Now that there are a growing number of people out and about when I’m running, what the etiquette for priority on a path?
I started off weaving around Sunday strollers but now there are dogs, kids, couples and groups, often walking in a pack across the pavements/paths.
I’m not going to break my 28-mins or leap into the road so I tried keeping to one side constantly, but shoulder bumped with several strollers.
Cyclists ring a bell, riders shout Mind your backs! What should runners do?
I'm in Canada so not sure what people do in the UK, but here I've had people announce "passing on your right" or just "on your left" as they over-take on a multi-use path. Usually it's just to avoid the person startling and turning and bumping you as you go past I think. Where I run there aren't many people so I haven't had to deal with it, but I use to cycle on a busy path.
Well if they havnt noticed me I often shout.... “sorry, runner on your right/left”...... big smile! I have never had a problem .
What would you do if you were walking quicker than others?
Im not inclined to be rude, us runners are a nice crowd as you know 😀🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻
When walking I would slow down, look for a gap, then dive through (this town gets very busy in summer).
Problem is I can’t slow down as I’m only a smidgen faster than walkers anyway. And the issue arises with 3-abreast strollers in both directions.
Is there a different route you can use, or early runs maybe?
Where I live I am surrounded by six schools. I therefore do not run locally during school start or finish times because there are too many folk around.
Summer crowds all day every day until September unfortunately.
Once I graduate I can explore hills and won’t have to stick to the seafront. Or I’ll have to get up seriously early!
Are there any parks, canal towpath, trails you can try perhaps?
I wish- but no. A lot of beach (crowded) and a drive to the nearest bit of woodland. One school sports field at the top of a hill.
Never noticed the lack of park or countryside before. Shame I can’t run on water!
My friend has one of these run bells.
run-bell.com/products/coppe...
I think if you're on a path designed specifically for runners and cyclists it isn't rude to use it, though I'm not brave enough myself. I'm in Canada too and Amanana's right, it works well to just say you're passing - and you can still be cheery in tone as you share the path with everyone. You can't really do that with a bell.
The run bell is good for safety though, if you run in the dark or Oma shared bike path with corners like I do.
If you're on a general public path I don't think you can do much, it's everyone's. Are there quieter routes around?
It’s a super-popular town in the summer but my local knowledge should help once I can run uphill!
Hahaha now that sounds like a worthy win win challenge! ☀️☀️
When there’s room, I announce I'm passing and where, smile and wave just in case. In London, where there’s no room and we have loads of tourists, crowded pavements etc, I choose the side nearest the shops, make eye contact with oncoming traffic and use my hand to indicate where they should go to avoid me. But I always say thank you when I pass them. If overtaking from behind them, I either say excuse me or indicate the direction I’m going, but I think it depends. If I’m feeling grumpy and there’s a mobile traffic jam ahead like 6 people abreast - I just indicate they should move...
And if it’s a cycle courier on the pavement I say nothing and run where I want!
Good range of options, thanks! Whitstable is wonderfully empty in the winter, but with the sun come the fairweather walkers and London crowds. Need to develop some tactics!
I look so intimidating people get the hell out of my way. If they don’t, well more fool them.
If I saw me jogging towards me then I”d definitely give me a wide berth! (All red-faced and determined). Hence the shoulder bumps.
keep your head down and angle the shoulder in as you make contact, put your weight behind it. Flick up as you make contact. Flip those rude people off the path.
I had the same problem this afternoon in the park - twice I was heading towards a family pack taking up the whole width of the pavement and even though they were facing me as I approached none of them made way for me! Am I invisible?!
Exactly! So what did you do?
Is it possible to run on the grass around the circumference of the park perhaps?
I was actually on a pavement next to a road at the time - just outside the park. Inside the park is easier
If I use a park I generally run inside the park , right around the edge, The grass is easier on joints etc. I never see anyone using those edges except an occcasional runner.
It will all depend where you live no doubt. I use parks, canal tow paths, riverside , football pitches, trails, and if very early morning local footpaths.
It means I often need to drive there but I like to mix it up a bit anyway.
I often run on a trail in a tourist area and I can really tell the difference when it's school holiday time. Local users are mostly considerate, tourists often aren't 
It fascinates and frustrates me that they can see a sweaty, beetroot-faced fat woman pounding towards them and not be scared out of the way, but hey 
so I tend to bellow 'Excuse me please!' or if that doesn't work, 'Move over!' If I am running behind people I will usually start with 'Morning/afternoon!' The family groups are the worst, especially the ones with dogs on extendable leads.
Looks like I’m going to have to start communicating out loud- shame as I like the bubble world of being plugged in to music.
And yes, extending leads are potentially lethal. Should be banned from populated areas. Or snipped. Must make note to carry scissors!
I can beat extending dog leads... The other night, in the dark I came across a 1 inch thick, black, electric cable, 10cm off the ground, straight across the pavement! Some genius had fed it through their closed front door, to charge their electric car!?! A narrow badly lit pavement, just whaaaat? Why would you do that? 
That’s insanely stupid and dangerous. Very few things warrant pausing a run but I’d say that hammering on their door might be one of them.
Or unplugging the car (in which case you might not even have to stop running!)
Overtaking etiquette
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