To ask a man to move at parkrun

[brownbear201]

I am curious as to what you all think of this incident I had whilst running a parkrun this morning. The parkrun I was running was quite a narrow parkrun- it’s an out and back and you run down a track. The track itself is not very wide and faster runners come back towards slower runners on the return if that makes sense. As I was running earlier I was behind a man running with a dog. He was young-ish probably in his early twenties. He wasn’t going super slowly or anything but I wanted to go faster and overtake. However, there were faster runners coming towards me. As he had a dog I couldn’t get past him, if he hadn’t had a dog I would have been able to squeeze past. To be fair he had the dog on a very short fixed lead and was as far left as he could get but because the dog was running at his side I couldn’t get past. I said to him as I was coming up from behind him “Can you move your dog over please?” And he replied “Can you be patient like everyone else?” I ignored him saying this and I was eventually able to overtake him and I heard him muttering about impatient people and just ignored him. A short while later I pulled over to the side to catch my breath- I was out of the way whilst I did this as past the narrow section. He then ran past me again and said “You’ve gotten far considering you were so desperate to get past” I didn’t say anything back to him. Was I right to just ignore him? He wasn’t big or intimidating looking by any means and he didn’t shout but it was the way he looked at me that left me a bit unsettled. AIBU? Was I wrong to ask him to move?

The man could turn sideways with his dog alongside that way to let people past - just a lazy jerk

@brownbear201 I think it’s fair to feel annoyed at not being able to go past at your own pace but as someone with lots of training experience I’d say you should work on gauging your pace before you stop - start. You were clearly running beyond your ability and if you’d overtaken me like that I would have made a comment as well. Learn from it and be patient - as other‘s said, it’s a little fun run. If the crowds annoy you then just run by yourself in the countryside.

It’s polite to move over without being asked if someone faster is coming up behind you. And it’s quite reasonable for the OP to have asked the dog guy to let her through. There’s certainly no need for snide remarks from dog guy.

it sounds like the course is not suitable for runners with dogs.

You should have been patient and let the faster runners coming towards you pass before over taking him.

Saying that though, anyone running with a dog is a CUNT unless the breed is a husky etc.

He should make way for faster runners because a lot of Park runners are looking to improve their times.
My whole family are involved in Park Run and I think dogs should not be allowed. There have been several injuries caused by dogs, and one instance of a runner being bitten. The runners in question were far too forgiving in my opinion.

We've got a narrow section, two wide (but one-way) that creates bottlenecks and jams up at the peak paces of the run. When I had to keep my then u11 DCs in arm's length, I'd get them to run in front not to the side in order not to jam everyone else wanting to run at their own pace. When the DCs were young, that's where we'd get lapped by the front runners so had to keep my ears out in order not to be a trip hazard of someone running over twice as quickly.

Yesterday I was solo, bided my time behind someone awkwardly just a bit slower, passed where there's a bit more give, heard panting behind and released someone wanting to go faster than me.
On the previous lap, DS was next to me and had to slow to a brisk walk, whereas my legs were in that awkward joggy mode that's not quite a walk or a run. Some betweeny paces are quite awkward and it can be easier to speed up or slow down, but then you lose momentum.

Sometimes you have to be patient. Sometimes it's appropriate to politely ask people so you can pass. I prefer to give dogs more space because they're unpredictable, and might swing to the side as a trip hazard, or be startled.

Getting snarky because someone passed you and now you've caught up is crappy regardless.

Doesn't sound a great course layout and whilst he could have been more accommodating you obviously didn't need to get past him if you had to pull over after. Sounds like the athletic equivalent of getting overtaken by a boy racer and then pulling up along side them at the red lights.

This is a hot take. Why? DDog would be very annoyed to hear that.

He was as far left as possible with a short fixed lead, other runners were lapping you as faster. I’d tell you to get lost if I were out with my dog, parkrun does not take precedence over a dog Walker (runner) and he had you behind and faster runners in front. You should have waited, especially as you stopped for a breather. Where did you want him to go? In the undergrowth?

