Track Etiquette: What is it with people?

NitrousMike wrote:

Seriously, why do people walk on a track? Walking is boring enough, why repeat the same small loop over and over again? At least choose somewhere with nice scenery. It seems pretty ridiculous that people DRIVE to a track to WALK on it for exercise and DRIVE home! lol

I've wondered this too...the only thing I can think of is it seems like a natural place to "workout" and measure their distance, or they read it someplace ("go to a track and walk 4 laps for a mile"). The other reason might be for safety, as a track may feel more secure, especially with other people constantly in sight, than roaming around neighborhoods? Just guessing on that, though.

Yeah I know my wife doesn't feel safe walking around our neighborhood - even in the daytime. The only men that are driving, loitering, and hanging around residential neighborhoods during weekdays are creepy offender-types. The track does seem like a safer place. So long as you stay out of lane 1, that is.

You see the thing is, it doesn't really matter what you "guarantee" me. If that were true, especially in the aggregate, we'd all do our 200s 3 seconds slower and no big deal. But we don't do we?

I cant speak for the original poster but there is only one track in my town. I'm sure I could mark off a distance somewhere but I could just as well argue that the people crowding the place who aren't supposed to should learn track etiquette. That's actually the whole point of the thread, you see.

If you're that anal about your workout times and truly believe your season is ruined because you had to step off the track briefly because some idiot wandered into lane 1, then just do another repeat.

Good for you. I dont freak out either. I just move their stuff, explain track etiquette to them and resume my workout.

Objecting to or trying to correct bad behavior does not automatically mean "freaking out". We could do without the hyperbole

Serious road racers have no business being on a track.

LetsAvoidObstacles wrote:

You see the thing is, it doesn't really matter what you "guarantee" me. If that were true, especially in the aggregate, we'd all do our 200s 3 seconds slower and no big deal. But we don't do we?

"...especially in the aggregate" ?

No, I said, it's not a big deal to step off the track if some idiot wanders into lane 1. I already accounted for the "aggregate" by saying if it happens every workout all season long, I'd find another place to do the workout because obviously your attempts at instructing others in track-etiquette isn't working, or even if it is, there are too many people for it to be effective.

build your own track! problem solved.

Benson St. Wales wrote:

NitrousMike wrote:

Seriously, why do people walk on a track? Walking is boring enough, why repeat the same small loop over and over again? At least choose somewhere with nice scenery. It seems pretty ridiculous that people DRIVE to a track to WALK on it for exercise and DRIVE home! lol

I've wondered this too...the only thing I can think of is it seems like a natural place to "workout" and measure their distance, or they read it someplace ("go to a track and walk 4 laps for a mile"). The other reason might be for safety, as a track may feel more secure, especially with other people constantly in sight, than roaming around neighborhoods? Just guessing on that, though.

a lot of doctors tell their elderly patients to walk on the track because it's soft and even so it's better for their knees. Most know to stay out of lane 1 I think

Surprise! wrote:

I'd find another place to do the workout because obviously your attempts at instructing others in track-etiquette isn't working, or even if it is, there are too many people for it to be effective.

Well, while it's super nice to know what you would do, I generally prefer not to allow the ignorance of others to get in the way of what the track was designed for. That's what I would do.

So when polite instruction does not work, I simply run through them or over them. Don't worry, though. I don't "freak out" when I do it. They usually do, but I generally remain serene. And while you're off going somewhere else, I'm getting the workout I wanted to get done. See? Everybody wins!

fsdfs wrote:

I can't see this same thing happening in a swimming pool. Can you imagine someone swimming in a lane and then someone getting in the same lane?

Are you goofing? The stories my wife tells me about her swimming experiences at the Y are crazy. You can pretty much substitute any track situation into a pool (except maybe that truck in lane 1 dealio).

