To think the reason why runners appear so rude...

[stayathomewannabee]

Is because seasoned runners know to give people space on our runs... pre Covid 19.
There are a lot of novice runners out atm as people attempt to stay/get fit and maybe aren't used to etiquette?
Or are so knackered that they can't see ahead to move out of the way.

The mn definition of being rude is way off normal.

Calling a phone or ringing a doorbell is considered rude and will cause untold anxiety.

Reading these threads has opened my eyes.It really does seem that there are plenty of ignorant people using the path whether walking or running or cycling.

It seems ludicrous that a group of walkers will not make way for others, whether walkers or runners, because it might spoil their enjoyment of the moment. To expect a group or a couple to drop to single file to allow people to pass with 2 m distance between is considered rude according to some on these threads.

And to expect a person who walks in the middle of the path (with or without their dog) to look around to see if people are coming up behind you so you can move to allow them to pass is unheard of it seems (because why would you be proactive about your responsibility in using a public path).

Then I keep coming across people stopping each side of the path to have a chat. There are only 2 metres between them and people are having to walk between them as there is simply no where else to go. I even asked one couple calmly to maybe move to the side and talk and was abused very loudly.

I do feel that those who are so angry at runners are somehow missing that there is ignorant people who are walking too. But runners are fair game it seems.

Reading these threads has opened my eyes.It really does seem that there are plenty of ignorant people using the path whether walking or running or cycling.

That's it in a nutshell. There are ignorant people everywhere, all of them utterly convinced that they are 'special'.

FWIW, I'm a relatively new runner (started couch to 5k a few weeks before lockdown began) and in the last few months have only really noticed 2 or 3 people being selfish. One was a runner, who was standing on the pavement and saw ds2 and me coming, then chose to start running towards us. I honestly thought she was going to go around us, into the road, but she didn't- she went past very close on the pavement. The other two were 2 women who stopped, with dog on lead, on the corner of a road we were turning into, which meant ds2 and I had to go wide, into the main road, to avoid them.

That's it. The rest of the time, whether walking or running, or even on the one bike ride we've done, nearly everyone has been courteous and even friendly.

One of the things I have always disliked about Mumsnet (and in RL too, to be fair) is the tendency for some people to exaggerate for effect. Hence the odd selfish runner/walker/cyclist becoming 'all runners/cyclists/walkers'. It makes me suspect that the poster (or person) concerned is actually the ignorant selfish one in the scenario they're describing.

having someone run up behind you is, as a female, something that puts me on edge, even if its broad daylight and even when with my partner.

I have often pointed out to my other half, that if its dark, do not walk behind other people and catch up (as we are tall and walk fast), cross over instead.

So yes, runners (and fast walkers) should be aware that it does put people on edge if you hear someone quickly approaching from behind, even thiugh we know its not rationale as such.

We have been moaning that we are having to cross over the road many times to avoid people coming towards us. If we all agreed to be on say the left of the road (where possible) it would avoid alot of crossing over.

I think the problem is largely that runners forget that they are in a public place. They seem to think that their exercise has priority over whatever other people are doing and that other people should move out of their way.

Sure, they may be trying to beat their own record and so on, but that's the point - the fact you have some "purpose" in what you are doing doesn't mean it's more important than other people's.

They seem to think that their exercise has priority over whatever other people are doing and that other people should move out of their way.

And yet, most runners on this thread and most other threads on MN do move out of the way. But the question remains ... if you are walking in the middle of the path that is plenty wide enough for several people comfortably (or in a group on the same path) why does the other walker or runner have to move off the path or out of the way?

That's it. The rest of the time, whether walking or running, or even on the one bike ride we've done, nearly everyone has been courteous and even friendly.
Same and that's been true when I've been walking the dogs, pushing the pram, having a family walk, or running. Most people are very courteous.

One of the things I have always disliked about Mumsnet (and in RL too, to be fair) is the tendency for some people to exaggerate for effect. Hence the odd selfish runner/walker/cyclist becoming 'all runners/cyclists/walkers'. It makes me suspect that the poster (or person) concerned is actually the ignorant selfish one in the scenario they're describing
This is so true.

I often wonder if someone really is always having these issues if they've considered that they common denominator is them.

I haven't come across any rude runners while out with my dog. If anything they have all been very polite and where needed some have ran on the road so I can stay on the pavement with the dog. Lots of thank yous exchanged.

That’s bullshit, you don’t need to be a seasoned runner to know you don’t run too close to someone

Then I keep coming across people stopping each side of the path to have a chat. There are only 2 metres between them and people are having to walk between them as there is simply no where else to go

Yes I saw this yesterday. Even worse, they were on a corner, so effectively blocking two roads and making two lots of people cross the road, near a junction, to give them the requisite space. There was a car park nearby, in fact there were two, they could have gone there to have their chat. One had a bike so they were taking up even more room on what wasn't a very wide pavement.

I am 50 look perfectly able bodied but have some mobility issues. My issue at any time is with runners who carry on running and expect me to move quickly out of the way. They are running, they can quickly run to the side far easier than I can move.
I am the unbelievably slow person that a runner complains about above.

Agree with families or couples taking up the entire footpath. Again not a new thing. Before this virus I was walking along a canal path and a family of 2 parents holding kids hands were walking towards me. I literally could not move out their way unless I had tried to balance precariously on the canal edge. When we met I just stopped and stood there, there was a few seconds pause, and then the dad moved out of the way and let me pass.

Runners should just not run in areas where there are enough people walking keeping their distance that you end up zigzagging too much. When this is the case because of a populated area, you should run early or late in the day.

I say this as a runner.