Pet Peeves While Running Outside

maryd523

1) Loose dogs. Cooper and I got charged twice today. For someone who loves dogs, but is somewhat afraid of them, that is two times too many!

2) Overgrown bushes, trees, any type of foliage. I either have to duck, go around, or get poked. It might seem petty, but at this time of year there are dozens of overgrown spots along my usual route. One of these days I might just bring along my cutters.

3) Cars parked blocking the sidewalk.

4) People who want to talk as I run by. I appreciate your friendliness, but I am breathing hard and have music playing. I can't hear you, and I definitely don't want to stop.

Those are mine. What are yours?

maryd523

I just thought of another one:

5) Sprinklers set up to drench anyone passing by.

wickedcricket

mine is ppl who run by with their earphones on and won't stop to say 'hi' to me and my loose dogs
j/k

TishaDawnMc

I just thought of another one:

5) Sprinklers set up to drench anyone passing by.

With the temps still easily in the 108+ area, sprinklers sound AMAZING!

avaloneternal

Running through a cloud of cigarette (or worse, pot) smoke. You are polluting my air!!!!!

BrentGetsFit

Luckily I haven't run into any loose dogs in my area but 2 and 3 definitely. Most people I run past aren't all that talkative but I do get miffed by the chatting crowds that see you coming yet make no effort whatsoever to give you a little room, kinda like people who park blocking the sidewalk, lol.

Seajolly

Uneven, slanting sidewalk. The street I usually run on is in really rough shape. Potholes everywhere, loose gravel, large branches and lots of sticks on the side of the road, etc. Also sometimes I feel like my left leg is on a slant and my right isn't, due to how the road is shaped. I don't mind it sometimes because it's like trail running and keeps it interesting, but I do mind it when a car is coming for me and I have to jump in a large pile of branches so I don't get hit! :laugh: We don't have sidewalks where I live.

mea9

All the above. I'd like to add, for winter, when people who live on a corner shovel the sidewalk in front of their house but pile it up on the corner so if you have to cross the street you have to climb their hill to get to the sidewalk on the other side. Where is city bylaw??

miovlb6

All of the above and:

People who ride bikes on the sidewalk, especially those who come up and pass you from behind without ringing a bell or otherwise making their presence known.

When people in passing cars feel the need to honk and/or whistle as they go by.

leynak

mine is ppl who run by with their earphones on and won't stop to say 'hi' to me and my loose dogs
j/k

:laugh: :laugh:

I think you covered most of them...although I have to admit there have been a few times this summer I welcomed the sprinklers :laugh:

maryd523

mine is ppl who run by with their earphones on and won't stop to say 'hi' to me and my loose dogs
j/k

Haha! I always wave to everyone, and say "hi", but people often want to comment on my gorgeous dog, or ask how old he is, or what his name is, etc.

Seajolly

When people in passing cars feel the need to honk and/or whistle as they go by.

^^ THIS!

Also, when people slow down in their car and stare at you... Makes me sooo uncomfortable! :grumble:

Erindipitous

Bikers on the trails that do not say "On your left!" to let me know they're coming so I can scoot over before they zoom by and scare the p*ss out of me and/or take my arm off.

lilyinlove

Ice( yikes)


Snow(slippery as ice)


Big puddles(wet feet)


Mud(slippery as f***)

nygiantschick

I'm with you on the overgrown foliage. I'm only 5'2, if your branches are so low that they can poke me in the face or snag my hair they need to be cut!!! (Ive actually thought about driving over with my cutters too...ok....I'm not crazy PHEW).

Also:

1. People who honk at me (yes I have on headphones, but I can still hear that and it jolts me- I HATE THAT)
2. People who either take up the full sidewalk with their fellow walking buddies or dogs- single file people lets be courteous)
3. People who don't clean up after thier dogs-especially when it gets on the sidewalk!

I'm sure I have more, but I can only think of them while I'm running.

nosugarcoating

Overgrown bushes, trees, any type of foliage. I either have to duck, go around, or get poked. It might seem petty, but at this time of year there are dozens of overgrown spots along my usual route. One of these days I might just bring along my cutters.