On or off the track, I get really annoyed with people who don't understand (or care) when they're in the way of others. I constantly see drivers pulling this stunt: when traffic is backed up at the light, but the left-hand turn lane is free and clear, some drivers will pretend they're going to turn left just so they can pass all the traffic waiting at the red light. They stop in the left-hand turn lane, blocking the people who really need to turn left on the green arrow, waiting for the straight-ahead light to turn green so they can cut off all the people who waited in line. It's like they screwing every single car over all at once. Especially the left turners who are forced to wait behind them. There's a special place in hell for these people.

LetsAvoidObstacles wrote:

Well, while it's super nice to know what you would do, I generally prefer not to allow the ignorance of others to get in the way of what the track was designed for. That's what I would do.

So when polite instruction does not work, I simply run through them or over them. Don't worry, though. I don't "freak out" when I do it. They usually do, but I generally remain serene. And while you're off going somewhere else, I'm getting the workout I wanted to get done. See? Everybody wins!

It's good to know you are out there fighting for the greater good. We all appreciate it.

I used to be like you, when I was 18 or 20. NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS ONE REPEAT! But don't worry kid, you'll grow up some day.

Surprise! wrote:

It's good to know you are out there fighting for the greater good. We all appreciate it.

Oh don't misunderstand me. I'm fighting for me, not you. You're off on the trails, remember?

I used to be like you, when I was 18 or 20. NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS ONE REPEAT! But don't worry kid, you'll grow up some day.

I used to be like you when I was 30 or so. But then I realized that sometimes what I would do is not necessarily the ONE TRUE WAY, no matter how mature I think I am. I also realized that if you don't run over people every once in a while, they'll never learn.

Here's hoping that when you hit your 40s you'll mature enough to realize that too. Cheers!

fsdfs wrote:

I'd say to avoid the whole situation, try to find a local running club that does track workouts on a particular day. Your less likely to have to deal with the problem of non-runners using the track.

I hate all of the inconsiderate things that joggers and non-runners do. But I can mostly put up with it. There are a couple of things, though, that bother me quite a bit:

The school or parks department should post the track rules at each entrance point. This will make it easier for us to point out proper behavior on the track.

The worst is the local Road Runners club who think that they own the place, even when three other small clubs are using the track. These people have a pre-workout meeting for announcements, etc. for about 5 - 10 minutes before beginning their workout. Often they conduct this right at the start/finish line and stand in lanes 2-8, bottle-necking the rest of us - walkers, joggers, self-serious runners, local elites, people warming up/cooling down in the opposite direction - down to lane 1. I've also had one local sub-elite woman come to an abrupt halt right in front of me in order to stretch in lane 1. What's up with that? Just pull off the track. I guess when you have 50+ in your group and there are only 50 others making up all the other groups, then you do think that you own the place.

If the local running clubs don't know what they're doing then how can we expect the rest of the track users to follow proper etiquette? I know I occasionally make my own mistakes but these people are an ongoing problem. And they are so damn reluctant to apologize when it's pointed out to them.

I do find that 99% of the time the best way to handle people on the track that are walking or even slow jogging in lane 1 is to politely say to them that I am doing a workout and I don't want to scare them or crash into them when I'm doing my workout in lane 1. Most people respond positively to this and say thank you. I also have a funny story on a new track I had never on the other day. I asked someone which lane was the 400 meter lane and he replied that every lane was a quarter mile all the way around.

LetsAvoidObstacles wrote:

I used to be like you when I was 30 or so. But then I realized that sometimes what I would do is not necessarily the ONE TRUE WAY, no matter how mature I think I am. I also realized that if you don't run over people every once in a while, they'll never learn.

Here's hoping that when you hit your 40s you'll mature enough to realize that too. Cheers!

Hahahaha - you're in your 40's and you run over people on the track!? really? really?

I'm not sure running over people on a track is a sign of maturity, but I digress.

Serious question:

Do you pick and choose who you would run over?

Here's a hypothetical. Little Johnny is 5 years old and wanders into your lane while you are blazing down the home stretch at 6:10 mile pace. You graciously avoid Little Johnny and stop to explain to him the various intricacies of track etiquette.

