Navigating the Path to Respectful Running

Ever wonder why prioritizing joy over stats could revolutionize your running routine? Join me, Bridget, as I reveal the Dogs Per Mile mindset, a refreshing lens through which to view your running journey. Let's unlock the unwritten rules of safe running that could significantly enhance your safety and enjoyment. I'll share insights from my own experiences, including essential safety tips like wearing brightly lit vests and the importance of running against traffic to stay visible. These stories and tips aim to empower you to take charge of your safety while adding a dash of joy to every mile.

Courtesy and awareness should be at the forefront when hitting the pavement, especially in public spaces. Whether you're running solo or in a group, understanding considerate running etiquette is key to a harmonious community. In this episode, I'll offer practical advice on how to share space with fellow runners, dogs, and strollers—while keeping noise levels in check and ensuring safe interactions. We'll even touch on how to respectfully handle bathroom breaks during your run. It's all about fostering a respectful running environment that enhances the experience for everyone involved.

Show Notes:

🏃‍♀️ Safety First: Being Visible

• The importance of being visible to vehicles
• Recommended gear: NOX Gear Tracer 2 light-up vest
• Tips for running in car-heavy areas
• Why reflective gear is essential

🚗 Rules of the Road

• Why you should run against traffic
• Proper crosswalk etiquette
• Making eye contact with drivers
• Navigating areas without sidewalks

👥 Group Running Etiquette

• How to avoid the "wall of runners"
• Proper passing protocol
• Communication tips when passing others
• Group running formation best practices

🎧 Audio Awareness

• Why speaker phone is a no-go
• One earbud out rule
• Bone conducting headphones as an alternative
• Being aware of your surroundings

🐕 Special Considerations

• Yielding to dogs and strollers
• Handling bathroom breaks
• "Pack it in, pack it out" philosophy
• Being mindful of residential areas

🐾 Weekly Dogs Per Mile Breakdown

• This week's stats: 24 miles, 14 dogs
• Official DPM score: 1.7 dogs per mile
• Bonus points for golden retrievers and mini Aussies

Key Takeaways:

1. Make yourself as visible as possible to vehicles
2. Always run against traffic and use crosswalk signals
3. Be courteous when running in groups
4. Stay aware of your surroundings
5. Share the space with other path users

Resources Mentioned:

• NOX Gear Tracer 2 vest
• Bone conducting headphones

HIGH FIVES, RUNNER! 🙌

Before you hit the showers, let's make sure you're part of our running pack:

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Until our next run together, remember: every step forward is progress, and every dog you see is bonus motivation. Keep running, keep smiling, and keep counting those dogs!

Transcript

Unwritten Rules of Safe Running

Speaker 1 0:08

Hey runners , welcome to the Dogs Per Mile podcast , your weekly dose of running reality . Here we count dogs instead of minutes and turn running stats upside down . I'm Bridget , your host , certified running coach and creator of the Dogs Per Mile mindset . Here's the thing 13 years ago , I started my running journey , like many of you , watching the stats on my garment and getting discouraged when they didn't match what they should be saying . That's when I discovered the magic of counting dogs in my run , because sometimes the best running stat isn't your pace or distance . Now , with over 50 half marathons , two marathons and countless training runs under my belt , I'm here to share a different approach to running , one that breaks down mental barriers , eases those pre-run anxieties and yes , includes a weekly update of my personal dogs per mile count . Whether you're lacing up for the first time , getting back into running after a break , struggling your training with group fitness classes or chasing your next PR , you've found your people . This is where we take the pressure off and put the joy back in running , because every runner has a place here and every dog site is worth celebrating .

