Who Gets The Side Closest To Busy Traffic On A Run?
If you feel unsafe on the roads due to your running buddy's habits, our etiquette expert has the right way to bring it up.
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Etiquette expert Lizzie Post, great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, knows a thing or two about the rules of the road—and the descendant of the famous decorum diva is a runner too!
Q: When my buddy and I have to run on a busy street with no sidewalk, she always takes the outside position farthest from traffic. She does this every time. It makes me feel like she doesn’t care ifI’m at risk at all—what’s a nice way to bring this up?
Clearly she’s looking out for her safety, but it is important for you to feel safe too. It’s best not to assume that she doesn’t care. She’s probably just doing it out of habit and lack of awareness.
Rather than suggest that she’s putting you in harm’s way, or try to alternate what sounds like a not-so-safe running formation, try dropping behind her so that you can run in single file and both be safer in these busy sections of your route.
Have a question for Lizzie? Email editorial@womensrunning.com or tweet @womensrunning with the hashtag #ProperForm.
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