Lobby: MY BIGGIST PET PEEVE!

Yesterday I was taking my run as usual. I typically run early in the morning, when it is still dark out. I enjoy those runs, with the exception of one thing: cars that drive by with their brights on, completely blinding you! Every time I run this happens and it just pisses me off sometimes.

 I felt like sharing my thoughts. If anyone else agrees, has any advice, or would like to talk about their own pet peeve, please post it here.

Shigg,

  Wear a ball cap and pull the bill down low.  Look at the ground in front of you as the car approaches.  The bill blocks the light and you can see where you are stepping.   

I completely agree with the "People who walk side-by-side in groups, block the pavement and don't move aside when they see you coming" comment! In fact, it just happened to me tonight. I ended up glancing the guy with my shoulder and he almost had a startled reaction - which was astonishing given the he had his gaze fixed on me for about 15-20 yards as i approached him. 

Running on a trail means sharing it with bicyclists. I just wish they would tell me when they were coming up behind me. If they just say "On your left!" I appreciate it so much. Otherwise, I am worried that one of these days I am going to suddenly turn out in front of one of them. 

my biggest pet peeve is running on a high traffic street on the outskirts of town, where the sidewalk has disappeared and the shoulder is wide, but then there is some sort of little bridge over a drain ditch or some tracks and the guard rails go right up to the white line...  no way to stay on the road, and a drop off on the other side of the rail.  i always get stuck coming up to these as i run to the outskirts of town...

as for problems with people, i have my peeves, but my philosophy is that of self-preservation and showing love instead of expecting respect.  as far as the road goes, it's made for cars, not for runners.  i watch every car expecting it to edge my way and i always try to have an out (never leave yourself without an out, even if it means turning around and going around the block).  in a collision, the car is always going to win...  doesn't matter who was right and who was wrong.  and as far as the sidewalk goes, it is a side"walk", so i think i would give the tie to the walker.  i think we usually see them before they see us anyway, so as soon as i see them, i start making for the path around them instead of waiting for them to move for me.  once i get into that habit, i've had much less stressful runs.

 dogs aren't a pet peeve of mine, they just scare the crap out of me.

My pet peeve is when bystanders to a race that happens to go through residential neighborhoods do the hose spraying or sprinkler thing into the race path.  I don't get too overly "peeved" with them, per se, since this act is well intentioned--they obviously think they are doing the runners a service and I'm sure many runners appreciate the spray on the hot days.  However, I am one of those who would prefer not to get soaked while running (I'm heavy enough and don't need the extra weight or the resultant rubbing from my clothes!). I just wish they would limit the spray to a very small portion of the race path so I don't have to run up on someone's lawn to avoid it.

I'm also not a big fan of babyjoggers being used during a race.  If they are used, I think folks so inclined should line up at the back of the pack so as to not cause traffic jams at the start of the race. 

Finally a place to vent!

I'd agree with all the above peeves, but my ultimate pet peeve is when people are running with their dogs and they either:

a) don't have them on a leash, and the dog ends up stopping / running too close to you or right in front of you, or

b) they have them on a leash, but runner is running on one side of the trail, while the dog is running on the opposite side (i.e. MY side!). Where the hell does that leave me?!?? Am I supposed to go run in the bloody ditch??!

 Same thing goes for grumpy people on the trail. How much effort does it take for you to acknowledge my "hello" or wave with a wave / nod / smile? Betcha would feel better after doing so!

Hey! I'm glad to join in on the ranting.

I can't stand cars going through lights/stops early, or not stopping at all. Driving is a privilege, being healthy is my right! Pedestrians ALWAYS come first (even though not in the case of air pollution. I cycle and still have to inhale toxins). I find cars trying to zoom out of parking lots almost running me over every time I run. Then the driver just smiles at me after realizing (s)he was suppose to stop but luckily didn't run me over.

hey these peeves are funny - they are sooo universal but not that we are having to put up with snow in this little corner of the world - New Zealand - but yes we do have crappy drivers who don't care about a runner or cyclist and will continue to hog the whole road. And wow is North East Georgia really like Deliverance - thats scarier than dogs not on a leash me- thinks!

I've spent a lot of time running in the past and now mostly ride my road bike...on the road.

After years of running I've experienced all of the above including a dog bite, full beer can toss from moving car (it hit me in the arm..no injury) and the usual rude behavior everyone has mentioned above. 

Still, I'd gladly accept the annoyances and risk from running when comparred to what I"ve experienced riding a road bike.  I've been lucky so far, but it seems like just a matter of time before I am taken-out or run off the road by a car, truck or bus. 

Before you reply that I can help myself by being a better rider, please know that I follow the rules of the road, both the ones that are law and the others that are safety recommendations by experienced riders.

If not for the love of riding and bad knees, I wouldn't stick another tire on the road and go back to running in a heart beat.

I'm beginning to think I'm very lucky living in Oz - there is no snow or ice, heaps of space and drivers are very considerate of both runners and bikes on the roads! 

For those of you getting annoyed by dogs, try putting a few bits of kibble in your pocket and toss a bit out between you and the dog, say around a metre away from you and off to the side - most dogs will go for the treat and next time they see a runner might give you a happy grin instead of a snap!  The worst thing my German Sheperd ever did was turn around and follow another runner, sticking her nose straight up his bum.  Sooo embarrassing. 

