Forums >Off the Beaten Path>Scaring people while running
Several houses prior to passing a pedestrian at 0-dark-thirty, I moved from the sidewalk to the street. As I went by, he turned toward me with his arms above his head and growled like a bear. Guess I made a good choice to go around.
Several houses prior to passing a pedestrian at 0-dark-thirty, I moved from the sidewalk to the street.
As I went by, he turned toward me with his arms above his head and growled like a bear.
Guess I made a good choice to go around.
You should have just perhaps started scratching your armpits and went OOO OOO OOOh, Aaa Aaaa AAAAAH Like a Monkey.
Or perhaps acted like a clock striking 13 and went "{{{BONG}}} - Cuc--Koo!, {{{BONG}}} - CUC-Koo!!"
Either one of those probably would have gotten quite a reaction out of him. I am just not sure if it would have been [falls down laughing] or [chased after you like a really pissed off bear]
The Plan '15 → /// "Run Hard, Live Easy." ∞
Doc, my tooth hurts
This happens to me pretty frequently since most of my runs are early in the morning. I had one lady get really pissed at me and yell "JESUS CHRIST!!!!" Most people just laugh it off and I usually apologize as I'm running by. I would be so mad if someone had a heart attack and I had to stop my run for it.
levitation specialist
When it is dark, my headlamp usually announces my presence before I pass them. When it is light out, I loudly say "good morning!" Or "good afternoon!" when I am about 10 ft back. If they answer or slide over, I know they heard me. If they didn't, usually they are wearing headphones and didn't hear me anyways. Or are antisocial trail walkers. Either way, I delight in scarring them
jk......I tried. What else can I do really?
hop, hop, hop...
In this weather I would think my constant sniffling alone would be enough to alert others, but I scuff the feet, cough, announce "behind you" from at least 20 ft and repeat if they don't acknowledge. After all that if they get startled when I pass then they deserve it.
MM #8764 / HF #6535 / Double Agent #668
PRs: 5K - 27:43, 10K - 57:14, HM - 2:06:18, FM - 5:22:42
~How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were supposed to be?~
I do the majority of my runs in the dark, and have no problem with this. However, it seems many times when I give out a warning call that I'm coming up behind, people are very startled. I'm just afraid that sometime I'm gonna have an extremely negative reaction to the start I give people, but I'm not keen on running on the roads. How do you guys warn people you're coming without scaring them?
I clap my hands. Doesn't work as well with gloves on, though.
I will just say good morning or hello loudly, which sometimes works. The problem is if I am close enough where they will hear me then the act of saying hello scares them. If it's windy they are not likely to hear me unless I am in their back pocket. On the plus side, I don't really care of I startle anyone (but I try not to).
I keep reading the thread title as Scaning (Scanning) people while running.
The "money shot" in the movie Scanners was when the dude's head exploded.
It would be interesting if I could do that.
Prince of Fatness
How do you guys warn people you're coming without scaring them?
Heavy breathing.
Not at it at all.
Joggaholic
As suggested by Darth Vader!
I guess I don't really warn anyone, but I'm usually running on streets/paths that are pedestrian heavy, even at night.
The funniest part is scaring people in broad daylight. It's happened twice to me (both women) and I didn't run too close to them, but each one screamed bloody murder. I shouldn't have laughed because I don't know their past, but I don't really think I'm that intimidating when I'm wearing pigtails on a run.
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NYCM: 11/4/2018
Ha! Yes, I completely understand. In the early dark hours I try to warn people with a "good morning" and then give them a wide berth by going out into the grass or the street. Still, I startle some ladies unintentionally sometimes but nothing like I scared this dude a couple of months ago in broad daylight. I passed wide around this 30-something guy and said, "Hello," and man, did he ever jump out of his skin. He was cursin' and talkin' to Jesus and clutching at his heart. He literally stopped and put his hands on his knees like he had just finished an all out 400. I felt bad for the adrenaline surge I gave him, but I also had to chuckle a little, at least once I realized I wasn't going to have to stop to give him CPR.
- Joe
We are fragile creatures on collision with our judgment day.
Revenge of the Nerd
I once scared a pedestrian with my shadow. It was early AM and I was running in the street against traffic. A lady bundled up in a heavy winter coat was walking purposefully on the sidewalk to my left. As I moved away from a streetlamp on the opposite side my shadow lengthened, and I could see that it was going to cross her path. She came completely unglued. I stopped to apologize. She was more embarrassed than anything else.
Maybe we should consider wearing bear bells, removing the silencer when we approach the unsuspecting.
Then again, maybe not.
One of these days is none of these days.
~ H.G. Bohn
The one that always gets me is when I'm coming up behind two people walking together. I'll scuff or do whatever, and one of them will turn back and clearly see me. Almost inevitably the one who sees me will give no indication to the other one that someone is approaching, and I'll startle the hell out of that person.
A list of my PRs in a misguided attempt to impress people that do not care.
I run fairly silently and have scared other runners during races.
Proboscis Colossus
Where I run, it's mostly cows that I frighten. They often return the favor, though.
"God guides us on our journey, but careful with those feet." - David Lee Roth, of all people