Speaker 1 1:29

Hey everyone , welcome back to the Dogs Per Mile podcast . I'm Bridget , and today we're talking about a topic that is weirdly near and dear to my heart , but it's kind of how not to run like an asshole and how to just get those unwritten rules that new runners don't know until you've been running for a while , and that way you can be not only safe but more consider , more considerate and just . We're going to talk about some tips and some just things that you don't know until you make that mistake . So first we're going to talk about kind of safety first , because that's first and foremost why these kind of unwritten rules exist is to keep you safe as a runner . The biggest thing and this is my number one tip to every runner ever is being visible and being very well lit . And just because you can see the car does not mean they can see you . Just because you see them , it means nothing , because if you've ever driven around in your neighborhood or anywhere else and seen a runner or a cyclist and they just seem to hop out of nowhere , they saw you . You did not see them because they probably weren't following most of these rules . Basically , the mindset that I use when it comes to running is I want to make it so flipping clear that if they hit me that it is their fault . I am as well lit , as reflective , as bright , as visible as possible , and I'm following all these rules of the road in order to make it very clear that I didn't fuck up , it was you .

Speaker 1 3:01

So one of the things that I use is I have a very bright light up vest . The one that I have is the Noxgear Tracer 2 . It has two little light straps here , that kind of go around . It has a little back panel that has a light up and you can change different colors . You can have it flash when you're running and it also has the option to get a little Iron man style front clip that has a head beam or a front light and that is peak , peak . Being well lit , it really makes it very visible to other people and you're very , very bright . And also the front light helps me able to see the front of the sidewalk , because the sidewalks in my neighborhood are kind of shit Because a lot of the trees have pushed up the sidewalks and they're cracked and they're raised and there's bumps and there's this . So being able to see directly in front of me really makes me have a lot better sight .

Speaker 1 3:58

And you can also go as simple as a reflective vest or just buying reflective gear . There's jackets that are made specifically to be reflective in nighttime running . I know I've seen them from all sorts of running brands . You can google it and find tons of them and when a car headlight drives over it it lights up like it's almost like glowing in the dark . So that way you're not constantly lit , but you are lit when you need to be so minimum if you're running and it's dark or semi-dark .

Speaker 1 4:27

I err on the side of caution . I err on the side of making them clearly , clearly wrong . Just this last week on my normal run I almost got hit because somebody decided they were just going to turn right through their light , and even I had my light up vest , I had my headlight and I even was waiting for the crosswalk and it had turned and they were not looking at me because most of the cars in my area aren't looking for pedestrians . They are . It's a car heavy city . So if you live in a very car heavy area suburban areas , anything like that where they're not used to pedestrians or bicyclists it's really important to be very , very aware .

Speaker 1 5:07

So one of the other rules of the road that I see people do all the time is running on the wrong side of the road and I'm not talking about the sidewalks , anything like that . I'm talking about , if your sidewalks are crappy or there is no sidewalk , people running where , they're acting like they're a vehicle on the road , and it's just so important and so frustrating to see people do that . It's so important to run against traffic and it seems silly because that way . Well , I want them to be able to see me as they come up over a hill . And you're going up that hill , you are able to make eye contact and you can both move out of the way of each other . So you also have some control in the situation , because if you put the entire control in the driver , things might not end very well . So you want to make sure that you are able to see them . You kind of want to think of it like bikes and cars go one way and you're going to always go the opposite , and sometimes you do need to switch sides , like there's construction on this side , and when that sort of stuff happens you just need to be extra aware . Sometimes I'll pause my watch and walk that portion . That way I can not have to try to run and not get hit , because if there's construction , they're already confused .

Speaker 1 6:28

Another thing is crosswalks . I definitely have an opinion on that . Where I will actually use the lights , I will pause , I will push the buttons because I just think they're there for a reason . And again it goes back to I want to make it very clear , if they choose to run their light or just ignore the crosswalk , that it's their fault . And I understand that it is like a real pain in the butt to slow down . You're in the . I understand that it is like a real pain in the butt to slow down . You're in the groove and sometimes you're like I really just think I could just make it through this .

Speaker 1 6:57

And there are times like there's no one coming . But then at those times you have to be looking on all sides . Don't assume just because you can't see them or you don't see headlights doesn't mean they don't have headlights on , just because it's a one-way street that no one should be coming down . If you've lived in a place that has a lot of one-way streets , you know that people will hop out of the wrong side . So really make sure you look all the ways and make eye contact with other cars . So whenever I know that I have a crosswalk in my mind , and when I'm running through it and I know that that car will have a flashing yellow and they will want to turn , I'm making my like direct eye contact . Like serious , no jokes . Uh , you're , because I'm running defensively . I'm running like you drive , you drive defensively . Now you have to run defensively just to make sure that you are safe . And there are times also where there are no sidewalks . Holy , get that . That .

