Joggers spitting - to think it’s unnecessary

[PoliticalPossum]

As the title suggests.

Lovely walk this morning in my local national trust park. Big group of men and women (local jogging club) run by. Half of them hacking out massive globs of spit and spitting onto the path - not even off it which tbh is vile in itself - but straight onto the only path around the lake.

AIBU to think it it’s unnecessary and disgusting? I know asthmatics (such as myself) can struggle with excess phlegm - but for goodness sake, you do not need to spit. If you are struggling stop sodding exercising - don’t spit up all over the sodding path you grim wankers.

Goodness that sounds revolting. Ew.

YANBU (except for the suggestion to stop exercising, everyone should get exercise). I've run to the extent of numerous half marathons and have managed it without ever feeling the need to gob onto the path. I've spat water out once or twice when I've taken a sip and realised I'm not going to be able to swallow it, but into the grass verge, not on the path.

Been running for 11 years and have been er spar once. It is disgusting.

I run as well - hence my horror. I have really bad asthma which, if I overdo it, can make my throat get congested and make me need to spit. But I wouldn’t. And I’m very careful not to overdo it when I run for that exact reason - a few minutes walking when my throat swells and I’m fine!

runner for more than a decade

i could count on one hand the amount of times i have seen a jogger spit

and i’d have spare fingers left over after counting

Yep I agree, absolutely unnecessary and gross! I have been a runner for several years and have never once needed to do that.

Only time I've ever spat while running is when a bug has gone in my mouth. It's wholly unnecessary and gross, and if you must do it, at least have the courtesy of gozzing snot everywhere off the fecking path.

Just because it's a natural response doesn't mean it can't be overcome. It is possible to swallow it and therefore they should because that is the less disgusting option. If they want it out of their mouth then they should carry a tissue and put it in there.

Spitting is absolutely vile and I immediately judge anyone I see doing it.

Yanbu. No one needs to spit ever.
Our parkrun director gets really arsey if runners spit.

if they need to do it they should do it away from the path and people. It must be awful to have that stuck in the throat

I was aghast when ours started back up after Covid they added the rule 'no spitting in the finish funnel'. What kind of dirty pigs were spitting in the finish funnel beforehand?!?

Were they all men? I remember learning as part of my study of Shakespeare at university that phlegm, one of the four 'humours' which governed your health, was considered to have masculine attributes, so spitting was a means of showing your masculinity. This was said to be why men continue to spit in public.

I do get a bit snotty when running, especially in cold weather. But I carry a tissue for this reason.

I've noticed it's only male runners that do this where i live.

HIV?? Give over

OP I do agree with you, I’ve been running for donkeys and on busy race days I just find it so disgusting. I have such a physical reaction to other people hacking up, it makes my mouth start to water like I’m going to be sick!!

Was it an organised run?

Oh sorry. I thought HIV etc was transmitted through saliva, not just blood. My mistake.

I have only spat once during a run, when I came over very unwell and thought I might vomit. I ran into woodland off the path and spat behind a tree. I cannot stand people who spit in public. Runners are the second worst – top spot reserved for random men just walking around the streets and doing it.

Local running club! About 30ish people altogether. I was later than usual today as I usually try and avoid them - they all jog 4/5 abreast along the path to try and force others off it. Definitely won’t be late again!!

I have half a mind to email them (they have a website!!) but it’s not like they’ll do anything.

Spitting is gross, but please don’t perpetuate HIV transmissions falsehoods.

It’s disgusting I’ve been running for a very long time, I’ve run marathons ultra distance races and never one have I get the need to spit, or even worse blow a snot rocket.

if I’m ever running in a race or group run I can als most guarantee there will be some man spitting and snottering all over the place without any consideration for people around him.

Am surprised by this, because I see it quite often. It is generally men, and I see it more in competitive situations (park runs and races) than in “general” running. Drives me insane - especially when you are running behind someone who does it. They’ve got no control where it goes when they are moving. Bleurgh.

It’s gross. I run over 1500km per year and never spit. Ew.