Etiquette For Non-Runners

Running is a fairly unpretentious sport.  I think there's very little in life that is complete devoid of potential snobbishness, but some things are more snooty than others.  Golf, for example, would be a sport I would consider higher on the pretentious scale.  It's costly, you have to have club memberships, adhere to a dress code and have specific (and pricey) equipment.  Polo would be an example of a sport that is ridiculously elite.  Lawn darts, well, not so much.  Sailing = high snoot factor.  Walking = pretty low key.  Do you see what I mean?

That said, I think running falls on the lower end of the snoot-scale, if you will.  Some would say that you need good shoes, but that's debatable, depending on who you talk to.  Barefoot running is becoming more and more popular.  You can buy fancy, tailored clothing, but it's not necessary.  You can get an iPod, a Garmin runner's watch, fancy belts to carry drinks and gels, foam rollers, etc.  Again, these things are nice.  I use all of them some of the time, but none of them are necessary to be a runner.  All you really need is yourself and a place to move your feet.  It's highly adaptable, readily available, and potentially Scott free. 

Most runners that I know are fairly down to earth.  We run for the pure joy of running.  We readily swap stories, tip and resources.  We are courteous while we run. Our carbon footprint is small.  We don't use large equipment that produces noxious fumes or loud noises.  We run on trails or tracks.  When we run on the street, we do not hog the road.  In fact, there is nothing that makes your more aware of your own mortality than having a large tanker trunk plummet past you at warp speed with only a fraction of space between you. That's enough of a notion to keep most of us running on roads with large shoulders, and to stay as far away from the actual driving lanes as possible.  I think that most of us do not litter, but instead carry what little garbage we create to a proper disposal.  I personally don't even like to throw my cup down on the ground during a race! It really bothered me to toss my cup on the ground during the last 15K I ran, because they had no garbage can set up at the water stations.  At least I knew the volunteers would clean the litter.  Still, I hate leaving a mess for someone else to take care of.  I even clean hotel rooms before I go, putting all the towels in a pile in the bathroom, and making sure no trash is left strewn on the counters, that the bathtub is rinsed, etc. 

So, with all of the above in mind, can I please ask of some reciprocated etiquette from you non-runners out there?  Now, I would say that most people I come across are friendly and courteous to runners.  Rudeness is not the norm by any means, but still, I am shocked by the number of people who are rude.  Sometimes I think it's not intentional, but rather just simply not realizing what they are doing.  Other times it is unmistakable meanness. 

Let me explain.

When you are driving, if it is at all possible, pull away from the berm of the road when you pass a runner.  I understand that sometimes there is oncoming traffic and it's simply not a possibility.  That's OK.  I chose to run on a road with cars.  I get it. But I can't tell you the number of times I have been running on a back road, with practically no traffic, and some car or truck came barreling past me without budging an inch.  Really, it may feel like you have plenty of room to you, but think about the person you are driving past. 6 inches feels awfully close to my unprotected body.  If you hit me, it won't really hurt you.  It could potentially kill me.  I have had times that I felt like a truck practically shaved the hair off of my legs, it was that close.  If no one is in the other lane, pull out a few feet.  For those of you who go to extremes and drive in the opposite lane, well, it's not necessary to go out that far, but truly, I send my thanks for being considerate.  And actually, if I am running and someone pulls far away to make room for me, I always wave a thank you.  It is sincerely appreciated.

Here's another thing - don't honk your horn.  I have had people who I know beep at me to say hello and people who are just kidding around (teenage boys, mostly).  It scares a runner who is not expecting a beep.  It scares the shit out of me, actually.  I'm not anticipating honking.  I'm aware of my surroundings, but I am going about my business, in my own zone, and assuming that you are doing the same.  Don't honk.  One time when I was running in Hollidaysburg, a man and woman in a pick up truck drove past me and laid on their horn, just to be jerks.  It was such a loud and long beep that I actually thought for a moment that he was going to hit me.  I was so shaken.  It was so mean of them, and so utterly unprovoked that it infuriated me.  I'll admit, I gave him the finger as he drove past, and in return, he stuck his hand out the window and flipped me off too.  Why?  Why on earth would it anger someone to see a person running on a low traffic road, completely unassuming and certainly not bothering his drive?  Now, I realize that probably no one who reads my blog would ever do something as mean as laying on their horn or heckling a runner, but my point is this:  don't beep.  Period.  Unless you truly need to get the runner's attention for some safety issue. You may not realize it, but it's startling from a runner's standpoint.

That's pretty much all that I, as a runner, ask of non-runner's sharing the same space.  I am assuming that none of you would make cat calls or whistle or call out insults to runners either.  I have had that happen too.  But, like I said, that stuff usually comes from immature teenage boys or stupid, immature, out of shape men.  It's really not a lot.  Share the road and don't beep, and we can all be happy doing our own things together!