Speaker 1 7:51

When I lived in Maine , there were so many rural areas where I'm running in a teeny little baby shoulder , and so that's when you really need to make sure you're running on the correct side of the road , so that way they see you coming and you can move . And so then you need to run in the shoulder . So sometimes it means you're not running directly in the center lane , You're running to the left of the solid white line , or even you might be running in the little gravel bit and you may need to go over there . So just really being aware and just keeping your senses around you . And then , when it comes to running in a group I mean , I have a run club , so this is something that's also really important to me there's that whole

Rules of Considerate Running

Speaker 1 8:39

wall of runners .

Speaker 1 8:39

If you've ever been walking on a sidewalk or on a trail and you just see this large group of runners that just seems to want to plow right through you , it's just I can think of a bunch of the groups that run in my area and they do this You're really just running like three , four , five abreast , blocking the whole thing from anyone else coming up behind you , anyone going forward . It's just , you just look like an asshole , you look like you're more important . This is this . You own this . Um , so just be aware of the path . Um , you should be less not having headphones and if you're running with a group , run because then you cannot hear people coming behind you or ahead of you , you can't hear cyclists , you can't hear anything like that .

Speaker 1 9:20

So if you are running in a group and you need to pass , then you need to make sure that you are acknowledging other runners , telling them on your left , on your right , and one thing when it comes to saying on your left or basically announcing your comings , is , I'd say , like seven to eight out of ten times , if you say on your left , that person is going to jump to their left because people just get confused , they get startled . They're not paying attention . So you just kind of want to . I usually announce myself pretty quickly and then give them a second to figure it out and then always thank them for moving . So it's really a pretty quick on your left . Thank you and then just keep going , whether or not you're a solo runner or not . So you want to make sure that if you are by yourself , you're announcing it . If you're a solo runner , if you're a group running and you're all running together and you're passing someone , get into a single file line and then make your way around the person announcing yourself and thanking them . Just being a freaking nice person , it's not that hard .

Speaker 1 10:30

Another thing that goes that I don't see as often but it still can be kind of annoying is those people that are not aware of the sounds or the noise that they're making and it's not you're huffing and puffing and that you're dying or whatever or talking or anything like that . It's the holding their phone while running and playing their music on speaker or having a conversation speaker phone . It just can be distracting to other runners . Other runners might not be able to hear announcements because they hear you , they hear that music . So you're really not only distracting others , but you're also could be bothering people's houses that maybe live there . Maybe , if you're running early in the morning and they're hearing , they may love your music , but they may not love your music at 6am in their backyard .

Speaker 1 11:23

Another thing you can do is the one earbud out . So if you're running and you need to be super duper aware of your surroundings , you you're running a city or a really highly populated area you can put one earbud in versus one and one out when you're listening to your music or podcasts or audiobooks , and it just really kind of helps you be able to hear . Another alternative to this are bone conducting headphones things like shocks or anything like that . They fit over your head and the sound goes through the bones in your head and it's very wild , but your ears don't have earbuds in them and so they can hear everything . But you still can hear your music and your podcast . So they're another great alternative if you absolutely have to hear your music but you want to make sure you're able to hear your surroundings , because you need to be able to keep yourself safe , but you also need to keep other people safe , because if you are running and you don't hear a cyclist behind you ringing their bell or coming behind you and you're going around someone , you can easily cause a crash because you're not being aware of everything that's around you , or if a dog is out or anything like that . That's really just important to be aware of your surroundings . There are times when you are able to , you know , listen to your music and zone out and not pay attention to what's going around you , but there are moments that you need to be able to do that . So you need to also make sure you're not hogging all of the space , even if you're a solo runner .

