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.

No ones asking or expecting everyone to get out the way for them though.

Surely no person/group has priority over the other so both should accommodate the other person? If 4 people (no additional needs/disability) are walking next to each other, is there a reason why they ought to be able to carry on unimpeded while the single walker/runner approaching either stops and waits (usually without acknowledgement) or is forced into the road...?

Equally as pp says it would be rude for a runner to charge down the middle of the pavement and expect others to stop/make way for them.

It's quite a simple concept that if there is room for 2 people to pass in opposite directions, each adjust their position to allow that to happen...? It makes me wonder what people are like when driving in tight spaces/narrow lanes if they don't understand the concept as a pedestrian!

Yes, that is what should happen. I don't run, but this is what I do every time I walk somewhere. (Some local paths are shared with runners and cyclists.)

Even in a shopping mall, or browsing in a shop, I'm aware of the movements of everyone around me, and keep to one side of spaces, so I don't block people unnecessarily.

Apparently, there are lots of people who don't do this, who walk around oblivious to others. I wonder if many of them are non-drivers, drivers are used to anitcipating the behaviour of everyone in the vicinity, including those behind them, and fitting in with them.

Well no running for a few days because of the snow. Tried to take son out into it to have a play and he was having none of it. Bing and cars it is then.

All vehicles turning into a junction are required to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross.

Yes, that’s exactly the problem where I am, the lead runners are actually runners and they are all fine, it the mass wave of slow joggers taking to their mates, or running with a dog on long long lead and just not pay attention.

All vehicles turning into a junction are required to give way to pedestrians waiting to cross.

Yes the Highway Code changed (I think) this year to give pedestrians higher priority over both drivers and cyclists to keep them safer.

@dancingqueen123
you have missed the point completely when someone in the middle of the pavement or people walking side by side taking the entire pavement
of course they should move aside so people can get past it’s irrelevant if they are walking or running it’s just basic manners

I'm talking about before I get to the junction, not when I'm stopped waiting to turn. It doesn't really matter as of course I stop as soon as I see someone run out onto the road without any warning.

Men in cars/vans whistling or using the horn. I've never had anyone complain about breathing etc. I'm more a country roads runner though.

My running partner and I (both women) did take a wrong turn into, what we now know was, a rough area of town and had small stones thrown at us from after passing some teenage boys. We were hit but pretended not to have noticed (as unsafe to stop and/or confront) and carried on running.

I don't know. I really don't, in answer to your OP. I think it's possibly safer to run in groups or Parkrun. I think I'll be doing more of that in the new year.

I run three times a week and have my music in so I wouldn’t hear comments even if they occurred but I doubt they do. If I can’t get around someone walking ahead of me and they don’t budge when they hear me coming then I’ll go in the road if it’s safe to do so. It would be nice for walkers to hear me coming and shuffle to one side but they don’t always do I just run in the road briefly to get around them.

Most people are really reasonable and move over so I can pass because I’m obviously going much faster than they are and it just makes sense for them to stand aside for a few seconds. Some cars let me cross the road so I don’t have to stop which I also always appreciate.

I try to run during quieter times of the day so early morning is great or if I get free time during the day I’ll go then when everyone’s at work/school.

I do wear earphones, but don't have them on the whole time (we tend to chat). I switch them on for the difficult parts!

Though they're good for pretending you haven't heard the sexist men in vehicles.

I should say that the only negativity I’ve ever experienced has been from teenagers which I just ignore. One fat teenager mocked me running and I really wanted to say ‘you could do with doing that a bit more’ but I refrained. I’ve had a couple of other teens mock me too but that’s it, adults have been fine.

I hate the ones who find it necessary to hawk up phlegm or blow snot from their noses as they run along. They share this gross habit with a certain subset of cyclists, too.

I also find it a bit unnerving to hear someone running up behind me, especially after dark on the badly lit streets round my way, or on the edge of nearby woods at dusk.

I don't recognise any of the behaviour you describe in your first post.

However, there have been wolf whistling or shouting from men in motor vehicles, and sometimes teenagers taking the pass, ut that's all.

Most dog walkers are generally very courteous when I'm out running, and only yesterday there was a man who held his dog back while I ran past. I thanked him of course.

I usually run well before 7 in the morning when traffic is lighter and fewer people about apart from other runners!

