Rules of the Road

Ok, this blog is long overdue. As a fairly seasoned runner, I feel like I need to share impart these important rules of running with everyone.

During the past months of training and throughout the last few years as I've branched out to different training locations, I've noticed some interesting facts about my fellow pedestrians. Namely, they don't know what they're doing out there! and it drives me crazy!

Sorry, there might be a little venting in this blog. As a coach, I try to not only train but also teach my athletes things about the sport of running. Some of these nuggets of knowledge are absorbed immediately and put into practice, others take time.

Being on a pedestrian friendly campus (campuses) is great and a nice place to run. There are paved sidewalks that are cleared in the winter. There are crosswalks. There are roads restricted to cars. Just lovely if you can't get out to a park or on nature trails.

However, these paths are not always fun to navigate. Here are some of the basic rules that I would like to share. If you didn't know them, that's ok! Now you do. Pass them along. Make our running community even better than it already is--I'm sure it's possible.

1. When you run on a road, run AGAINST traffic. Why, you might ask? This is so that YOU can see the car and the car can see YOU. This is especially important if you train with music. You can't hear that car behind you. What if there is a little dead squirrel on the side of the road (sorry but I come across a lot of them) and you run wide to go around it? You don't look behind you, you just move! Boom--hit by a car. Let's avoid being hit by cars.

This is probably one of my biggest pet peeves because I run on the correct side of the street and people run on the incorrect side--making me run into people and traffic. Just dumb. Not safe.

2. If you ride a bike on the road, ride WITH traffic. In essence you are another vehicle. You should also follow the lights, signs and laws of the road. Just like cars. I can't tell you how much I freaked out the other day. We were driving around Clark Street in Chicago and one side of traffic had a left green arrow. A biker came blazing through the intersection from the other side to continue going straight. I almost saw this guy get blown off his bike. Scared the be geezers out of me. Again, let's avoid being hit by cars. Play by the rules.

3. If you walk, skip or do any other bipedal form of transport, you also move AGAINST traffic on the road.

4. All these rules (basically) go out the window when you move onto a trail, sidewalk or path that otherwise does not allow motorized vehicles. How? You operate like a street. So everyone--bikes, runners, walkers, rollerbladers, etc.. will all do what they do on the RIGHT side of the path. This enables people to pass on the left. Hence the common but seldomly used phrase, "on your left." When people run on the incorrect side it creates confusion, frustration (me because I end up moving in the game of chicken because the other person looks clueless), and possible injury. Again, let's avoid getting hurt.

5. When you pass someone--let them know! Again, this is where "on your left" comes into play. So let people know you're coming so they can move. If you're the person being notified--move--to the RIGHT! There have been so many times that I've given people the heads up that I'm coming (and especially walkers for some reason) and people move to the left or stand in the middle of the path (because they must want to be run into).

6. Give a wave, a nod, or a little smile to fellow runners. When I'm out there I try to give a smile or wave to other runners, only to see a confused look or no one looking back at me. Why is that people are so unfriendly out there? Runners are some of the nicest, happiest people I know--but when I'm out around campus I feel like I must be doing something wrong because of the looks I get sometimes. I've heard that I look 'intimidating' which my only response is---I'm working hard out there! Maybe that's just the way my face looks! Geez...

7. Headphones. Yes, just about everyone is plugged in these days.... and a LOT of the time. At this time I'll just focus on listening to ipods etc.. while running. It's not right or wrong. There are some purists out there that never like to listen to music and some people who can't run without music. To each his own. However, if you are going to be tuned in to music it means you are largely tuned out to everything else. Be conscious of this when moving about. For example---look behind you before crossing a street or drastically changing your running path--a bike or another runner might be coming up behind you and you just cut them off!

Here is a start. There are so many other nuggets of wisdom that have come to mind but will have to wait!
Now that you are armed with the rules--use them and pass them on!