Do you consider it rude when a random runner joins your run?

You guys are all super weird, who cares if someone is running next to you (which is what it really is, they are running next to you, not with you).

It’s not like they are slowing you down.

And if they help carry the pace, all the better.

I would be happy to run with someone if they came up to me on the trail. In my 10 years of running, it may have happened to me like twice?

How are you that self absorbed that you can't enjoy the presence of another person that likely shares a hobby (running) with you, especially if you are just on an easy run. And in all reality, you will be running tops of 30-45 min with them? Assuming you are already on your run and they have already been running too? You also likely started at different points.

That wasn't some random runner - that was God, trying to get you to stop listening to Sam Harris. He wasn't matching your changing pace, he was subtly guiding you in divine fartleks.

Expect more visits in the near future. Maybe an image of the Virgin Mary in a quesadilla, or a perfectly ripe avocado at the store, or your favorite shoes where you have always been between sizes will suddenly fit perfectly. Soon, you will be noticing little miracles everywhere.

Coffee Monster wrote:

I would be happy to run with someone if they came up to me on the trail. In my 10 years of running, it may have happened to me like twice?

How are you that self absorbed that you can't enjoy the presence of another person that likely shares a hobby (running) with you, especially if you are just on an easy run. And in all reality, you will be running tops of 30-45 min with them? Assuming you are already on your run and they have already been running too? You also likely started at different points.

Because they are running around at 8:30 min/mile pace, while we pass them with blazing 7:30 min/mile pace. Their ego feels hurt and they hang on, increasing their pace to 7:30 and starting to breath and sweat heavily.

We don't want to have to accelerate or insert some surges/fartleks just to get away and enjoy our run at our pace in the nature.

Also if you were a girl it would feel very creepy if you pass a guy and suddenly he changes his pace and "hangs on".

I think it's rude of the OP to not acknowledge the runner who was probably trying to make conversation. Maybe that person was new to town and looking for people to run with.

Quit being such a sensitive, little wanker. I passed your ass and dropped you in a matter of seconds. You obviously couldn't hang.

It is annoying when a slower runner tries to hang with your pace and is clearly busting his butt to try to stay with you. If you want to try to match the pace of someone who is faster than you, stay back a few meters. But it is ok for a runner on the same level to ask whether you are ok with knocking out a few miles together. I had a running group that built itself up in large part by meeting other runners on the trail and inviting them to workouts and long runs.

Precious Roy wrote:

It is annoying when a slower runner tries to hang with your pace and is clearly busting his butt to try to stay with you. If you want to try to match the pace of someone who is faster than you, stay back a few meters. But it is ok for a runner on the same level to ask whether you are ok with knocking out a few miles together. I had a running group that built itself up in large part by meeting other runners on the trail and inviting them to workouts and long runs.

Why is a runner working hard annoying?

I was doing some cruise intervals at the track the other day, and some girl doing 400m repeats decided she wanted to turn the workout into a competition, and started basically trying to race me. I just started toying with her to get her to run way faster than she had any business running. I'd slow down a bit to let her feel like she could catch me, then I'd subtly drop the pace again after she'd committed to chasing me.

Great fun. Girl was literally falling to the track after repeats and breathing like she was dying. Then she'd get up and go right back to trying to chase me. The whole time, I'm just laughing to myself and thinking "why are you doing this to yourself?"

banana sprouted bread wrote:

I was enjoying my long run today on a somewhat popular trail and just getting settled into a comfortable pace. Listening intently to a Sam Harris podcast. Out of nowhere, I can hear this other runner approach me from behind and match my pace. I kinda didn't want any company because I wanted to concentrate on the podcast and didn't want any distractions. What followed kinda pissed me off because whenever I would slow down a little to open a gap, the dude would do the same. When I put in a little surge, he would speed up. I kinda gave some subtle hints that I was getting annoyed but whatever, I eventually lost him.

It's not your private trail so I don't know how it could be considered "rude." Maybe he runs that trail all the time and was annoyed by the guy listening to podcasts while he runs (that is even weirder than being upset about another runner on the same trail).

I have had other runners come up behind me, keys jingling. I've had runners going the opposite way try to high five me. I've had runners say "nice pace man!" when I was chuggling along at 7:30/mile.

I guess what I'm trying to say is stop worrying so much about other people and their actions and worry about your self!

I don't let others wreck my run. I'm from the city though so I'm used to being around other people, not sure about you.

I don't see the big deal. Last time that happened, a female runner joined for a few kilometers. We traded numbers.. my beak got soaked

I don't really consider it rude, but it is annoying if they just tag on without saying anything.

At least say hello or something!

Yesterday evening I was doing a long run and a group of college kids were standing on the trail throwing rocks into the river.

I thought they were gonna give me the business about my split shorts, but as I went by one of them said "Wanna race?"

I said, "Sure!" and he took off next to me for about 100m or so. He pulled a little ahead then called it and we both high fived and laughed about it and I went on my way.

Stuff like that is fun and makes a solo run less boring! I wish more people would do that!

Who cares if they are working hard? If they really can't hang with your pace they will drop off eventually...

You don't actually know they are accelerating just because their "ego." I am sure in their eyes they are not doing wrong and probably know ill intentions.

As for the "if you were a girl" example. You are not a woman, so this didn't happen. If you were, yes, it would be creepy in my eyes.

Now that I think of it, I have an example of when I did this to someone! I was doing an easy run around 7 flatish on a trail. and I got about 20 meters behind this guy for over a mile, so I finally just sped up slightly to catch up and not be weirdly behind him. We talked for a few miles before I turned around, he was a nice guy and I am glad we met!

Very rude, and happens to me all the time. I used to just fart and they would usually back right off, but I can't do that anymore without getting a permission slip from AOC. Now all I can do is just mooooove a little faster and try to drop their slow a$$.

as a junior i joined at random in with guys going at a good pace, like ann audain and a friend it turned out, next thing dick quax joined in. one time i was cooling down after a lousy 5k workout in 16x, and mike boit joined in, and some how we started lapping, and raising the pace, faster and faster, till boit said, let's call it a day he was super friendly, later on, a bumped into boit on a run and joined in, and i don't think he remembered me, and he wasn't the same friendly guy.

that run with boit was untimed, and the pace was faster than the workout, for 8 laps or whatever it was.

one of the best runs ever, on what seemed like a very lousy day.

in fact, all my best days started out very lousy, which probably means it takes a while to get the engine going.

LateRunnerPhil wrote:

it happened to me often while biking.

I wonder if free drafting is part of the strange social code of cyclists. Refusing to pull is rude, or something.

I eat a large volume of beans as part of my diet. I can practically hit the nos on command and leave any unwelcome folk behind in a dense cloud of uninhabitable fog.

Was this trail in an area where this any chance of encountering bears or cougars? If so, the other trail runner might have been doing it as protection.

Either that or maybe they were lost and were following you out.

Happened to me like two or three times, and only when I was in high school. One time me and my friend got right behind a guy and just kept dropping the pace until he was completely gassed and had to stop lmao. I don't think I'd mind it now I like making friends.