Any other runners?

[Another Bill]

I’m feeling very smug, having just completed a local 5k race. I’d never ‘run’ since my school days and even then I usually begged my Mum to write me a sick note excusing me. But a little over a year into state pension payment, I’ve seen the light. Walked and walked until I’d shed enough weight, then migrated from walking to running after investing in suitable shorts, shirts and shoes back in March. Don’t yet know my placement in the 5k. I was a long way from the front, but hopefully not actually last.

It’s been interesting practising/learning on village roads. Pavements are narrow and badly maintained, so it’s always reassuring if passing traffic moves out to give me a little extra space, lest I should accidentally wobble (though I never have). Might be alone here, but my personal observation is that the bigger the vehicle, more likely they are to do so - big trucks generally less intimidating than small cars or bicycles. Motor bikers pretty good too, even the few taking liberties with speed limits.

There’s also interaction with other pedestrian traffic, whose cooperation is sometimes needed. My personal default rule is that walkers are kings of the road, and if anybody needs to step off the pavement when passing, it should be me. When the walker is facing the traffic it’s sometimes safer if they step into the road, as I usually now do myself when roles are reversed, but I try hard to avoid making them feel that they must.

In all interactions, I find a spoken “thanks, lovely day”, or a wave of thanks to a driver, goes a long way to achieving a happy encounter.

[jont-]

Relucntant runner here, but I prefer running to not eating cake and don't want to end up fat

Around here it's either single track lanes or cross country, now that the paths are finally above water again. On the single track I'll readily jump out of the way of traffic, and usually get a friendly wave of acknowledgement. Can be awkward where there's no verge to hide on/in, and I'll usually run on the side of the road that a) affords me a better view of oncoming traffic (and them of me) and b) has the wideset verge rather than sticking to the offside.

[M1ke H]

Definitely not a runner, but I do walk nearly every day. This usually involves the footpaths, or walking over the fields - but I have to use the local lanes to get there, and a lot locally are single track. I will always stop for any passing traffic, but it always pleases me that probably 80%+ of drivers raise a hand in thanks for making their job easier.

[Another Bill]

Harping back to my first and only competitive 5K race, with hindsight, I’m seeing interesting analogies to driving.

I deliberately started pretty much last in the pack, reasoning that would allow me to learn the etiquette from those in front and then maybe, move forward a few places. That latter, ‘moving forward’ proved hard as, at the start, you are running in a tightly formed pack. A bit like driving down a fast NSL road full of ‘dawdlers’, you’d love to go faster but you’ve no chance of getting past them without passing multiple vehicles at a time with not much gain, so you really just have to go with the flow.

As the pack started to spread out, overtakes became possible. But a bit like overtaking in a car, you had to tactically position yourself ready to seize a gap when it opened. When a gap did open, the easiest tactic was to sprint through it but, like overtaking in a car, the sprint is wasteful of fuel/energy so worthy of some planning. A bit like obsessing about staying within speed limits during a car overtake.

When being overtaken, the best thing all round was to cooperate, to avoid being dragged along at somebody else’s pace. So ease off a little to let the faster runner pass, but not so much as to lose too much momentum. If the overtaker subsequently slowed, which happened sometimes, be prepared to pass again, they’re just running to their own agenda, with every right to do so.

Lastly, there was definitely an atmosphere of friendliness. For both overtakers and overtakees I felt this led to an awareness of perception, you don’t want to be perceived as either aggressive or obstructive. Never a bad attitude for drivers either, imho.

Seasoned competitive runners, feel free to dismiss all of above. If I’d started running earlier in life, and taking it more seriously, I might have a different take on it.

[Horse]

Harping back to my first and only competitive 5K race, with hindsight, I’m seeing interesting analogies to driving.

When being overtaken, the best thing all round was to cooperate, to avoid being dragged along at somebody else’s pace. So ease off a little to let the faster runner pass, but not so much as to lose too much momentum.

Are any HGV drivers reading this?

[Another Bill]

Another ‘perception’ aspect….

About half way around, I spotted the photographer in the distance. So I tried my best to look athletic, and put on a sprint. I’ve now seen the event photos, and a couple that include me appear to reveal what looks like a rather frail old man with skin and bone thighs, stumbling along from foot to foot.

I think though, on balance and at least when static and fully clothed, I prefer the ‘frail look’ vs the ‘fat look’ that I’ve been sporting this past 30-40 years.

[Another Bill]

My running career continues to advance, accomplishing a 10km event today on a mixture of paths, bridleways, and single track roads, and I didn’t fimish last, which is all I can ask.

The roads were open to traffic, and I have to say I was amazed by the good driver behaviour. Every single driver maintained a crawling speed throughout when passing the long stream of runners and pretty much mounted the opposite verge, just to give the runners enough elbow space and room to overtake one another. Many waited for quite some time behind runners, when they could have safely (but rudely) pushed through. Really does restore one’s faith in human nature!

Curiously, the race organisers had imposed a rule that we should run on the the left side of the road by default, unless their yellow roadside signs said otherwise. I complied of course, but always thought one should walk/run facing the traffic? Makes no odds on a single track of course, but then why change the rule?

[Another Bill]

With apologies for perpetuating a near-monologue, just thought I’d update….

I’ve really got the running bug, now averaging about 100 miles a month, based usually on 5 runs a week with 2 days off. That means many 5km, a few 10km, and occasionally up to 15km, always before breakfast. Feeling fantastically fit, and back to the weight I was 40 years ago.

I remain interested in interactions with other road users. Sometimes on a footway, to avoid other pedestrians and if it’s a country road or the speed limit is 30 or 40 and no visible traffic, I might step into the traffic lane. If vehicle traffic then appears while I’m out there, I’ve yet to experience any sign of resentment, they just slow up and we exchange a friendly wave. I’m finding that a degree of assertiveness helps, better to run a couple of feet out, making myself obvious, rather than run along the gutter. You do of course need an escape plan to leap out of harm’s way, but it’s never been needed.

With other pedestrian traffic, I find a smile (sinister as my ‘grin’ may be) works wonders. Dog walkers on footpaths in particular are usually happy to grab the pooch’s collar and step aside, though I think they appreciate being given the option. A spoken “many thanks, but don’t feel you have to” as I pass always goes down well, and gets a beaming smile in return next time I see them.

Anyway, great fun is being had - strongly recommend it. I started running post state pension age and if I can do it, so can many others. Maybe wait til the current frosty spell is over, mind, I’be grounded myself this week!