Walkers who won't move over!

Emaciated Hobby Jogger wrote:

I experience this a lot running in DC on the towpath in Georgetown or in West Potomac Park. Usually tourists with kids who have no idea where they are. Mostly obese people with fanny packs. I do my best to stay to the right and say "on your right" and that usually works. However, there are a tons of people who are oblivious or do not care. It's not the cyclists runners hate, but the walkers/joggers who go three wide and don't care. Those are the ones causing runner/cyclist collisions.

I have never had this problem on the towpath, but by "in Georgetown" you mean on the first half mile or so behind M street, where I could see it being an issue. Once you're past the Key Bridge, it is usually pretty open.

That said, I have always had really bad issues with cyclists on the paved CCT next to the towpath. They are always super aggressive on that trail and I never understand why. To me it just seems like a terrible trail to cycle and there are always guys trying to go so fast. But whatever...

So what is West Potomac Park? I am assuming I've run there but just don't know it by name.

I don't really get too worked up about walkers. I don't mind jumping around them, but I guess I would view it differently if it put me in danger. I don't really blame walkers for being morons when you come up behind them. Nothing wrong with spacing out on a walk in the woods, IMHO.

What I DO hate are walkers with dogs on retractable leashes who do nothing as you approach. That is annoying. Just yesterday I was running on the sidewalk and a lady was walking her dog while talking on her cell phone. We were faced each other, so it isn't like I came up behind her. Her dog was on a retractable leash and as I approached she just didn't do anything. Didn't press the button; nothing.

Of course the dog jumped on me, so I had to stop and after he jumped on me she still didn't pull the leash in. She just said "no jumping" and tried to grab his collar with the hand she was holding her phone with. This has happened to me a lot, believe it or not. I am not sure why. I have a dog and I walk my dog. I would know not to do this, even if I didn't run.

Weird.

If the one in my direct path is a male between 18-39 and clearly notices me and looks like they're making a point I'll consider giving them the shoulder and knocking them on their butt. This happens about 3x per season...a really low percentage. The three times usually occur when I'm late into a run, hungry, and coping mechanisms are pretty low. Not sure if I'm proud of my behavior or not. It just is what it is.

Warning -- I'm pretty big for a distance runner and feel generally ok about taking my chances with a scrum if I have to. Solinsky and I have pretty similar dimensions, although I've been known to do better around shrubbery.

frank food wrote:

I tried the passive aggressive route last weekend and ran right directly at the woman and she flinched and cowered as I brushed by her. That put a smile on my face.

What the %^$?!?! You REALLY can't just take a step sideways and a couple strides on the grass? There is enough room in the world for you and the other people out for some exercise. Grow up.

Hill Stomper wrote:

If the one in my direct path is a male between 18-39 and clearly notices me and looks like they're making a point I'll consider giving them the shoulder and knocking them on their butt. This happens about 3x per season...a really low percentage. The three times usually occur when I'm late into a run, hungry, and coping mechanisms are pretty low. Not sure if I'm proud of my behavior or not. It just is what it is.

Warning -- I'm pretty big for a distance runner and feel generally ok about taking my chances with a scrum if I have to. Solinsky and I have pretty similar dimensions, although I've been known to do better around shrubbery.

Wow. Super impressive!!! THANKS for the warning, man! You sound TOTALLY bad-ass!!!!!!!! And RIPPED!!! Hope I never piss you off, I'd probably get my scrawny butt kicked!!!!!! I'l be sure to move WAAYYY over when I pass you running your pathetic 5:45 pace tempo runs.

Thanks lil' dude.

Welcome, big dude!!!

Wow, now I'm actually COWERING right here in my living room! How do you DO it!!! Amazing level of pure MANLINESS!!! Almost makes me wish I couldn't break 15 for 5000 while jumping off a &^$% cliff!!

actual runner laughing at dbag wrote:

Welcome, big dude!!!

Wow, now I'm actually COWERING right here in my living room! How do you DO it!!! Amazing level of pure MANLINESS!!! Almost makes me wish I couldn't break 15 for 5000 while jumping off a &^$% cliff!!

You are getting trolled so hard by that guy. Stop while you're ahead.

This always helps me when I feel that way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgaMsXpQk2g

Enjoy your day.

Sexmachines Take Over wrote:

actual runner laughing at dbag wrote:

Welcome, big dude!!!

Wow, now I'm actually COWERING right here in my living room! How do you DO it!!! Amazing level of pure MANLINESS!!! Almost makes me wish I couldn't break 15 for 5000 while jumping off a &^$% cliff!!

You are getting trolled so hard by that guy. Stop while you're ahead.

Aw...come on!

Sorry, man. It was more of a parody of a troll. I didn't expect actual results. I pretty much run trails and have bike lanes just about everywhere I go on the way to/from.

I don't really knock over people from a certain demographic group when I'm tired. Wish I did, though. Especially those 34-39 year old, male, $200k+ household income, pacific islanders. WHAM!

actual runner laughing at dbag wrote:

I'l be sure to move WAAYYY over when I pass you running your pathetic 5:45 pace tempo runs.

Also, try 3:45 pace.

HillStomper wrote:

actual runner laughing at dbag wrote:

I'l be sure to move WAAYYY over when I pass you running your pathetic 5:45 pace tempo runs.

Also, try 3:45 pace.

Ha! Didn't realize this poster was a girl.

Why can’t runners move over?

I see elderly people regularly being bullied by runners who refuse to step off the path and run on grass.

You shouldn’t be proud of making women flinch and cower.

It is ALWAYS 2 middle-aged women! Always.

Need Knee Knead wrote:

It is ALWAYS 2 middle-aged women! Always.

Look, just shout when you're approaching. They annoy me too. If they're walking two abreast and no one steps back then I think it's fair enough.

I've had my own experiences with this.

On a canal path where space is at a premium, cyclists sometimes cycle side by side, taking up the width of the path. A few weeks ago there were two of them side-by-side, travelling about 15-20 mpw, so quite fast. I didn't get off the path and I think one of them was displeased. It might not be against the law in the UK, but if a 200 lb man (he was quite fat) travelling 20 mpw hit you as a walker or runner, then you're going to get seriously hurt.

Occasionally I've seen runners 3 or 4 side-by-side, taking up the width of the canal path, but that is a lot more rare. The thing is, they might think they are big shots, but there are not many in the area who would beat me at parkrun or other races even though I jog my runs slow.

Trails are a lot more quiet but there are lots of drawbacks like hills and undulations which risk me getting toe blisters.

I've found the best runs are along main roads with wide pavements. Cars are generally more forgiving than walkers or cyclists.

I like to brush by close enough to fling a little sweat on the offenders.

Id say do what you want just be respectful unless they deliberately show you disrespect. You will probably encounter them again since you're both out at the same time and place. A lot of them are just not really aware of runners or proper etiquette, unfortunately.