Running Etiquette

So I've spent most of the summer running in the evenings. I go to a fairly well used running trail near my house. I've been running off and on since I was around twelve making it about thirteen years of running behind me. Not that makes me any more an expert than anyone else it's just something that I do and have done and will most likely keep doing for a while to come.

One of the things most runners have to do is share some space often a sidewalk, a trail or a track with other runners, walkers, dogs, dog doo doo, dog walkers, cats, cat doo doo, kids, couples, bikes, berry pickers and various other obstacles like road/trail/sidewalk construction... All this is pretty much just fine by me. One of the things that annoys me most is when the fellow runners moving the opposite direction don't return a greeting. I often just do a slight head nod/dip as we pass. Many times they will nod back, smile, say hi or hello, others open a hand mid swing of arm to do what is a runners wave and any combination there of. When someone doesn't return a greeting I often think something like, JERK! or SNOB! in my head, sometimes just under my breath.

I figure all the runners on the trails/tracks have at the very least one thing in common with all the other people running on the trail. So I guess in my mind it's almost like a club.

One of the things I have noticed is the female runners are often worse about responding to the greeting than the males. While I'm sure they have no shortage of people checking them out and shouting/yelling things at them while they run, I am just saying hello, hell I'm not even SAYING anything I'm nodding. I'm not checking anyone out, I'm not asking for drinks or dinner and a movie. I'm busy running. But not too busy to make room on the trail to pass and acknowledge someone. It's only a friendly gesture nothing more nothing to be threatened by.

Anybody who is running gets a greeting, I often try for a second greeting if I see the person again on my run. People moving in the same direction who pass me or get passed by me no greeting as that would require turning around to do so. Serious looking walkers get a greeting.

I wonder if the non greeters are newer runners. Other times it's fairly obvious they are just jerks.

Don't be a jerk on the trail. Say hi. Wave. Nod. All take minimal amounts of energy. I know you see me coming.

Posted by Ben at September 06, 2007 02:14 PM