the considerate thing to do, that's all. It's not a due. Being polite is saying thank you to those who make considerate choices. A short smile is more than enough.

Runners move because it's the considerate thing to do, that's all.

I don’t think so, actually.

I do it so I don’t have to slow down or stop.

You and cyclists should be WELL out in the road - it's the guidelines. You don't need thanks !

All these conflicts arise from the fact that all the space is for cars, and not enough for 2 wheels/2 legs. THAT is what we should be arguing over, not the fact that slow walkers should apparently get priority over faster walkers/runners.

Why should you get more space in a metal box on wheels?

I didn't think it possible, but the OP has turned even more people against pavement joggers.

I would assume you were doing it to protect yourself. So YABU.

You’ve literally had loads of other runners myself included telling you you’re overthinking this though .