"mutual respect" nod when you see another fit person

I didn't know that it was only for fit people. I'll say "hi" to anyone who isn't on a cell phone, or mumbling crazily to no one in particular.

I guess you guys don't live in densely populated areas. If I gave a nod to every runner or biker or pedestrian I saw my head would fall off!

I was talking with a guy I work with. About what defined the "Alpha Male".

I am the definite Alpha Male in my group, but this guy, Ben, was asking about it. Ben is about 6'5" and 300 lbs.

I said, "you ever notice that as one group of guys approach another group of guys, there will be one person in each group that nods and acknowledges the other? Those two are the Alpha Males."

Ben: "I never noticed that."

Me " Exactly."

I always thought everyone was supposed to start snapping their fingers.

If you did that, you get some seriously funny looks! You are actually supposed to break into spontaneous dance.

When out running and I cross paths with another runner there is almost always a nod or some kind of acknowledgement of each other. I always try to make eye contact so that this can happen, of course this is a bit harder when I'm wearing shades. But I really like the feeling of saying hi to fellow runners. It makes me feel like I'm a part of some elite club except all the members are strangers, lol.

There was one time where I was coming up behind someone and about to pass them and he looked back and saw me. Guess he didn't want to be passed by a girl or something cause he kicked it up a knotch and started running faster. I kept trying to catch up to pass cause passing someone feels really good, but he just kept going faster and faster lol. I ended up not passing him, lol. Nothing wrong with a little competition though . I didn't mind and really all it did was make me go faster that day too .

I was talking with a guy I work with. About what defined the "Alpha Male".

I am the definite Alpha Male in my group, but this guy, Ben, was asking about it. Ben is about 6'5" and 300 lbs.

I said, "you ever notice that as one group of guys approach another group of guys, there will be one person in each group that nods and acknowledges the other? Those two are the Alpha Males."

Ben: "I never noticed that."

Me " Exactly."

I always thought everyone was supposed to start snapping their fingers.

If you did that, you get some seriously funny looks! You are actually supposed to break into spontaneous dance.

Oh, I wish life was really like this!

But, to answer the question. No, I don't think I do that.

yep, some people even wave

I try to nod to anyone or everyone I see, running, walking, biking. I mean, they are out there doing something, so they are awesome in my book.

This definitely exists but geographical locale makes a big big difference.

I used to live on the west side of Columbus, OH in an area known as the Bottoms.
No need to explain what that area is like!
The only time you saw someone on a bike was when a bunch of grocery bags were hanging on the handle bars, & if you saw someone out running it was because they were running from someone (probably cops).
There was always a joke that if someone was skinny & looked fit it meant they were not someone to hang around with because they were running from people a lot or have been in prison & beefed up there. Or they did coke or meth.

Cycling & running for pleasure & fitness doesn't exist to those people. I used to jog when I lived there, but I never got a smile or nod, mostly ended up being chased by a dog lol.
I got asked what I was getting ready for, i.e. robbing something or if I had a warrant & wanted to be fast. Or I'd get accused of being on cocaine.

Then I moved to the far west side of the city, basically almost a suburb. I start to jog & bike ride upon getting settled in, & then people are waving to me, smiling at me, asking how I'm doing, nodding at me, etc.
Wtf?? Freaked me out. I flip flopped from being annoyed of people thinking I worked out in preparation for trying to get away with something or being a coke head to now being the one suspicious & freaked out by the joggers!
I thought the guy who smiled at me every morning when we passed was gonna mug me & thought the younger woman wanted to fight me!

It's so funny but this totally exists...what's more interesting is the mindset toward exercise of varying socioeconomic areas. That move was rough. I went from being 'preppy' & 'high class' & 'sophisticated' to being average & on the poorer side with a bad attitude by moving like 10 min away.

I'm from California. If people smile at me, I get suspicious.

are you sure not from the East Coast originally? that was the vibe there but since ive moved west people are much more likely to smile here.

Yeah. I live in Southern California and everyone I pass by on my runs smiles and waves at me. There is one guy I always pass on ky runs that always tells me I'm looking good and glad I am keeping it up or something else.