"Unfriendly" Runners

[mucc]

This past weekend, a couple of my friends and fellow runners started talking about how "unfriendly" runners/joggers along the path at Ritter Park are. One said, "You can't even get them to make eye contact with you, let alone wave back." I found this sort of strange. I rarely run in the park, therefore I had no opinion on the subject. They had to be wrong. This is Huntington's Ritter Park, not Central Park. Now that I could understand. So, the groundwork was laid for a bet: I would run the full length and circle of the park. If less that 25% of the runners I encounter failed to acknowledge my presence, I owed my friends a dinner at Red Lobster...and these guys can eat.

I ran the path on a gorgeous afternoon, feeling confident in the bet I had just entered into. In the forty minute span, I encountered 18 fellow runners(there was actually 20, but two wore shades). Of those 18, only three made eye contact, one waved back, another smiled, and the third just glared. So that was 2 out of 18 for a pathetic 11% "howdy fellow runner" ratio. That was pretty sad. I could see if I was a scary looking dude or wearing European speedos, but I was even wearing my "Big Ben 5K" t-shirt.

Of course, my friends gloated in their victory which will cost me dearly. I remember running this path a few years ago on a regular basis and always getting a wave, a wink, a smile and the occasional grunt. Shoot, even getting flipped-off would be better than being invisible. Hey folks...what gives? (BTW, posting this thread was another stipulation of my bet)

[Wants a hot runner]

"I remember running this path a few years ago on a regular basis and always getting a waive, a wink, a smile and the occasional grunt"


Were you a little more fit a couple of years ago?

[middleagedrunner]

I run 3-4 days a week at Ritter. Most runners do acknowledge me, except the high school track kids - hey, it doesn't occur to most teenagers to speak to an older lady running running half their speed! I do generally initiate it, but every now and then I realize I was so lost in my own world that I ran right past another runner and didn't acknowledge him/her. I know I did that once this morning.

Sorry you were out a dinner, but I do think the average is a bit better than the day you counted!

[gregory]

Since I do shift work, I've noticed a big difference in runner's attitudes between mornings and afternoons. Morning runners are always friendly. Afternoon runners are much less friendly. There are some runners I don't even bother to waive at anymore. I don't take it personally, some people are in their own world, some are just anti-social, and others are just plain jerks. That's life. People are also afraid to be nice to strangers. Of course, if you see someone running all the time, are they really strangers anymore? Oh well, an interesting change of pace subject to debate. And yes, I always waive.

[Runner]

Great study MUCC!!

I would have thought it was more along the lines of 50/50. I havn't actually counted but that would be my impression.

I also would have to think that the people wearing IPODs are much more likely to not waive! (And also get hit by a car or a plane]!)
www.examiner.com/running-in-baltimore/runner-using-ipod-killed-by-plane

[Bethlikes2run]

I am wondering how many of these people were wearing ipods ect. I often run to d-stress after a hard day at work. Hopefully it was just a bad day for these people.

[middleagedrunner]

I ran 5.5 mi this afternoon at Ritter and counted - 3 out of 3 runners smiled at me, as did 7 out of 8 walkers. I think it's just really variable.

[TimC]

True story...I was running down Piedmont Road in Westmoreland a few weeks ago and spotted a woman running towards me. As she got within a few yards I acknowledged her with a waive. We passed within inches of each other and she never made eye contact. I was like..."What a total jerk." It absolutely floored me. I just wanted to yell out, "You a@@&*%@." I didn't, but her behavior can only be labeled as rude. Period. Thank God she's the exception and not the rule.

I did the Ritter Park run this past weekend and got about one in three runners to waive back. Do you think gender plays a big part in it? If a woman has a strange, sweaty guy waive at her
she might find it creepy. Still...

[runner]

I think you hit the nail on the head there timbo. My wife says she's afraid to wave to male strangers on the path, but as a woman, she always gets a wave back. Yeah, and I've also noticed a big difference between morning runners and afternoon/evening runners, too. It's usually the sub-30 something crowd that act like snobs. Personally, I never really gave the subject any thought. If people want to be nasty, that's their business...and their loss in the long run (pun intended).

[Guest Runner]

I am a middle aged runner, too, and running is really hard for me. Some days it is all I can do to finish my goal. So I am zoned in, listening to my music, etc, and I don't want to lose my concentration. So I might not acknowledge another runner or walker. But I can see where it might seem rude. I'll try to grit my teeth and smile from now on!!