Is running space the final frontier? Sometimes it seems to me that it is. When we run, bike, walk, swim, and exercise, we all need a little space, a little elbow room. We all travel at slightly different rates of speed so it’s important to make sure if someone wants to pass you (and they are clearly going faster), let them. At least some of the time. If you are racing for the tape at the end of the race, it’s a different story. Give it your best effort. Try to avoid all collisions. (Yes, even with our own dogs while running.~See Misty’s tail in the picture above?~This one can be tricky because dogs can be unpredictable even if we have trained them well.) We all have a right to travel safely, whether we are self-propelled or not. For those of us who are self-propelled, we should watch out for and help our friends who are walking/running with assistance whenever we can. Even blind runners are now running with guiding runners in races/training.
Recently I’ve been noticing during races and on the roads/trails, there are occasions where it becomes extremely congested to the point of making certain stretches less safe than we might desire. Even our dogs are struggling to find spaces to roam on these training runs (for some reason the dogs always include some circles). In fact, in the Lincoln Half Marathon that I will write about very soon, there were a record number of wheelchair participants. We really had to watch and pay attention to the bike escorts for our fellow athletes/racers. Sometimes the bikes were in front of the racers, sometimes behind them.
We all need a little elbow room to be safe. Hopefully we aren’t having to protect our space with elbows. In basketball, that can result in multi-level fouls by exerting too much force of the arm/elbow.
How can we protect this space for all athletes? First, we need to be conscious of it ourselves. It comes down to basic etiquette rules: don’t pass when it’s not safe to do so (like if it means running in mud/snow/ice or slippery conditions or too narrow a passage). Always check behind you if it’s safe to pass. Sometimes you will see other runners/bikes/pedestrians/dogs passing by and we just need to be patient and wait.
Yes, some of the wheelchair athletes are being pushed by other runners who have trained to do that. I think of Team Hoyt (Dick and Rick Hoyt) as perhaps the best/most well-known example of a long-term active team. But we must also allow athletes who are going to push themselves with wheels to do so. And yes, there are even some recumbent bikers too. So when you check for anything behind you make sure to look down low to the ground for the recumbent bikes as well.
If you are going to pass someone, try to signal it if you can, perhaps with your hand gesture/eyes, a nod, a bell, something. It really helps. And maybe give an encouraging word to each person you can too.
When I run, I try to create at least a tiny bubble of safe space for me and if I run with Misty, our dog, that bubble has to be larger taking into account the dog’s tendency to wander in a slightly different path than I might anticipate. If I find that the bubble of safety is too narrow on a certain path, we adjust the course/reverse direction to find a safe sphere within which to exercise and enjoy our runs/walks. For example, if we see dogs coming at us off the leash (this happens frequently), we’re turning around and I usually pick Misty up so she doesn’t slip off her collar/leash (bigger dogs make her more excited and sometimes frightened).
Remember if you think you are about to collide with someone/something, it’s safer to use your hands than your elbows. It’s a split-second decision and we don’t always have time to think before we react to a hazard/obstacle of some sort. If it’s not safe to use your hands, immediately move out of the way (especially if it’s a vehicle or bike) to the safest side. If you are falling, aim for the grass/dirt/sand instead of the pavement if at all possible.
There is nothing wrong with occasional fartlek (speed play) exceptions to the rule of always letting runners/bikers/swimmers pass us. But run the effort level and pace that you planned for the day. Don’t overexert/overtrain. We pay the price when we do that in unhealthy (and sometimes lengthy) ways.
One thing I like to carry with me is a runbell that if I’m passing, it alerts runners/walkers/bikers and dogs that we are nearby. Just like bikers do with their bike bells. Thank you! I hear and see you now.
It’s really important to hear and see whatever is a possible danger on the trails/roads at all times. That’s why I strongly advocate people to not use headphones (unless you are using them silently to block the wind). I’ve had too many close calls. We get distracted and if we are listening to music, it can put us more at risk of harm.
We can take steps to enhance our visibility. We do want to be seen well enough to be safe. We all deserve to be safe. I highly recommend Brilliant Reflective safety strips to increase your visibility, your bike, your pet, your gear, your shoes. If you want to try Brilliant, please visit their website here: BrilliantReflective.com Remember if you do use the tape, there are stick-on and iron-on varieties. And occasionally we have to replace tape after a long time of use. So watch for signs of wear. Some strips have been fairly close to permanent in lifespan. Others (like on our dog leash) I have to replace occasionally as humidity and rain/snow/moisture can affect them a bit.
Yes, I realize there is a Schoolhouse Rock song called “Elbow Room” and it did inspire this blogpost. Let’s do what we can to make Elbow Room for All, self-propelled and those needing a little help, for athletes at all paces running/competing in all races, a reality. Stay safe and healthy. Have a wonderfully superb summer! Happy healthy trails!
P.S. Can you guess which strip of Brilliant Reflective tape is newest on the BR shirt I am wearing in the pictures? No hints. Only my wife and I know. And Brilliant Reflective of course because they manufactured the shirt and applied the original tape. Send me your guesses and I’ll let you know later which one it is.
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