The only time I felt most annoyed is when there was a group of walkers, were taking up the entire path walking towards me so they can see me, and not one of them made any effort to make space for me to pass through. This was when I was walking home and staying on the left side of the path, by the way, so not running specific but can easily be.

The other annoying thing is when again a pedestrian walking in the opposite direction to you is not looking where they are going, because they are on their phone and even though you swerve around them and alert them, they meander into your path again because they have earphones on and didn't hear you!

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

Of course they should! I move over where possible when I see someone coming towards me, and I expect people coming the other way to do the same. Yesterday I was walking along and two people walking alongside each other refused to go single file so I stopped and forced them round me. I am not walking in a busy road because people are too dim or selfish to move.

I often wonder if all the pedestrians who are incapable of making space drive. I sincerely hope not.

Most of the time, if the road is clear, I cross the road to avoid people coming towards me. But if you are on a busy road that can't be done, and they've got to move over and you know, share the space.

Well the pedestrian has even more priority if you are merely approaching the junction. If you are already there, especially if you are turning right across the traffic, I will generally stop for you, as long as you are indicating (or more likely just run up the side road until you are past and then cross behind you (so don't dawdle round the corner please)). But if you are approaching the main road from the side road I don't stop because the driver has to stop anyway, you can't just drive straight out onto a main road.

If you don't mean either scenario, I am not sure what you mean.

Total nonsense. It's 30-45 minutes a week with the odd walker taking a bit longer and if they do have a dog, it's one only on a short lead. They aren't allowed to be loose and they do follow the rules, otherwise they don't get a time. Can't vouch for spectators, but then anyone else could be in the park at the same time with an off-lead dog. That's nowt to do with parkrun though.

Is that you, Tricia Greenhalgh?

If you are passing people closely while exercising, you are going to make some of them nervous. You don’t know their personal medical status and some of them may be vulnerable.

I breathe through my nose when running, or exercising, same as those walking (unless they do something different). I certainly don't breathe all over people.

@lieselotte Bullshit.

Perhaps your running subconciously reminds them of their own failings in the healthy lifestyle department so they get shirty?

Because

1. you bang on about how fit and healthy you are but you are fucking up your knees and ankles
2. you run straight at people and expect them to move aside
3. you droplet sweat everywhere
4. you only run when it's 110f never when it'.s raining
5. You like many cyclists lately only wear dark clothing so your invisible most of the time
6. you run in the fucking road for no fucling reason meaning I have to swerve around especially when one of you cunts suddenly jumps into the road

"Because
1) you bang on about how fit and healthy you are but you are fucking up your knees and ankles"

This is true, knees though not ankles, but I'm not guilty of any of the rest when running.

I do cross training to help strengthen my knees and it's really helpful. I'm not a seasoned runner though and expect this will all improve with time.

I'm now at the point with pavement hoggers (e.g. groups walking across the whole width of the path that refuse to tuck in, or people who extend their dog lead across the whole width) where I will just stop so they have to go around me. I'm fed up of regularly risking my safety to run into roads (especially if traffic is from behind) or changing surface into uneven, trip hazard mud/ long grass to accomodate people who can't be arsed to pay attention to their surroundings. All I ask is for about 0.75m of the edge of a path, 50cm to accomodate my width and a bit spare around the edge and they can have the rest of it which is usually considerably more. Indeed narrow paths tend to be less of an issue than paths wide enough to allow vehicle access.

I listen out, I check over my shoulder for other runners or cyclists passing faster from behind and and look out for vulnerable or unpredictable people in the vincinity and adjust accordingly (2 carers supporting a person with poor mobility, no problem, I'll give them time and space they need, small child toddling around, I'll give a wide berth). However, I'm sick of providing 100% of the consideracy and being forced off the paths by other peoples' inattention when I have an equal right of access. I'm otherwise a friendly runner and acknowedge other people around and thank those that do accomodate me.

It's not necessarily anti-runner, people behave the same when I'm walking (fast walker despite short legs), but I'm more likely to run further/longer so encounter more of it on a run than a walk. It's mentally and physically difficult to regularly change pace, direction and surface especially after an hour or two when fatigue sets in.

Some people are just cummodgeonly; when cycling on designated shared use paths, I've been moaned at for using my bell, and moaned at for saying "excuse me". There's no fool proof way to share nicely with some people.

At least mainly running off-road, it's rare that I get verbal abuse shouted from moving vehicles.