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?

I think runners should go in the road if pedestrians are too slow for them. I had one running from behind. He shouted, "excuse me" we all moved over as far as possible (on a very narrow pavement). He decided it wasnt enough room for him, with the c virus, so he glared and went into the empty road. I Think that you dont have to go in the road when running, but be prepared to slow down, or even stop to allow others that are slower and caught unaware, to move over.

It’s small courtesies like this that keep us all civilised. Why is saying thanks - not even saying thanks, just smiling, nodding or catching someone’s eye - a problem to anyone?

This. I went for a run on easter day and nearly every walker or other runner did , I also acknowledged when people had moved for me. It was so much nicer.

You aren't running into the road for other people OP, you are running into the road so you can maintain your social distancing.
You need to take this action because you are choosing to move at a faster pace than is standard.
I have no issue with you running or even with acknowledging you when you change direction but it is your own behavior that makes it necessary.
You choose that behavior not me.

I realise now I sound like a running twat

Ah! Missed that...

Yabu of course as a runner using pavements to run you should move out of the way of pedestrians. I don't thank anyone and would never expect to be thanked when i move over to let others pass. I think you are meant to slow/ stop to avoid colliding with other pavement users.

Do you thank them for not moving into the road so you can run round?

I've noticed both when running and walking and whether I've moved aside for them or they have for me, people seem afraid to make eye contact.

Usually when out walking or running, a nod and a smile, a hello or a thank you if someone's let you pass would be entirely normal. In this strange new world, it's very hard to catch someone's eye to acknowledge them at all.

I think some people are genuinely scared of any sort of contact but most aren't sure what the new etiquette is. I don't think anyone's being deliberately rude.

I do this when walking my dog. I don't expect a thanks as really it just makes life easier for all...

But you should be giving way to them: you’re a runner. And I say that as a runner. Expecting gratitude is ridiculous.

(Added to that, I’m definitely not going to acknowledge strangers on the street because one of the joys of living in London is that I don’t have to.)

Don't expect any sympathy on here as a runner but I totally agree with you! The number of times I've ran on the road only to be whizzed past closely by a car or bike, and had no acknowledgement for the fact.

And @teenagetantrums you are clearly missing the entire point of social distancing.

What a miserable world this would be if no one ever said thank you when someone did something they were just supposed to do. I guess all those who don’t bother to thank runners, or walkers, who move out of the way also don’t thank retail workers who serve them at a checkout, or waiting staff who serve them in a restaurant, or nursery staff who look after their children, or any number of others who are just doing what they are supposed to do.

I DO say thanks - and as a dog walker appreciate it - and if I move aside for someone else, I always like it if they say thanks, or wave/smile to me. It's just common courtesy.

This is something that has pissed me off long before lockdown. I walk with my pushchair and live in an historic town with narrow footpaths and a few old bridges to walk under iykwim. Anyway, I always stop and wait for others to pass first and the amount of people who just carry on walking and don’t say thank you is quite shocking really. I didn’t have to wait, it was just pure courtesy.

I am working on the policy on paths and pavements at the moment that we should be adhering to the rules of the waterways: ie that the fastest, most manoeuvrable are responsible for keeping out of the way of those who are slower/less able to react (hence powerboats should give way to sail, for example).

As such, cyclists should be taking care to move out of the way of runners and walkers; runners out of the way of walkers; and walkers out of the way of those with young children/the elderly. My experience (as someone who runs and works from home!) is that this IS how most regular daytime exercisers operate (well, except for cyclists maybe!) but at the mo we have lots of irregular exercisers who haven't learn the 'rules', plus lots more traffic making it harder. .

So, I might nod and thank a runner who got out of my way if I was walking, but it would be my expectation of basic good manners - I'd certainly do a paddington bear hard stare at one that didn't ....

I also think a lot of the people out walking the streets never normally walk anywhere. People are so used from just walking fron their front door to the car and back. I think it's lovely that families are taking this opportunity to get out for a stroll but it's new to them, they don't know the form.

I wouldn't necessarily "expect" a thank you for running in the road to let pedestrians pass but, until recently, it would have been more usual to get one than to be ignored.

I wasn't arguing that the risks of exercise are greater than the risks of not exercising, that's why I said carry on. I was just pointing out that being a regular runner is no guarantee of fitness or health. In the very short term, in terms of ambulance call out and so on, not running or cycling probably would be better, because in the short term the non exercisers can't meaningfully alter their risk. Cyclists and runners are not likely to raise their short term risk by stopping but they are likely to reduce accidents and cardiac events that occur on the road.

I get loads of pavement runners passing me and my dog on our walks. They never move onto the road.
It's always me who has to stand to the side or I'll be knocked over.
I ran into the road last week when a runner came behind me wheezing and coughing with no regard for anyone.

Runners piss me off.

It's like when you let someone out when driving and they don't say thanks. It drives me mad! YANBU.

Agree op. Manners cost nothing and it annoys me so many just walk/run or cycle past without any form of acknowledgement. This is even well before social distancing rules took place.

The ones which annoy me are cyclists who use a bell, so I move out the way for them but they don't show any acknowledgement, so I say "You're welcome" after they ride past.

I say this as someone who cycles occasionally and am married to a cyclist. DH is most definitely not a MAMIL -he's more of a T=shirt and shorts guy.

I often end up walking on the road when going to the shops as people insist on walking down the middle of the pavement instead of moving to one side. I never get a thanks, more often I get a glare or a surprised look.

No I wouldn't expect this and I say this as a runner. I'm moving more quickly and am more of an 'inconvenience' so I think it's up to me to get out of the way. Also stopping doesn't matter if you're walking but it kind of does when you're running so I'll make the move the get out of the way. It's no issue to move into the road when there's hardly any traffic at the moment and I prefer to be the one moving so I know we definitely have enough space between us. So yeah YABU.

I will always sat thanks if someone moves out of the way for me though.

What's the relevance of you being a runner?
I walked to the vet this morning and passed about a dozen people altogether, on a fairly narrow pavement. I walked past every one of them in a manner that kept us as far apart as possible, including walking carefully into a cycle lane, or stopping and waiting to navigate past a bus shelter. Should they all have thanked me? Or should I have thanked them?

Do you live out in the sticks?

To me, runners should give pedestrians a wide berth anyway and I think the new social distancing measures may change how we perceive our own personal space and that of others.

There are too many crowds, too much hurrying, too much pushing and shoving. Maybe we should all get into these new habits a little more

No offence but I wouldn't thank you either OP - any more than I'd thank a bike for not running me over. You're the one belting down the pavement at speed so it's up to you to dodge stuff.

Also runners could potentially (and accidentally) be spreading the virus out in aerosol form when they pass by, so I'll usually try to take a quick breath and hold it for a minute. Again, not going to cheer you on instead.

But you're healthy and get to enjoy runs, so there's that!

I always say thank you, I’ve found I’m the one to move when I’m running and also when I’m cycling I ensure I give people a wide berth. When I’m walking with my toddler in a buggy and dog the vast majority give way to me and step into the road where it’s more practical for them to do so than me.

So swings and roundabouts. People don’t need to gush over you for being responsible. You’re protecting yourself as much as you are them.