If you know how to run your races with courtesy, then you will activate the Law of Attraction in your favor. After all, racing with other runners can be a lot of fun. But, frankly, you can be a big source of irritation to other racers when you are careless about what you are doing while racing.
Here are several ways to be more courteous to other runners while racing.
Ensure that your running shoes’ laces are securely tied.
You can create quite a hazard by stopping in the middle of a road or path to re-tie your shoes. Plus, you can trip over your own laces, if they become untied. Take some extra time before your race to be sure that your shoelaces are securely tied. Or get a lacing system that can never become undone.
Look where you toss water cups, especially half-full ones.
Although a splash of water may be refreshing to you during a hot race, the racers behind you do not want to be splashed by your half cup of water just beyond a water station. For example, water splashed onto their legs can drip into their socks. Even the best perspiration-wicking socks can not necessarily keep up with that amount of water, so you could inadvertently cause a blister in a runner whose legs get doused by the water remaining in the cup that you toss carelessly. Also, the water that you spill can be a tripping hazard on an oily road. If you cannot drink all the water, then take care to toss the cup off the race course.
Stop by the side of the road or trail to spit.
Racers do not want to be “misted” by your spit, and they do not want to step in it, either. If you must spit, then carefully run to the side of the road, stop, and spit.
Look before stretching your arms.
Shoulders and arms can get tight during a race, especially a long one. But be careful when swinging and stretching your arms. Otherwise, you could accidentally bloody or bruise a quiet runner nearby.
Look before slowing to a walk.
If you use micro-level pacing, or if you are fatigued, then you eventually will have to slow from a run to a walk. As with arm stretching, look around before doing this. Failing to do so can lead to bad accidents, with several runners on the ground.
Warn other runners before cutting in front of them.
Cutting in front of other runners can be quite dangerous, especially when they do not expect it. Say something (“Excuse me.” or “Sorry. Crossing in front of you.”), or at least motion with a hand, before crossing the path ahead of another runner.
Announce tripping hazards that lie ahead of you.
Depending on how big you are, how small are the runners behind you, and how close are the runners behind you, you can cause one or more of those runners to trip simply by failing to announce a tripping hazard that lies ahead of you on the road or trail during a race. This is analogous to a motorist hitting an object in the road because he or she was following another motorist too closely or could not see beyond a very large vehicle ahead of him or her even when following that larger vehicle from a safe distance for braking. If you are about to step around a tripping hazard, then take a moment to announce the hazard to those behind you.
Stop to talk on a cellphone.
If you must take or make a call on your cellphone during a race, then stop to do so. Just as motorists who talk on cellphones tend to drive more slowly, runners who talk on cellphones tend to run more slowly. And this speed differential with fellow runners can be dangerous. Do the courteous and safe thing by running to the side of the road or trail, making sure that nobody is immediately behind you, and then stopping to make or take that call.
Do not race with stereo earphones.
Stereo earphones are banned from many races because of the hazards that they create as clueless racers miss announcements from race officials, emergency responders, and fellow runners. Race without earphones. Or, if you feel that you absolutely must have your own personal music to accompany you, then race with an earphone in only one ear, so that you can keep the other ear open for your race environment.
Do not run backwards unless you have a lot of room.
You may want to run backwards to work out a kink or when trying to face another runner whom you want to motivate. But do this only when you have a lot of room and see no hazards further down the race course. Otherwise, you may run backwards into another racer. Or you may fall and cause one or more of the runners who you were facing to trample and fall over you.
Avoid wearing costumes that interfere with vision or running.
Costumes on runners often draw laughs and cheers from spectators and other runners alike. But be careful what you wear. Avoid costumes that could obscure your vision or that could trip you.
Avoid running two or three abreast.
It can be a lot of fun to race side-by-side with a training partner or two. But realize that this can create a “wall” that blocks runners behind you from passing all of you. The solution is simple: Leave a space that can let at least one runner pass between you and your training partner.
