Running Ethics

I suppose not many runners are as particular as me, it is probably just me, I cannot reconcile myself to see a large group of runners sweaty and smelly making themselves comfortable in air-condition malls, or making use of the restrooms and smacking their wet thighs on the toilet seats. The worst that ever happened, and had me almost passed out, was having them to squeeze into the same lift as me, the lift was already poorly ventilated, yet I have to suffer the pungent from their pores, and make myself stand as still so not to accidentally smear some of their sweat onto my perfumed arms. How about public transport? Have you witnessed a whole bunch of runners boarding an air condition bus, still sweating and panting after the long distance event, it is a shocking and disgraceful sight, planting their soaking bodies onto the seats, fanning themselves front and back, all my breakfast going round in my system.

Even if there are no showers, or no new clothes to change, runners should be aware of their personal hygiene, and also be aware of how others feel around them, of course it is best to hit straight home and clean up, but if its not an option, just make sure you cool down and does not look like drench from the rain.

Another noticeable undesirable behavior during running events, is a large group of runners like to cluster together and refused any gap for faster runner to pass through. If you are slow runner like me, take the initiative and stick to somewhere of your own league, and if you prove faster, you can just overtake later. Do not worry about the timing, the timing will not be too far off, or you can make an estimation yourself. The thing is when you already built a good momentum, you want to keep it going and not be disrupted, so slow runners should be considerate enough to either keep out of the main running road and tread behind, someday you will have your chance. The congestion can be seen worse when going uphill and at water stations.

Talking about water stations, yes we are all rushing for time, but that does not mean we cannot aim the rubbish bag or disposable bin lay out for you properly, it seems to be a "runners right" to litter all the cups and bottles, there is no such thing and that does not make you run any faster, you are hindering the work of the helpers and may cause harm to other runners. So just be more considerate and throw the rubbish to the proper place. Unless you are those top notch runners trying to achieve some world record, you probably are entitled to do anything, I assumed no one is going to penalise because you litter (but set a bad example).

Sometimes we just do not care too much when we were too shagged out, but when you think the other way round, you might feel disgusted as well, I think most of the runners do care, I am just unlucky to have met the minority, after so many years, the behavior still can be traced among the runners, but now at least here is a channel to blog it out, it is good to get it off my chest.