Running pet peeves: we all have them, and now is the time to unload. What running situations aggravate you, set your teeth on edge, or straight-up make your skin crawl? Let’s see if they match up with mine!
Smoking at the start line of a race
Yes, I’ve experienced it, and yes, it was a runner! Not only is smoking terrible for your health, the majority of the runners around you don’t want to breathe in your second-hand smoke before they head on the course. Stop it!
Spitting and snot rockets
Pre-COVID, spitting and blowing snot rockets was gross, but during a pandemic, it’s downright unsanitary and dangerous. I totally empathize with needing to clear out the mucous, but there has to be a better, safer, and more considerate way.
Groups blocking the course or path
Running with others is super fun, and I would never begrudge anyone the opportunity to do so. However, when your group is on a path or race course, blocking the way with your entire team is rude. Single file or two across (at MOST) is the only polite thing to do.
Belittling other runners/walkers
The need for speed is real, but that doesn’t mean you need to be a jerk to those who don’t match your pace. If you feel the need to express expletives, or insults because you get hung up by someone who isn’t matching your goals, or if you use your body to force your way to hit your tangents, you might need a refresher course in running etiquette.
GI issues
Ever find yourself in desperate need of a bathroom while out on your run or during your race? Not cool, digestive system, not cool. Sometimes, things just hit wrong, no matter how you try to prepare, and it’s never fun trying to take care of business. Literally.
“What’s the best running shoe?”
Oh, this question gets me every time. Of course we want the best tools and gear for our sport, but this is NOT the way. Running shoes are so personal, and what works best for me, may not work well for someone else. It’s a running pet peeve that runners might rule out a great shoe, because it’s not as highly recommended or well known.
Minimizing accomplishments
It grinds my gears when runners say things like “Oh, I only ran a 5k” or “Oh, I’m so slow.” Sure, these things might not be a huge deal to you, but they are a big deal to someone else. No need to make comments that can be construed as disparagement to others.
Chafing
Can we agree that chafing is the worst? It’s annoying, it hurts, and it leaves marks for days afterwards. There are preventative measures, but they don’t always work. Boo, chafing. Boo.
Weather
We all have weather conditions that really bug us. Humidity and rain are among my running pet peeves. I hate the sogginess, the squishy shoes, and the squelchy misery that comes along with it. Other runners talk about the glory that is a “refreshing sprinkle” on a hot day, but that’s not a thing where I live. It’s just wet on top of wet, and you can keep it.
Carrying fuel
Call me lazy, but I will bend over backwards to avoid carrying hydration and nutrition. I can get away with it at home, because I can always stash a snack and drink along my route, but it gets trickier at races. If I know the weather is going to be decent, I will absolutely rely on course support for electrolytes and gels before bringing my own.
“Late” race starts
In Florida, the earlier you run, the cooler the temperatures, and the less chance you have of being baked by the sun. As a result, I grumble about any race that starts after 7:30 AM. My apologies to all my non-early-bird friends, but I can be home, showered, and fed by 8:30, which is when so many events begin.
Unleashed dogs
There’s no question that I am a dog lover, but I absolutely loathe unleashed canines when I’m out running. Dogs are fabulous and adorable, and I will stop and pet as many as I can, but they are also unpredictable and, in some cases, dangerous. One of our local runners was actually attacked by an uncontrolled dog at a huge race in the last two years. That is unacceptable, and so very preventable.
I am linking up with Kookyrunner and Zenaida this Tuesday for Tuesday Topics!
What are your running pet peeves?
Haha, Jenn, you reminded me that I have a permanent chafing bra line. I think it will never disappear!
I mentioned dogs too, but funnily, the ones that are ON the leash… where the leash forms a barrier across the path and stops all other pedestrians and runners. So annoying!
I have a scar under my chest from a really bad streak of chafing! Running so sexy!
I have not run into the leash trip wire. That’s a problem, too.
I hit most of yours in my post. Then I missed a few that you got.
We are all of the same mind!
