Why don't people like runners now?

[Bog]

I'm sometimes fortunate to be able to go for a run in the evenings as some me time from working and being a dad to my son.
I remember in lockdown and before my son was born when my wife and I would go running, the torrent of abuse we would get from others. Things like run in the road or get away from me/ don't breath on me.
I figured since that ship has sailed I would restart as my wife wanted me to be healthy and fit for our son ( my diet is/was pretty much beige and crisps lol).
Yet still, the comments. It was a bit icy on the road so I didn't feel safe running there and don't anyway as I'm not a car. So I'm running on the pavement and I'm still getting the glares and tuts, even had one woman whip out her mask.
Then it's the deliberate not moving. Is it such a crime to want to have a run?
I feel I'm on the same hate level as a cyclist. Unless there was a running lane that would be handy.
I can't afford or have space for a treadmill or to go to the gym but why am I being punished? People are baffling at the best of times.

@NoDatingForOldMen come off it - you go cycling round a park when there is an organised running event on at a set time every week?!? I mean 90% of the runners have completed the course in 30 -45 mins. You cannot be serious lol

I've noticed this a few times. Given there's another 167 hours in the week, I can't see why you'd go when there's an event on

@IndieK1d I mean, even if I didn't know anything about parkrun and turned up to the park on my bike, I'd soon realise and ask the Marshalls what was happening etc. I wouldn't just cycle into the path of the runners with gay abandon thinking "God, these runners are selfish and out of order...look at them all, in the way of my nice bike ride" 😂

@Eyerollcentral yeah too bloody right, normally I do avoid them but when park run is on you can’t cycle or walk in a public park, I’ve been shouted at, chased by loose dog that some runner had and been yelled to get out of the way, they seem to forget the word “Public” in Public Park, and it’s not just me they run past a open childrens play area and I’ve seem mothers been shouted at, runners letting their loose dogs take a shit and just leave it, runners dogs in the play area,

@NoDatingForOldMen lol why not just avoid the park for the hour??? Of course they are shouting for you to get out of the way!!! I have visions of you cycling in to hoards of incoming runners! Absolutely bonkers.

They should move to single file if a walker is approaching on a shared path. Then there shouldn't be an issue? A cyclist should slow down, or dismount if there isn't room to pass safely.

I think you have bad luck, or maybe it's an odd area you live in? I have run a lot for many years and rarely get any comments from non-runners. At most "run forest run" from groups of school kids occasionally but that's it. People around me don't seem bothered by a runner in the slightest.

I normally do avoid it, but one the paths they run on is shared access way so the runners should really be single or double file but they all run about 5 abreast, bunch of absolutely tosses

Course they do it’s a timed race!

I run 13k twice a week and don't encounter this at all.

I am a runner. I don't like hearing runners coming up behind me I find it scary, but apart from that I have no problem.

I assume the pp means they aren't looking where they are going and moving to one side of the path if someone is coming the other way.

Who in their right mind walks in to the path of an organised run?? Stay clear of any marathon courses!

I'd certainly stay away from a marathon. Parkrun uses the path into town on a Saturday so I do need to go that way. Plenty of room for people to pass in opposite directions as long as you keep left.

Who mentioned marathon, this is Park Run where people run around a public park - you must have seen it, it’s hardly the London Marathon, and it’s not a race either.

Personally for the sake of 45 mins once a week I’d take an alternative route or just wait a while rather than walk in to a running race and be pissed off the runners, on a track they are allowed to use and everyone has notice of the event, aren’t running in single file. Seems like just setting yourself up for annoyance

@NoDatingForOldMen the marathon reference was of course a joke. I’ve taken part in parkrun many times in many places. You are correct it’s a timed run, where the majority of attendees are usually looking to improve their times

And this is the problem, where I live there are 2 parks, one is rural and one is central, they used to use the more rural park but there is limited car parking were constant complains about loads of running blocking the roads with their cars, so they moved to the more central park which has a shared shoppers car park, but now get regular complaints from other people as the park too small really and is a thoroughfare into town,

Park Run should go back to the previous location, and the people should, you know Run to get there not drive.

I run a lot and I suspect that as a man you don't realise how intimidating you can be to women. You say you're 6ft and a bit overweight - can you not see that if you are running towards someone at pace (especially a woman at night) they might be a bit apprehensive as you're so much bigger and stronger than them. Then if you run in the middle of the pavement you may well intend to move over but they won't necessarily know that - to say nothing of someone running fast round a blind corner in the opposite direction to you. I think it is in part a generational thing - as a child I was brought up that you only ever walked two abreast and as soon as you saw someone coming you moved over to one side and walked single file until you're past. These days no one bothers so people don't expect others to move out of the way. So for a 5 '3 petite woman walking towards you not knowing whether or not you'll get out of the way it can be quite scary.

THen there are the arseholes who are walking two abreast, see you running towards them and they then move either side of the path as there's a big puddle in the middle rather than going one behind the other so you can run in the dry on one side and they can walk in the dry on the other. Always very dangerous as a runner who is already wet and muddy might just run through the middle of the puddle (and runners splash as they go past....)

I have run for years and honestly never found this.
on my bike however I will get abuse almost every single day.

I don't know when it's on, sometimes they are there when I walk into town sometimes not. Sometimes I can't go later than I did as I have other places to be. It's not an issue for me, I just keep to the left of the path and keep walking to avoid sidestep dances. The leading runners are fine, it's more the slow joggers who have no awareness of their surroundings and move at the last minute.

So the whole world should anticipate your arrival and get out the way?! There you go OP. I think that answers your question pretty succinctly 🤷🏻‍♀️

We started a junior parkrun in 2018 and have had a few people approach us whilst marshalling. I do remember someone asking which side they run on so he knows to avoid them. (They're 4-14 so a bit hard trying to get younger ones to stay on one side!)

I get exactly where your coming from
people will see you coming walking 3 or 4 a side taking the entire pavement making on effort to share

my rule is I treat people with the same respect they show me

So with the example I wouldn’t slow down and just run in straight line till one of them moved

So the whole world should anticipate your arrival and get out the way?! There you go OP. I think that answers your question pretty succinctly 🤷🏻‍♀️

Did you even read the post you quoted @dancingqueen123? 'Someone who obviously sees me coming.' Not 'I expect someone to consult their crystal ball'. These overblown phrases about 'the whole world' having to do x, y or z for someone, are unhelpful and ridiculous.

I have been in situations where a human chain is proceeding towards me and they just won't budge. I don't mind at all breaking my (not particularly fast) stride, but I shouldn't have to run in the mud or onto the road when there's space for everyone. We can all fit onto the path with a bit of give and take.