Is it disrespectful to run in a cemetery?

Big wrote:

My summer job throughout college was weed whacking in a cemetery. We certainly didn’t care if people ran in the cemetery.

People exercising should be the least of a cemetery’s worries. Bigger concerns were people littering, drinking, doing drugs, having sex, vandalizing, etc.

You're absolutely right, people training should be the least of a cemetery's worries, but for whatever reason cemetery administrators in these parts have made it a major worry, and deemed it a priority to ban recreation on the grounds. If anything, respectful recreation should be encouraged, as it would make cemeteries less deserted and discourage the sort of littering, drinking, drug use, and vandalism that you mentioned.

I've never understood the logic of these recreation bans; if some livery cab driver decides to drive into a cemetery and park somewhere for a 6-pack lunch that's totally okay, but woe be it to anyone who dares run a few steps.

Dynamite wrote:

I run in a really great cemetery. People are just dying to get in.

I raced in a cemetery once. The competition was stiff.

I suppose it depends how old you are?

I had a meet a few weeks ago where the course went through a cemetery. It was a little weird not gonna lie.

HRE wrote:

I used to do loads of running in cemeteries. I finally gave up running in the one near my current home because dog owners decided it was a great place to let their dogs run free and I just got tired of dealing with the dogs. I never had any problems from anyone other than the dogs. Historically, graveyards were kind of the predecessors to parks. In the 19th Century it was common for people to have picnics and outings in graveyards.

Who is more likely to urinate on a tombstone - a runner or a dog?

I used to run a lot in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. 25 miles of roads, a beautiful, peaceful place to run. I have since moved out of the city but there are quite of few faster guys that do their workouts in there still. Whenever there was a burial going on I would avoid that particular area. Sneaking in at night for a run was fun, especially on Halloween. One of the best things about that place was that the roads were always the first (and sometimes only) to be plowed because its privately owned.

LymanGorgor wrote:

There are some countries where running by or in a cemetery is disrespectful. I believe that this is all about you and how do you see this. If something happened, I don’t know, maybe an emergency, then I think you have to run from the cemetery, or to it. But if you just laugh with your friends and start running, I think this is very disrespectful. The cemetery is a place to be quite in. I met a lot of uneducated people in the cemeteries and one of them broke an expensive gravestone. It was written on it the company that produced it and I searched on the internet and saw the price.

https://sbmonumental.com

I believe some of us, just don't have the proper education. And the parents are responsible for this

I felt odd training on the Petersburg Battlefield when I was stationed at Ft. Lee Va.

Just very uneasy.

I wonder if George Young ever ran in the battlefield park and how he felt about it.

I used to do a fair amount of running in a nearby cemetery until I was outkicked on a tempo run by a dead guy doing easy pace, who muttered, "Hurry up, stiff," as he shuffled on by.

tutwotd wrote:

Where I live in the UK, there are a few churchyards that have public footpaths through them. They're quite popular with runners.

I wouldn't run through a council run cemetery. I once tried to run through Montmartre cemetery in Paris, but dudes working there didn't let me past the gate. I don't know why running is considered more disrespectful that a load of gawping tourists. Oh well.

I had the same experience at Arlington National Cemetery. I ran over to see it, and didn't presume it was cool to run there, but the guards said it wasn't allowed. Which was fine, I get it, but I still haven't toured Arlington yet.

is it ok? wrote:

I suppose it depends how old you are?

I once ran in a secret race in the cemetery. It was underground.

I don't think there is anything wrong with running in cemeteries as long as you are respectful.

- steer clear of anyone visiting a site.

-definitely steer very clear of an active funeral

-don't run on the grass

-no music, keep your shirt on

-don't do hard workouts, that have you breathing hard and spitting. Easy runs only.

Then I don't think people would care.

A lot of people have sex in a cemetery because it's dark there at night, generally no lighting. Could be outside or in a car. No one else around, seemingly. Women also like to do daring things like this. They enjoy the emotional thrill of it all.

It's no longer too soon to point out Ed Whitlock may have been tempting fate by running amongst the dead. Sure enough what happened, he died.

It's entirely possible that the dead are conscious and bored AF as they lie there unable to move, surrounded by other dead people they're probably sick of. What better way to taunt them than to go run victory laps around their graves? So of course they will put a curse on you.

Amiss Things wrote:

I don't think there is anything wrong with running in cemeteries as long as you are respectful.

.

Agree. Some cemeteries are absolute graveyards. I mean there is often nobody around anyway ;-)

Of course steer clear of burials in progress but thats about it. The fact anyone would be offended by a jogger in a cemetery is baffling.

A couple of cemeteries near where I live host annual races through the cemetery. They encourage runners to use the roads and marked paths in the cemetery, especially at odd hours, cuts down on vandalism and illicit activity.

I thought about seriously when I did this also. There's a really nice cemetery in my hometown that is large, full of lush trees, and of course has basically no traffic. I would go and run 1 or more loops around it as part of my daily run most days. It was just very beautiful there, and the shade from the trees was nice also. Never had any complaints.

In college there was a cemetery literally 2 minutes from my apartment door, and it was all dirt roads and about 1.15 miles around the perimeter. I would run there a LOT, sometimes doing 10+ laps for a longer run, and I never had any complaints there either. Again, it was a very nice place to run, no real traffic, dirt, and I never did anything that could be considered disrespectful I don't think.

I think it's fine. Just do be respectful. I wouldn't run there if there was a funeral going on or something.