Is it appropriate to run in a cemetery?

I don't think anyone there will care whether your dancing on their grave or running on it.

Same. If you're respectful and avoid areas where people are mourning, then I think it's fine.

Absolutely. They are dead. They should be glad someone visiting them.

I trained at Yorktown and Manassas all the time. Grew up in Tidewater and went to GMU. Lots of people run at Yorktown.

As to op, I see nothing wrong with running at a cemetery as long as a funeral isn't going on or something. I however have never come across a graveyard big enough that it would be worth running there.

If it's a private cemetery, with an attendant and/or security patrols, they'll probably tell you to leave. Liability issues.

Aside from that, I don't consider it weird or inappropriate at all, as long as you are respectful. No urinating, defecating, masturbating, or fornicating. No destruction or theft of property.

I don't intend to be buried in a cemetery, but if I were, I think it would be a comfort to me to be put somewhere that other people can use for running.

It's always okay to do zone 2.

During the 19th century there was a big "walking boom" where the popular thing to do was walk in cemeteries, at least in part because they were nice landscapes. Anyhow, there's a lot of precedent for using the space for healthy activity.

Fair question, and i would simply check with the people who oversee the facilty.

Simply this - if it is even a question, that's a clue that you should look into it before proceeding further.

Abide by their rules.

My guess is that they would not allow it, for a couple of reasons, but partially out of respect for the families of the deceased who they feel are entitled to some privacy/

Did sessions at George Mason in 1987 at a cemetery on the boundary and never felt good about it. So no i wouldn't have my athletes now run anywhere near a cemetery.

Walking wasn't all that people did in cemeteries in the 19th Century. Cemeteries were used as parks in cities before there were parks. They were the most accessible natural settings most people had. There was grass and trees and open space. Families would have picnics, kids would play in them.

we used to run workouts in one in high school, it always felt a bit weird but it we were always respectful and just on the stone roads in there, think we used to do 400m repeats on rolling hills in there

There’s actually a cemetery in Sydney near Bondi Beach and there’s a walking/running path that goes right through it. Definitely feels a little weird going through it but I’m sure all those that have passed on there appreciate the regular company of the foot traffic.

Maybe Mason and Fairfax were less developed then? I attended Mason and there were low traffic neighborhoods on the periphery, a track that was never locked, and bike paths within 5-10 miles.

I don't remember a cemetary anywhere near Fairfax, but there may have been one at a church or a small one near downtown that I ran by in like a few secs.

The Thomas Wolfe Road Race in Asheville NC used to go through the cemetery where he is buried. Google says the course doesn't do that now because of storm damage to the cemetery, but that the course will probably revert once the damage is cleared up.

Actually, I see the one you're probably talking about right off main street. Looks like you could get a 400 meter or so loop in there, but geez why.

This post is not recommended for anti-dark humor readers:

It's weirder if you're already dead (on the inside or the outside). Especially if you are training for the steeplechase. Unless you a Pharoah or one of his entourage, in which case the indoor bronze bull 400m might be your thing. And training your dog for the weave pole the challenge in a military graveyard might be the worst. Especially if they dig it too much.

No one was actually disrespected in this post. If you feel that anything said here involves a transgression of community guidelines, call 0-800-get-an-afterlife.