Tripping a Runner
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Dogs are awesome, but when running, no one wants to be chased by a wayward pooch. Runners also don't want to be clotheslined by that 100-foot leash the pet owner is using to "rein in" his dog.
Find a
race near youHogging Lane One
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If you're busting your butt during a grueling interval or tempo workout, the last thing a runner wants to do—or waste breath on—is to yell "TRACK!" at the walkers taking up the first four lanes.
If a runner is forced to give a shout and the walkers don't move, expect a shoulder thump, or the very least, some exasperated waving and angry mumbling. The same rule applies on a bike path or sidewalk—please respect the runner's right of way.
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race near youDelaying Their Run
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Most runners aren't quite themselves until they've wrapped up their run for the day.
So, if they're heading out the door and there's something holding them up, they tend to get antsy. That fidgety reaction can quickly turn into irritation if the cause for the delay is someone pestering them about bills, work, or some task they'd rather avoid.
Don't poke a snake: It's best to back down and let the runner deal with it when she gets back.
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race near youPointing Out When They Can't Run
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All sweats are not created equal. If a runner is deprived of his chosen activity and confined to the elliptical for too long, he can get nostalgic for even the hardest running days on the trail.
If you come across a runner who is stuck cross-training in the gym—likely recovering from an injury—walk away. If you linger, be prepared to listen about the "good old days" when training meant fartleks and hill runs.
Find a
race near youDelaying Post-Run Food
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If a runner has just returned from a long run, she has no doubt been thinking about the damage she plans to do at the dining table. So if someone else grabs the pancakes that were called dibs on mid-run, all bets are off: someone might just lose a finger.
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race near youProvoking the Injured Runner
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Even the smallest injuries can set back a runner from his or her training goals. And an idle runner is an unhappy one.
Injured runners can be extra touchy; the tiniest rub can send an injured runner into a rage. Runners aren't fully sane during an injury. Tread carefully around any injured runner and don't talk about your own training or upcoming race.
Find a
race near youCalling a Runner the J-Word
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There may not be a more insulting name to a serious runner than being called a jogger. To be clear, the line between runner and jogger is not based on pace but rather on mindset. A runner needs to run—that often means everyday—to be him or herself. A jogger doesn't have this craving and only jogs when they feel they have to.
Find a
race near youInflicting the Jeans Debacle
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It sucks to shop for jeans as a runner who logs a few dozen miles every week. Ones that fit in the waist make our quads feel like sausages. And those with ample room for those muscular legs make the waist saggy. Store dressing rooms can turn into war zones.
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