I think I am the only Australian using this site?  It is fantastic.  I haven't had a stich since reading the advice column and now breathe in only on my left foot strike.  I am only a learner but really enjoy mapping runs and see how far I've actually gone (okay, so the furtherest to date has been 8km, but it is getting easier every week!). 

Cheers, Ang.

This time of year, living in the Boston area, where the snow isn't snow for long, my biggest pet peeve is cars that move over so far as to run their wheels through the slush mound in the middle of their lane.   There's nothing quite like getting repeatedly sprayed by icy, sandy, salty slush when wearing tights.

My other big pet peeve is honkers.  Whether its someone who thinks they know me, or just high school kids having a laugh, a loud and surprising honk will bolt you right out of that meditative focus during a run and make you jump a few feet.

What I can't stand is people who run on busy streets, especially early or late when its still dark.  When I'm driving to work at 4am and it's dark and the windows are fogged, there's nothing that makes me crazier than coming over a hill to catch a faint glimpse of a runner who is in the road, running against traffic, wearing black, jumping out of the way and giving ME the finger.

Someday I'm going to accidently kill a 40 yr old mother of 3 and my life is going to be in ruin.  Running in the street should be banned everywhere outside of residential side streets... and then only if there is no usable sidewalk on the street.  You had better be running in the same direction as traffic.  And if it's dark, you better be lit up like a freaking christmas tree.  

Seriously people, you're only running in the street so your neighbors can see you and how amazingly awesome and fit you are. 

Get on the sidewalk or find another place to run.  The streets are for cars.

Note- I am a runner and so far have been able to figure out an infinite number of running routes that don't involve me going on busy streets no matter what the weather.

Good additions bigred.  The car turning in as you cross a street hits home with me.  In early September of 2006 when I was training for an October Marathon, an oncoming car made a right (no blinker) into the street I was in the midst of crossing.  I was running at a fast pace that day.....so unexpectedly putting on the brakes was a bit of a challenge......not to mention stepping down from sidewalk to asphalt as I realized I was about to get clipped. 

I was able to pull up and do a bit of a karaoke to the right and avoided getting hit.  However, I badly pulled (ie slight tear) my hamstring in the process and lost several days of training.

I'm sure the driver was very happy he made it to his destination 2 seconds earlier than he would have if he let me pass.

My biggest pet peeve are people who have dogs that run at me and then yell at me for taking their dog out of the yard.

I do think it is nice to share some frustrations here.

One thing I don't understand though - how can it be illegal to run against traffic? That's what I was taught to do (on 55mph roads with no shoulder - but I still do this now on residential 25mph streets).

Changingground is on the money. Cars that think they own the road drive me crazy.

While a runner will never beat a car in an accident, they do have the right of way. We have all had close calls with cars, but to be told that it is our fault becuase it is "4am and it's dark and the windows are fogged." That is garbage. It isn't our fault that a person can't start their car 10 min. earlier so that the windows aren't foggy. I run 4 times a week at 4:30 AM because that is the only time I can run. I have one run a week when the sun is up and I can assure you that it isn't so that my 85 year old neighbor can see how sexy I am.

Rant finished.

"changingaround-

Maybe you're not one of those runners who veers off the side streets onto the main drags.  If not, than this really isn't meant for you. 

The idea that the street is safer than the sidewalk because you're "more visible" there is about as logical as telling a 5-yr-old to go play in the street.  

Running against traffic is against the law for a reason, it adds an effective 12-15mph to any potential collision.

And please don't tell me that this isn't my job.  I'm expressing my opinion here just like everyone else.  If you expect to share the road (or anything) with your fellow man, you're going to have to cool the personal freedom agenda. "

And I'm pointing out that your opinion contravenes common sense and logic-

Fact- Pedestrians have the right of way. Roads are not the sole property of motorists.

Fact- Comparing a middle-aged runner traveling on the shoulder of the road, watching out for his/her own safety, to a five y.o. child learning to ride a bike is a false comparison, and ignores the point- It is far easier to be seen at the intersection of a driveway with the road than at the driveway/sidewalk intersection because drivers are looking out for things which threaten their safety. This is not a concern of motorist at the sidewalk intersection, and so many drivers do not look there.

Fact- if we were to limit our runs (or  bike rides) to areas with sidewalks only, we'd have an extremely limited number of options for long runs or rides. And since I have the right to use any surface street I chose as a running route, your discomfort at my doing so means nothing.

Fact- it is the motorist's responsibility to yield, in all events, to the pedestrian. If you can't operate your vehicle in the safe manner prescribed by law, then hang up your car keys.

Fact- the moment you lie your whole argument goes out the window. Considering that you're most concerned with maintaning your piece of mind while driving your car with foggy windows, I'm not surprised you'd think that limiting an individual person's freedom is an appropriate response to your fragile nerves.

Fact- if you're not prepared to have someone point out the errors in your argument, then don't offer your opinion. We are all free to offer our opinions. Putting your opinion up here does not protect you from dissent.