Some 90-odd seconds later you are headed down the homestretch again only to find that Little Johnny has apparently not taken your teachings to heart and has once again stumbled into the forbidden zone.

Knowing the importance of track etiquette, especially for young developing minds, and knowing that actions speak louder than words, do you enact some tough love on Little Johnny and light him up like you were Lawrence Taylor and he Joe Theismann?

Is he more or less worthy of your wrath than say a 40 year old housewife whom you find attractive? How about if she was ugly?

Serious question? Yeah right.

You see, this is what is meant by hyperbole, son. Just because someone doesn't agree with you, it does not require you to demonize their point of view into something it's not. I know it's fun to set up straw men so you can knock them down -- after all someone who would run over a jerk who intentionally blocks the lane would CLEARLY run over 5 year old children and ugly women, right -- but it really adds nothing to the debate. It's just an adult form of pouting.

Do I run over a 5 year old? Of course not. Nor would I expect a 5 year old to understand a patient explanation. Him I would just run around. Fortunately the problem is rarely (frankly never) little kids. It's adults who don't quite get it.

Fortunately I've found that most people will be very accommodating if you patiently explain to them in a kind way what track etiquette means. And if they refuse then, I'll gladly explain to them that I'm going to keep right on running if they come at me in the opposite direction or are merely standing there. And you would be amazed what wonders that works.

ajklsdfmw wrote:

Advice:

In your area, try to find a high school where they respect their track. Avoid high schools where football is big because this time of year there may very well (esp on Friday afternoons/evenings) be all kinds of shit in the way - heavy metal long HS football benches, rubber runway mats to protect the track surface from football players cleats, metal trash cans left in Lane 1 with empty sticky plastic Gatorade bottles overflowing in them, etc.

The even better advice. Make two signs that says this:

"Get out of Lane 1, unless you like getting kidney shots as I fly by." or some variation of that. But one on the homestretch and one on the backstretch, then follow through with whatever you put on the signs. Thats more for the Asian couple example. Also if you really care that much buy official looking cones with 'Keep Off' signs.

hup two wrote:

Are you goofing? The stories my wife tells me about her swimming experiences at the Y are crazy. You can pretty much substitute any track situation into a pool (except maybe that truck in lane 1 dealio).

Replace it with jet-ski in lane 1. I hate it when that happens.

My weirdest on-track experience: During a steeplechase race in college, as I was coming off the first turn of lap 5, a hammer--the hammer-throw kind--hit the track near the curb right next to me. Its handle actually whipped under my left foot, and the hammer bounced and slid along beside me for about 15 yards. I started yelling at the world in general, "Hey! Hey! Did you SEE that?!" and then I had to deal with the next hurdle. Almost as weird: after I finished I didn't even remember the hammer for a bit, and then I did, and I absorbed it more thoroughly and thought, "If I'd been one second slower I might have just been killed in the middle of a race."

Worse luck: A teammate of mine was knocked semi-conscious and given a concussion when a soccer player blasted a ball into the side of her head as she ran intervals on the East Sixth Street track in New York City.

Maybe scariest of all: another soccer guy ran off the field and collided with another woman on our team on the same track. She fell down, and her husband (world-class master guy, 68 years old, probably 130 pounds) went up to the player (big young guy) and demanded that he apologize. He got loudly defensive and wouldn't do it. The runner told him that he had no class. The guy stormed off across the field saying that he was going to "get my gun." The old runner stood his ground, saying, "I'll wait," while 20 of his teammates desperately tried--and finally succeeded--in getting him to leave. The guy didn't return, at least while we were there.

There's basically no time on any New York City track, except closed-off college ones, when you aren't going to have to deal with the more-typical obstacles like strollers and benches in Lane 1 and flying objects of all kinds. No one likes it, but we have to deal with it, and it's still better on the average than trying to measure off road intervals somewhere--especially because we meet at night when it's dark for a lot of the year, and the track has lights. I started thinking of it as practice for staying calm while running hard in a race, so if weird stuff happens (hopefully no more hammers) I won't bail out mentally.