List some unwritten rules and weird quirks runners do.

Precious Roy wrote:

Unwritten rules: Don't lay out an all out sprint to come in .07 seconds ahead of a female finisher or 50+ year old grand master.

Why not?

If the legs allow I always lay out an all-out sprint if there are runners I can pass or if I may be on for a good finishing time.

And I am often beaten by female runners and 50+ year old masters. Why should I refrain from racing them to the line?

When I come to an intersection where there is a car stopped and planning to turn, I always run behind the car. Even trying to make eye contact is not enough, I assume if I run in front of their car, they will hit me.

Some quirks....many east Europeans, especially those from former Soviet Block countries, will smack and clap their legs and faces red raw before a race. Whether its to encourage blood flow or pain killing endorphins I dont know, but the majority do it.

Another quirk: Tatyana Ledovskaya would run a flat out 300m in her warm up before a 400mh final. Gunnell mentioned this in either an interview or autobiography. I believe Marita Koch did the same before a 400m race.

Shoebacca wrote:

Many runners feign a yawn on the starting line on the belief that you take in extra oxygen by doing this.

It isn't intentional.

Take six weeks off when some part of their body (e.g., ankle, knee) gets sore.

fsddfsa wrote:

Take six weeks off when some part of their body (e.g., ankle, knee) gets sore.

That is the exact opposite of the runners I know who are too obsessed to skip a day, paranoid about losing fitness. Must be a hobby jogger thing.

Yes, hobbyists for sure. But also some serious runners. I know many fast guys who ask for advice from their training buddies and coaches whenever they get a hangnail...."take a few weeks off." lol!

Tying shoes a certain number of times before a run.

Like the singlet, wearing particular shirts or shorts for a workout.

Being able to walk in morning without a limp and thinking something isn't right because you took the prior day off.

Rip on triathletes.

Nah wrote:

It's never ok to wear your medal around. The day after? Really? What would be the purpose? I mean I can maybe understand wearing it at the meet but why would you put it on and wear it the day after?

Memphis trolley system gives all marathon participants free rides on the race day. You can show your bib before the race. If you have changed clothes after the race, you can show your finisher's medal.

Yeah, but I take my medal off as soon as I get to my hotel. Or as soon as I get to my car, if I am driving straight back home.

fsddfsa wrote:

Yes, hobbyists for sure. But also some serious runners. I know many fast guys who ask for advice from their training buddies and coaches whenever they get a hangnail...."take a few weeks off." lol!

Again, this is the exact opposite of many runners I know, including hobby joggers. Some could be in an accident that left them with nothing but bloody stumps for legs and they'd still try to figure out a way to run the next day.

Whynotnot wrote:

Precious Roy wrote:

Unwritten rules: Don't lay out an all out sprint to come in .07 seconds ahead of a female finisher or 50+ year old grand master.

Why not?

If the legs allow I always lay out an all-out sprint if there are runners I can pass or if I may be on for a good finishing time.

And I am often beaten by female runners and 50+ year old masters. Why should I refrain from racing them to the line?

If you have an all out sprint left at the end of a road race, you did not pace the race correctly and probably left a lot of time out on the course.

Otherwise, if you are feeling great at the end of the race and get locked up in a sprint with a woman or a runner who is much older, the classy thing to do is run with them all the way in and help them finish out the race (unless they tank big time and can't hold the pace). The douchey hobby jogger move is to take the win so you can look at the results and see that you beat a guy old enough to be your dad by .07.

You make a great point. My experience and your experience are anecdotal only, of course. But, generally, runners are a bit "wimpier" than other, stronger athletes.

gfdgsdhgdsg wrote:

Precious Roy wrote:

Quirks:

Treating the startline for a longer road race (10k-marathon) like it is the start of a 1500 on the track or shorter. I see runners shaking legs, doing plyo jumps and ripping out super fast strides when they pretty much take off at a very easy effort level.

.

Well that's tough, when you're running 5:00 mile pace or faster you probably do need to do some stretching and plyo stuff before the race. For many, that IS 1500 pace. Imagine having to run for only 30 minutes instead of 40. The race uses entirely different energy systems.

I've lined up behind 2:05 marathoners and 28:00 10k runners at road races. They do some moderate strides and easy dynamic warm ups. The runners who are jumping up and down and going through a sprint warm up are always the ones who are pushing the 40 min 10k.

HonestThief wrote:

pass gas quietly

You clearly have more dignified running buddies than I do.

We always call out "turbo booster!" and run ahead for a couple step.

fsddfsa wrote:

But, generally, runners are a bit "wimpier" than other, stronger athletes.

Oh no you didn't just say that....

I typed it, but didn't say it out loud!

Precious Roy wrote:

Whynotnot wrote:

Why not?

The douchey hobby jogger move is to take the win so you can look at the results and see that you beat a guy old enough to be your dad by .07.

Ha. I knew someone would try to call you out on this.

I'm with Roy on this one...this move is even worse than the guys that sprint all-out the final 300 meters of a marathon after walk-jogging 26 miles.

Unwritten rules:

Move to the outside of the pack when you have to rip ass.

If you are a competitive runner, and do not win a road race you are in, call it a tempo run and say you weren't racing.

Make as much noise as possible and silently judge the person you are passing who is wearing earbuds/headphones on the trail.

Quirks:

Always wear the same pair of socks when racing.

Wearing the same warm up gear before a race.

Complaining about any part of the body that is sore excessively.

Epsom salt baths.