A runner’s book of etiquette

Hello runners, non-runners and everybody else ;-)

Thanks for checking out my new blogpost today and by the way, thanks to Glossy & Hay straw for your comments and running hitlists! I’ll try some of your songs soon.
Against my announcement to blog about what to be aware of when it’s getting colder I decided to change my topic for today due to current circumstances. I’m back in Hamburg this weekend and this morning I went for a run along the River Elbe. It was quite early and it’s up to three degrees colder and quite windy up here than in the Ruhrgebiet. Well, I really enjoyed my run, check out how I did:

http://runkeeper.com/user/Quissel/activity/128694878

While meeting one or maximum two runners when running e.g. around the Stausee in Haltern, in Hamburg you always see people running. Ok, it’s a bigger city and the running track along the waterfront of the River Elbe is a very famous one. But still, no matter what time you go out, you see people running. This morning I passed about four or five joggers and for the first time I realised everybody’s just running, doing there thing, listening to music and paying no attention to the people passing them by. Because Haltern is a small town and putting things quite exaggerated, but it’s something special to meet another runner and you feel like allies just because you’re sharing the same hobby. So what you do is smile and say hello. If you would do that in Hamburg, you wouldn’t have time to concentrate on your run as you would be smiling and hailing all the time – well, that sounds a bit exaggerated, too, but I guess you know what I mean ;-)

But anyway, there are some rules you should keep in mind as a runner. I prepared a “runner’s book of etiquette” for you with the most important rules to apply which will make you likeable among other runners ;-)

Rule no 1 – The runners greeting

Is there something like a greeting commandment in the running scene? Has the slower running newcomer to wait until the ambitious runner says hello? Or is it the other way around, so that the slow-runner is obliged to the first greeting? And what about the above described problem, when there are so many runners that it disturbs your run because of greeting all the time. Well, I’d recommend the following key rule: basically runners are friendly people, who exchange a little smile, nodding or even a short hello when passing each other. Which form of greeting is appropriate is up to the runner him-/herself.

Rule no 2 – Overtaking

Are you allowed to overtake another runner? If yes, how? And what do I have to consider when another runner wants to overtake me?

There’s nothing more embarrassing than overtaking someone and to break down completely exhausted only 500 metres after.

On the other hand, if you’re the one that’s going to be overtaken: maintain posture! Almost as embarrassing as breaking down just after overtaking is to increase your pace only because you notice that someone is coming from behind and is faster than you are. No matter if you want to overtake or somebody else will overtake you: keep your pace and make sure you can hold that speed for a while and feel comfortable, other wise you will make a fool of yourself.

Another important rule to follow is how to overtake non-running passengers. On very narrow pathways it can be that they block the whole way. This might be a quite tricky situation as you possibly have music in your ears and no bell like a cyclist. The risk of scaring them is quite high. So you basically have two options: When you’re approaching try to call the attention to yourself by blowing your nose or coughing, or the more polite variant might be a friendly and short “Excuse me” while passing them. Never assume that they might hear you coming from behind. This can not only be scaring for the passengers, but also end up in unpleasant insults or even a crash.

Rule no 3 – Things all too human

Blowing your nose, farting and peeing: all human, all too human!

You probably know what I mean: you’re running and so does your nose. The most appropriate tool is a tissue. In case you forgot that at home you may be allowed to blow your nose by keeping one nose whole shut with a finger. But watch your back and make sure you’re not targeting somebody else. You should only do that by exception and when you feel unobserved.

When you’ve modified your diet or tried something different as usual, there’s a higher risk of flatulence. It can be painful to suppress it, but especially when you’re running in a group it can be embarrassing and bothering for people around you. You can be safe if you a) prefer the low-noise variant and b) try to drown your fart by coughing or harrumphing.

Rule no 4 – Dogs and their owners

Passing dogs and their owners while running can be a quite sensitive topic. “He’s harmless”, is what most of the dog owners say about their dogs. But for some reason runners seem to attract dogs and when they are off-leash they love to run towards you and you got to be careful not stumbling over them. Watch out, but don’t panic. You’re well-advised when you show disinterest to the foreign four-legged friend. The more disinterested you are in the dog and what he’s doing, the more the dog will be.

Rule no 5 – Your behaviour in traffic

The German traffic code also takes effect for runners. Means: stop at red lights. I know it can be quite annoying when you’re on a roll and close to breaking your best time, but especially when children are waiting at the traffic lights, you have to stop! Aside from the fact that you’re risking your own life. Apply to the traffic rules and you’ll be fine. Keep yourself on the right site of the pavement and you may turn the volume of your music, so that you hear the cyclist ringing their bell.

I hope my few rules will help you to feel comfortable while running or understanding runners betters when passing them. When there are other things that interest you, e. g. what to consider when running in a group or when taking part in competitions, let me know! But next week I’ll bring the winter-special as promised.

Enjoy your weekend,

Kristin

Source: http://www.runnersworld.de/knigge