The Unwritten Rules of Running, According to Reddit
Everything in life has its own rules of etiquette, and running is no exception. But if you usually work alone, the rules can be a little incomprehensible. Here are some of those “unwritten rules” you may not know until you break them, thanks to r / running Reddit .
When and how to transfer to someone
Whether you are racing or just walking in a busy park, quite often you will bump into someone who is running a little slower than you.
“Don’t run two or three steps behind the person you just bumped into for more than a few seconds,” the doppelganger says. If you’re going to go through them, make that decision and actually go through them.
On the other hand, if they run faster than you and you use them as motivation (this old “pretend there is an invisible rope and they pull you forward” trick), step back and do it from a respectful distance. …
When to blow up snot with a rocket
“Lie back or pull away from the group before spitting or snoting,” advises Renago47. Do not start spewing bodily fluids directly into the middle of the bag.
Know which side of the road to run on
If you are driving on a road with no sidewalks, go left (in the US) to encounter traffic. This means that you will see cars approaching you, rather than sneaking up on you from behind. The exception is that you can go to the other side if it has better visibility around the blind curve. Safety first.
“I think it could have been a written tbh rule,” texas1hunter says, referring to the fact that it is often law. On the other hand, bicycles must be ridden on the right side of the road because they are considered a vehicle.
Know what to share with non-working friends (which is often very little)
The only thing worse than listening to someone’s long distance over the weekend is listening to someone recount their meaningless dream from last night.
“Remember, runners don’t give a damn about your run,” says Delfintraut. LewdDudeNoob adds: “If the runner is not asking how the race went, have more questions. Their eyes will dim if you voluntarily provide too much information. “
Do not divulge your split times or which parts of your body hurt unless the other person specifically asks you to. (If they do, they are probably running themselves.) The best answer to the question, “How was your run?” that’s all you can fit in one sentence. Then stop.
When to free up space
If you are running with a group, you still have to split the road. Leave enough room for other runners or walkers to get around you, even if you have to jog on the sidewalk to do so.
“Pay attention to the lane separation,” says Glingglass. “[You] you don’t want to be the bully that puts the skateboarder on bail because you chose not to read the signs before you hit the bike / blade / board track to get past 5.”
Why should you make some noise
Announce yourself if you are catching up with someone (especially someone who is walking or standing still – you are approaching faster than you can imagine). “So many people came up behind me and scared me to death,” says TalkToPlantsNotCops. They like to shout “To your left!” but another Reddit editor notes that people are often not sure if you will be on the left, or if they need to move left. (My solution is to say something like “hello” or “good morning,” which still scares people, but not as much.)
If you’re too shy for that, mickja1 has another suggestion: “I lose my boot on the ground when I’m 15-20 feet behind them so they can hear me walking.”
When to wear a racing shirt
“It’s unlucky to wear a jersey while racing,” runners say to librarians. This shirt should be a souvenir after you’re done. The exception is that it’s always cool to wear last year’s shirt if you’ve run a race before, or you can always wear a shirt from another race.
Where to run along the highway
“Stay out of the front lane if you’re not running at speed,” says JPMmiles. This is another one that is frequently written; check the sign for the rules at your local track.
The “first lane” is the innermost lane of the track, and there should be the fastest people there. You can jump into the front lane to overtake someone or save some distance when cornering, but don’t hover in whole circles, unless you’re driving so fast that you really don’t expect someone to overtake you.
When to wave to other runners
This one will likely change from place to place, but we have some opinions on when and whether to recognize other runners.
“It’s a requirement,” says bigherb33 of what they call “wave runner”. The responses clarify that the wave can be a briefly raised hand or a simple nod and smile. Exceptions, Adrianmonk says, happen during the races, or on the track, or on a road that’s so crowded you’ll just be constantly waving your hand.
What if somebody waves at you? “At least nod back, you fucking monsters,” says do_NOT_pm_ur_titties (etiquette expert, okay). If someone smiles or waves, you should do something polite in return.