Running etiquette: When should you say 'Hi" to another runner?

rojo wrote:

2)I couldn't believe it could get dart at4:30 in the winter..

It's that latitude thingy. It's in those science books.

lwood wrote:

Also I remember reading in Runners World that you shouldn't wave to girls or say that they have a great pace as it's harassment.

I rarely see girls running at a great pace. Once it was almost like that. I saw a woman running in front of me and realized that she is not so slow. So I started to pick-up the pace because every time when I pass someone, I want to leave an impression that I went by very quickly. When I had overtaken her, I continued to run very rapidly for maybe 5K because I was thinking that what if I slow down and she increases her pace, maybe she would catch me. Normally female runners that I see here aren't very good runners. So there is kind of zero possibility that I would say something about great pace. Especially because here in this country people don't talk to strangers. It's much more normal to show that one is a better runner.

I grew up running in a small town, so it was normal to say hello to anyone you passed running. When I moved to the big city, it was rare for anyone to say hello, but out of habit I still nod or wave if I make eye contact.

For me, it's all about numbers. If I'm running someplace where there's lots of people (e.g. a popular trail around a local lake), I'm not going to be waving and chatting every 5 seconds. If I'm out away from the crowds and encountering people only occasionally, then yes, I'll definitely at least wave. I usually prefer to wave rather than say something though. I suspect my threshold for what counts as crowded may be low compared to the average though.

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

What if they are a female?

$70k for the females

Wow. Demi Moore got a million in that film, talk about setting the bar low Uncle Rico.

I live in a large metro area on the west coast and that's my experience as well. On multi-use trails/bike paths with fairly heavy traffic no one greets each other. But if I'm on a more remote trail where I might only see a few people in an hour most people say hi or just nod.

5675 wrote:

rojo wrote:

and then be sunny again before bedtime.

You mean, it would be sunny at night?

I think he's confusing summer with winter.

Say hi based on the sparsity of the people. If you're out on a five mile long trail and this is the only person you've seen, say hi. If there are 50 people on the trail, do not say hi because that would be way too many people. But in that second scenario, say hi if you see someone you know. But again, do not say hi if you know every single person.

If someone says hi to you first, you should say it back.

I always tell them "Good Job, keep it up"

NEVER....When I am dialed in crushing my 7:45 Miles I do not need to stop and chat!

DAP wrote:

Always got to give a friendly wave or a head nod

Agree, the runner's nod or wave, but a wave that is a tip of the hand, not a princess wave.

I generally give a friendly wave or hello or good morning to everyone. Most respond to my salutations.

Side note, anyone else notice that girls don't nod? ?

I always wave - runners, walkers, cyclists, kids on a skateboard or out in a yard, whoever. I even wave if we pass each other a second time, like on a loop or out & back.

I have a friend who lives in a small New England town and knows almost everyone that runs, so he's very used to chatting on runs. The first time he came to visit in Philadelphia, we ran the river loop. At the time he worked for Mizuno and would say "Hey nice shoes!" to everyone we saw in Mizunos, and people would give him the dirtiest looks. He was used to chatting with everyone, but here it seems like most people just assumed he was being sarcastic.

That said, I still give a little wave or head nod to pretty much everyone.

Around here, it's young professionals and college students who are most of the runners. They would never acknowledge one of the few geezer runners, like me.

I run with a cap on and if I don't know them, I just do a slight bend of the head/touch the brim of my cap to signify a tip of the hat.

I live in the bold north and the amount of people that say hi is directly correlated to weather. In a blizzard you will get zero acknowledgment but if it's 70 and sunny everyone and there mom will say hi.