That is one of mine as well.

Other pet peeves: narrow sidewalks that make me have to run on the road. (I live in Europe, we have sidewalks everywhere but some are very narrow.)

Having to cross the train tracks just when the gates are closed because a train is approaching.

When it is really hot outside. On hot days I sometimes wait till 10pm to go running.

Well, there are probably more but I can't think of any right now.

miovlb6

3. People who don't clean up after thier dogs-especially when it gets on the sidewalk!

This! I can't believe I forgot to b*tch about people who let their dogs crap in the middle of the sidewalk!!!

maryd523

Today a truck was parked in a driveway, with two long slim pieces of metal protruding out of the bed, their sharp ends in the sidewalk directly at face-level. I almost ran right into a face-full of metal!

rc630

Being on a college campus.. the freshman girls who feel the need to walk in rows of 3 or 4 on the sidewalk, and make me run on the grass to get around them even though they can clearly see me coming. Really, girls, if you break formation for 3 seconds, you'll still be able to be BFFs, I promise. You won't get lost if one of you has to walk behind the other two for a moment.

IronSmasher

Cars slowing down when they see I'm trying to cross. I'm not going to jump in front of a moving vehicle, either stop or get past me faster, don't crawl past me!

audram420

my neighbors who look at me and shake their heads like I'm crazy to be out running and being healthy as they sit in their garage stuffing their face with their horrid music playing so loud I can't hear my own. hahaha...and uneven sidewalks!

TheRealKimpo

It's been mentioned but I'll say it again, big puddles!

People who spit on the sidewalk while running in front of me.

People who walk the middle of the sidewalk and wont share when you're running by.

JNick77

4) People who want to talk as I run by. I appreciate your friendliness, but I am breathing hard and have music playing. I can't hear you, and I definitely don't want to stop.

This... Especially when I'm on the tail end of a 5K and I'm feeling like I'm going to die and really need to focus on pushing to the end of it.

CindyWarner

When people in passing cars feel the need to honk and/or whistle as they go by.

^^ THIS!

Also, when people slow down in their car and stare at you... Makes me sooo uncomfortable! :grumble:

People STARE at you? OMG! Tell them to take a picture. It lasts longer.

UrbanRunner81

loose dogs for sure. Sure your dog may be friendly or whatever but I don't like random dogs coming up by me. I have a dog and she is always on a leash.
Smokers on the trails.
Yes the honking and other obnoxious like it.

People who walk like side by side like on a narrow trail and see me coming up and won't even move pushing me off to the side. Your conversation can't be that intense that you can't move behind your friend for 3 seconds. I even say "on your left/right" or Excuse me and nothing. Seriously share the trail!

Seajolly

People STARE at you? OMG! Tell them to take a picture. It lasts longer.

Yes, not to stereotype, but 9 times out of 10 it is lawn men or other handyman-types driving around in their large intimidating trucks. :ohwell:

meowow

creepy guys.
people who talk to you while you're trying to pass by when you clearly have headphones on.

KatScarberry

Bikers on the trails that do not say "On your left!" to let me know they're coming so I can scoot over before they zoom by and scare the p*ss out of me and/or take my arm off.

I agree with you 100%!!! Very thankful for the ones that actually do though!!!

janegeno

People STARE at you? OMG! Tell them to take a picture. It lasts longer.

Yes, not to stereotype, but 9 times out of 10 it is lawn men or other handyman-types driving around in their large intimidating trucks. :ohwell:

Bahaha! Just remember: the bigger the truck the smaller the junk.

SilkeForce

I can't run (very bad knees) so I walk as fast as I can but I can add three more pet peeves:
1) broken sidewalks (I've narrowly missed sprawling more than once)
2) cars that make fast turns right in front of you
3) cars that pass an arm's length away (or less) on country roads - that's just TOO scary!

lschramm

Biggest pet peeve? Bikes on the sidewalk!! As both a runner and a cyclist this annoys me to no end. When I'm running I hate having to run on the grass so a bike can pass. People seem to thing that it's safer to ride on the sidewalk, well no it ain't. Cars still have to pull out of driveways and sidestreets.