Speaker 1 12:45

If you're running with a group , so you want to make sure you're yielding to others , like dogs or strollers or anything like that . So you try to make sure you're yielding to others , like dogs or strollers or anything like that . So you try to move over if you can . So you know my two dogs . My older one nothing bothers her , she's cool with everything , but the younger one is a little bit reactive . So if you know you run by a dog that's not either trained well or is reactive or just not paying attention , you could startle a dog and create a bad experience . So you just try to yield , especially if you're running with a dog . That's extra , extra important , that you want to make sure you keep space between other people , so you may have to slow down , you may need to run on the grass or you may need to kind of wait to get around them and go back to making yourself known for people with strollers or kids or dogs . It's really just important to kind of share the space because it's a common area .

Speaker 1 13:41

And , lastly , really just kind of looking at handling bathroom breaks on runs . So they definitely happen . There's no way around it . So really my rule of thumb is thinking about areas that you can use , restrooms that are open , free , that sort of stuff . So coffee shops , gas stations are always really great . I run by my gym a lot and can use that . And if a place says that you have to have a purchase in order to use the bathroom , just don't be a jerk and also make note of it for later . And um , as you run more , you're going to end up consuming snacks and gels and things like that . So don't just take them and throw them on the ground , you know , hold on to them , treat it like you can't Pack it in , pack it out , all right .

Speaker 1 14:36

So welcome to the weekly Dogs Per Mile breakdown segment of the podcast . So if you're new here , dogs Per Mile is a totally scientific and absolutely ridiculous way of tracking how many dogs you see on a run , and its point is just to make running fun again . So let me give you a breakdown of my official dogs per mile rules . I count dogs only once per run , so if I see the same dog multiple times , they only get one point . Dogs can be anywhere . They can be walking , they can be hanging out of a car in a house window , doesn't matter to me , as long as I see them . And here's the real trick is if I spot a breed that I am particularly fond of . So if I see a golden retriever or a mini Aussie , I've given myself extra bonus points because they're my rules and I want to . This past week I logged 24 miles . I saw 14 dogs , which gives me an official total of 1.7 dogs per mile . Well , how many dogs do you see this week ?

Speaker 1 15:33

All right , runners , let's wrap this up with a little list on how not to be an asshole on the road , because really we all just want to get our miles in safely and considerately . First , up and foremost , visibility is your friend . Light yourself up like a goddamn Christmas tree . If you have to Remember my motto , make it crystal clear that if someone hits you , it was definitely their fault . You can rock that reflective gear , light up vests , headlamps , whatever it takes .

Speaker 1 16:01

So here's a quick list of the definite do-nots while running . Don't run with traffic . Always run against it and make eye contact with the driver like you're trying to win a steering contest . Don't be that person that thinks crosswalk buttons are optional they're not , just use them . Don't be the runner ball when you're running with a group those groups that take up the entire path like they own it . Nobody likes that group . And don't blast your music on speaker , because really no one wants to hear your playlist at 6am , no matter how good it is .

Speaker 1 16:33

And so now let's move on to the do's to make you a better part of this running community . Keep one earbud out or try those bone conducting headphones if you need to have your tunes going . Announce yourself while passing on your left . Gives people a heads up , but also make sure you give them a hot second to process it . Yield to others , especially those with dogs or strollers or kids . Plan your bathroom breaks around using actual bathrooms , and pack out what you pack in . Nobody wants to see your gels or packets on the ground . So , really , running is awesome , but being considerate while doing it makes it better for everyone . It's really not that hard . It's just about being aware , being visible and not being a jerk . Keep those things in mind and you'll be that runner that makes the community better , not that one that people complain about in their running groups . Until next time , keep running , be safe , don't be an asshole out there . See you on the next run . Thanks for sharing another mile with me today .

Speaker 1 17:39

Before you cool down , here are three quick ways to stay connected with our running community . First , hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this right now . It's the best way to make sure you never miss an episode . Second , if today's show helped you or inspired you , please leave a review . Your words help other runners find their way to our community . Lastly , want more running adventures ? Follow at Dogs Per Mile Pod on Instagram , where I share daily motivation , behind the scenes moments and plenty of pictures of my two running coaches , yogi and Maple . Be sure to tag me in your run photos and use hashtag Dogs Per mile to share your own dog spotting stats . I love celebrating your victories , big and small , and thank you for being a part of this journey . Until our next run together , remember , every step forward is progress and every dog you see is bonus motivation . Keep running , keep smiling and keep counting those dogs .