Oh dear, OP, learn to pace yourself! That's embarrassing rushing past someone then having to stop for a breather...

He was taking part in Parkrun, not out for a gentle walk with his dog.

Therefore the Parkrun rules are clear whether the entrant is running alone or with a dog on a lead, they should step aside to make way to allow faster runners to overtake them rather than holding them up.

The fact that she stopped later on is completely irrelevant.

So two routes, not 3? How much of the course is this for? I’ve never seen people go on different routes at any parkrun, I reckon it must be unique.

Sounds like you made a bit of a tit of yourself.

I googled parkrun rules as I haven’t ever seen a rule about stepping aside before. Can’t find anything on the national parkrun website about stepping aside or passing,

Found this on a local parkrun website, Your time is not as important as the safety of our runners.
• Remember that not everyone has the same level of experience.
• Give courteous notice if you wish, but don’t assume you’ve been heard or understood.
• Don’t make a gap where there isn’t one. Slow down if you can’t get by.

nothing about stepping aside, in fact I’d say it suggests the opposite. It’s up to the person who wants to pass to wait u til they can do so 🤷‍♀️

Yabu it’s park run not the olympics

If you'd shouted at him to get out of the fucking way then booted his dog then he would have been within his rights to make his shitty little comment. Probably made the wee dick's day.

@MrsTerryPratchett

'This is a hot take. Why? DDog would be very annoyed to hear that.'

Only certain breeds have evolved to run long distances at one gait.

If you're taking an average dog breed for a run and forcing them to run at your pace then that is unnatural for them and cruel. I google as and they doing their own thing and catching up with you every now and then, that is different.

I met a woman and her whippet running with the poor thing on a short lead and forced to jog with her on a hard surface whilst she wore thick rubber soled trainers.

She was as thick as a plank and I tore a strip off her and then she cried and said her previous whippet has been PTS aged only 6 because of joint problems and arthritis! She was very upset and I calmed down and she took onboard what I said and now the Whippet is off lead on soft grass whilst she runs and we talk and chat sometimes.

I wouldn't bring a dog to PR
But you are impatient op.

@Attelina why are you "tearing strips" off strangers?! 🙄

Surely there must have been a gap between runners coming towards you to go past on his left? Is the whole course so narrow it's single file most of the way round?

Runners should let faster people past by moving aside, which the runner did. If the course is so narrow the whole way round and so congested that people can't pass a person with a dog on a short lead then I'd find a different parkrun.

Why do people who parkrun think they own the fucking place? Why couldn't you wait two minutes for the faster people to pass and then overtake?

You made a stranger cry??

I can't imagine 5k is exactly a long distance by dog standards?! I'd see your point if it was a marathon but it's a 1/2 hour run (if you run slowly like me)

Really?! You'd say he should stop his run and step aside so she can carry on running at a marginally faster pace? 100% agree with just running politely to one side to allow others to overtake but there's no way it's fair or reasonable to ask others to come to a stop so they can pass??

You din't say that. You said, "anyone running with a dog is a CUNT". I run with DDog off lead (where it's allowed) and he zooms ahead, sniffs stuff, waits impatiently, I catch up, he sighs, runs ahead, rinse and repeat.

You could have said that people running dogs breeds not bred for distance and a certain gait should do some homework. Calling people cunts and making them cry might be... counterproductive.

There are several dogs at our Parkrun every week living their absolute best lives. No huskies that I can recall seeing, but I'm not sure what the 'etc' covers.

One is a guide dog. Her owner runs with a human VI guide and a few of the fast runners take it turns each week to run with the guide dog. She gets a really good fast run out without being 'at work' and is clearly very excited about it every week. She can drag someone around run the 5km in about 22 minutes. Without the fast runners volunteering to take her then her owner wouldn't be able to run at all. Not sure I'd classify any of them as cunts.