Out walking or running, do you stop when ...

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sunglasses_and_ocean_waves
sunglasses_and_ocean_waves Posts: 2,757 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
people pull over to ask you directions? I walk at a very brisk pace up & down hilly roads. I no longer stop if someone pulls over for directions, and I get these horrified looks as though I am the rudest person in the world. I just wave & say sorry and keep walking. There are plenty of other people around to ask, and there are plenty of stores to go into. I think if someone's sweaty & breathing kinda hard, they're obviously not out for small talk. Oh yeah, an older man stopped me today to ask me why I walked the hills. He was sweet & clueless, so I told him it felt good. :)

Do you stop?
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Replies

  • elizabethmae1214
    elizabethmae1214 Posts: 38
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    I always stop, but I'm a crazy person who jumps at the opportunity to talk to new people.
  • sunglasses_and_ocean_waves
    sunglasses_and_ocean_waves Posts: 2,757 Member
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    Heee! I'm that crazy person when out shopping or out for a casual stroll. But headphones, sweat & brisk movement should = reading a book on an airplane lol.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
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    I will stop if I'm just doing an easy run. If I am in the middle of a workout where I have to maintain a certain pace for a specific distance or time, I'll just give a "can't stop, sorry!" and keep on moving.
  • hbrittingham
    hbrittingham Posts: 2,518 Member
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    Of course I'll stop. It will only take 2-3 minutes out of my whole life. I personally would have thought you were rude if you waved me off and continued walking. But to each their own. I don't consider my workout more important than being polite.
  • nwhitley
    nwhitley Posts: 619
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    Depends. I stopped the other day because 2 ladies were looking for a runaway child in my neighborhood. So I stopped to talk to them for a minute. I run in my neighborhood a lot and people are constantly wanting to stop me and chit chat. I teach at a nearby school, so sometimes these are parents and students:( I keep my earbuds in, and wave and pretend like I can't hear them saying anything. Otherwise, I would never be able to run more than a mile. Just wave, say sorry can't stop, and keep going!
  • hbrittingham
    hbrittingham Posts: 2,518 Member
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    Depends. I stopped the other day because 2 ladies were looking for a runaway child in my neighborhood. So I stopped to talk to them for a minute. I run in my neighborhood a lot and people are constantly wanting to stop me and chit chat. I teach at a nearby school, so sometimes these are parents and students:( I keep my earbuds in, and wave and pretend like I can't hear them saying anything. Otherwise, I would never be able to run more than a mile. Just wave, say sorry can't stop, and keep going!

    See, I don't see that as rude at all. But for the occasional person who is asking directions, I don't see any reason not to stop. It's just common courtesy.
  • sunglasses_and_ocean_waves
    sunglasses_and_ocean_waves Posts: 2,757 Member
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    Responding to the above poster who thinks I'm rude ...

    Because I'm working out, and there are plenty of other people to ask. There are also umpteen stores right in this block where the person can actually get out of their car and ask. I don't mind the occasional question (I thought the older guy was kind of sweet), but I'm not the one too lazy to get out of my car to figure out where I am.
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
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    I always stop. Where I run I don't get asked very often though.
  • janahc09
    janahc09 Posts: 12
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    I probably wouldn't have stopped. I live way out in the country, so unless it was someone I knew stopping to ask, I might take off running for my house. LOL. Then again, I have a half pit-bull/mutt dog and a huge Great Dane walking with me so they might not want to ask me for directions anyway, haha.
  • briebear77
    briebear77 Posts: 253 Member
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    I stopped the other day when this happened to me. It was actually funny that they were asking me because it made me feel like a regular runner on this particular trail because I actually knew the answer! I almost didn't, then I realized that karma would get me back if I didn't and it was just the right thing to do. No regrets, even if it messed up my time a little bit.
  • stephyy4632
    stephyy4632 Posts: 947 Member
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    I have gotten stopped a number of times and I always help them out not a biggie at all it only takes a second or two to explain directions (most of the time they are really close to where they are trying to go just new to the area and missed it) plus I live in the city so its pretty common
  • zoom2
    zoom2 Posts: 934 Member
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    Heee! I'm that crazy person when out shopping or out for a casual stroll. But headphones, sweat & brisk movement should = reading a book on an airplane lol.

    Yep. Plus I frequently can't think clearly if I'm running hard, nor catch my breath enough to verbalize directions. It's not my fault people don't use a mobile GPS unit or know how to read a map or follow Google Maps directions. I've had people stop and ask me for directions when they are MILES away from where they think they are. How do people get THAT lost in our tiny community? If you go too far in 2 of 4 directions you'll hit a lake...that should be a clue. :laugh:

    I grew up in a REALLY touristy area and by the end of Summer I didn't want to talk to anyone with out of state plates, at all. As a local working in the restaurant industry I ended up on the receiving end of a lot of abuse and condescension. As a result I generally don't feel a lot of compassion towards "tourons."
  • patranus
    patranus Posts: 61 Member
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    Yes. Its part of being a member of a civilized society.
  • Lozze
    Lozze Posts: 1,917 Member
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    Nope. I'm wary of stopping for anyone. I don't care if random person thinks I'm rude. It's also a safety issue.
  • Venturin
    Venturin Posts: 244 Member
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    Of course I'll stop. It will only take 2-3 minutes out of my whole life. I personally would have thought you were rude if you waved me off and continued walking. But to each their own. I don't consider my workout more important than being polite.

    This
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,652 Member
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    The last time someone asked me for directions and I stopped to give them, he exposed himself to me. That was fun! :smile:

    But yeah, it may get annoying if I'm listening to a song that gets me walking fast but it only takes a minute or two to give the directions.
  • Doing_The_Unstruck
    Doing_The_Unstruck Posts: 241 Member
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    I have never been in the situation, but I would probably say sorry, can't stop. To the people saying not stopping is rude, do you not consider interupting someones exercise time rude?
  • JulieH3art
    JulieH3art Posts: 293 Member
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    Yeah, I stop.
  • Venturin
    Venturin Posts: 244 Member
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    I have never been in the situation, but I would probably say sorry, can't stop. To the people saying not stopping is rude, do you not consider interupting someones exercise time rude?

    No I don't. Just last week I was finishing a long walk uphill, sweating and moving to my iPod and someone pulled over for directions. She needed help and I was happy to stop and lend a hand. And then after she pulled away I simply continued up the hill.
  • brandyk77
    brandyk77 Posts: 605 Member
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    Unless I am in the middle of a very important workout, I stop.

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