Yes to all of the above! The crowdsourcing for a shoe really bugs me. I’m in a group of runners with RA and we’ve had a recent influx of wannabe runners who keep asking that question. And get the same answer: go to a running store and get fitted!
Nope. That’s too easy. Surely, the best way is to ask others, and bonus points if you can get it on sale.
Wow, a runner was attacked by a dog in a race!! That’s insane. I agree, I am the biggest dog lover ever, but some dogs have bad owners (no bad dogs, just bad owners!) and have been trained to be aggressive…Scary.
That’s a good one about running shoes- I swear, people ask me ALL the time to tell them what shoes to get and I can’t answer that at all! I always direct them to a local running store for a gait analysis.
YES! It was awful!
And get this! I was out this morning, in my neighborhood, and all of a sudden, a dog comes charging at me. I know the dog, and I know the owner, but he was nowhere near her, she was unleashed, and I’m sorry, when a giant german shepherd heads your way, it’s terrifying!
I hated it when people would come into the running store, demand a certain shoe, and then not understand why it was “the best shoe” but didn’t fit right. Because it’s not YOUR best shoe.
I think you’ve written most of mine down!! I just commented on Kooky Kim’s blog about people walking towards you in a line that cuts across the path. I’ve had several incidents where not one person in the group has moved to one side. Not a single person thought, let me move so that this person can run past. Instead, I’ve been the one who has had to get off the path?? Late race starts is another one. Here we start quite early, most races set off around 6am, sometimes even earlier, for the same reason as you guys – we need to beat the sun. So when this is delayed in any way, we suffer especially for those longer distances.
Oh, yeah. that bugs me, too.
I also hate it when people (usually kids) go crazy during races and weave in and out and get underfoot. Stop that.
We have like one race that starts at 6:30AM. Everything else is usually 8, sometimes 7:30 (yay), but sometimes 8:30 (WHY????)
I’ve never experienced someone smoking at the start line. That is just…bizarre!
I agree with all of your pet peeves as they are my pet peeves as well. I still haven’t found the perfect way to carry fuel when running. I’ll find something that works for a while and then it starts annoying me, lol.
In fairness, it was at a Daytona race, and I was probably just jealous because it’s hard enough for me to run on healthy lungs, so how can someone run with smoker’s lungs?
I always joke that I need a running sherpa to carry my stuff.
You know I love my furkids but I’ve had run-ins with leashed dogs! “Oh, he’s friendly”. So comforting as he’s tripping me.
Thankfully I’ve never had anyone be mean about passing me! I try to be really aware, especially as someone who has used run/walk a lot.
I don’t mind people saying they’re slow — if they actually are. I get that speed is relative, but let’s face it, a lot of runners are going to view 12 mm as pretty darn slow. What bothers me is when I meet someone, tell them my easy pace, & they still say they’re slow — when they’re much, much faster than me. I’m usually only telling them my pace if we’re trying to run together.
I do, however, always carry my own water & fuel. For longer races. Well, really pretty much all. Because I’ve run far too many when they’ve either run out or aid stations are just too far apart.
Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Running Pet Peeves in a Pandemic
These all are good ones! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a runner smoking at the start line, but I’ve seen many spectators doing so…that’s totally not cool, either!
A big yes to all of these! I cannot imagine smoking at the starting line of a race :0
I can’t imagine smoking at all, much less before a run! I guess good on them for being able to do both? But ew. Stop it.
I agree with alot of these, I can’t believe you’ve seen people smoking at the start of a race! I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that.
It’s nasty!
Squelchy misery is such a wonderfully descriptive phrase.
I have been arguing for races to be non-smoking for a long time. It’s luckily not a huge issue here as most start in parks and parks are no smoking but the ones that start on the street ##*(&#(@(@&(&
I mean, I feel like you don’t smoke at races? This happens at the Daytona race, though, so it sort of makes sense, but still. Super gross.
Smoking at the start line? Wow! That one I’ve never seen. Your pet peeves are similar to mine. 🙂
Thank you for linking up with us!