Most Annoying things for runners .....

RoyMcC

Mr Lightening, after your input I am starting to see dogs in a slightly different light. I'm going to try and be a bit more tolerant of them and their owners in future. It's just that dogs always look like they want to bite or kill you, but I guess that's because they can't smile

Now I'd be completely converted if Ireland would deal with it's dog****e issue :mad:

eliwallach

Magnet wrote: »

4.Women in cars trying to ask for directions when you`re clearly not gonna stop!

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Amazing!
This actually happened to me yesterday.
A woman stopped on the opposite side of the road shouted over "excuse me, excuse me". She caught me right off guard and I was a little strrtled that it was me she was beckoning.
Without thinking I stopped for milliseconds and looked over, she was at this stage berating a couple of kids in the back of the car.
Again, without thinking, I said "I can't stop, I have to keep going" (!?) And ran on.
Felt bad about it straight away and with the benefit of hindsight I should have been a little more patient and bestowed my local geographical knowledge on her. I put my OH in her position with a couple of kids in the back and I wasn't too proud of my actions. She caught me off guard, I'll be prepared next time.
Having said that she didn't further her own cause any by stopping on the opposite side if the road and then turning away when I did (very briefly) stop.

Flying Abruptly

Stumbled across this recenetly, agree with everything it says

http://runnerville.com/2008/04/08/outkicked-the-eleven-natural-enemies-of-every-runner/

jeffontour

Two biggies for me.

1. Chaffing!! Generally I'm good at taking precautions but on last Friday's run I didn't wear lycra shorts and ended up walking like Mr. Wayne for a day. Then on Sunday I wore a new top which did my nipples in, ouch.

2. Back to the dog owners thing, not a problem with the dogs themselves I stress! This time it's when they are on one of those retractable leads and their owner is 15 feet away. Can be very hard to see the lead in the dark and can be very dangerous, especially if cycling. In daylight it's just plain inconsiderate to have a mobile chicane in operation in busy areas.

lightening

RoyMcC wrote: »

Mr Lightening, after your input I am starting to see dogs in a slightly different light. I'm going to try and be a bit more tolerant of them and their owners in future. It's just that dogs always look like they want to bite or kill you, but I guess that's because they can't smile

Now I'd be completely converted if Ireland would deal with it's dog****e issue :mad:

Yeah, sometimes they are hard to read, boxers and the like, no tail, short ears, flat face, muscular stance and the stare they give you! A bit disconcerting if you can't read them.

I can't believe people wouldn't stop to give directions, amazing, I couldn't run by, not in my nature, not the way I was reared and I have never had someone refuse to give me directions.

griffin100

1. Lost nipples
2. Car drivers who play chicken with you and only swerve around you at the last minute (no footpaths were I live)
3. Walkers who start a race half an hour before you do yet decide to run the last 500m to make it look like they are faster than you
4. Dogs - although more of a problem on the bike for me
5. High race fees and crap goody bags
6. Having what I think is a good race and then being overtaken by someone twice my age / weight:)

eliwallach

lightening wrote: »

I can't believe people wouldn't stop to give directions, amazing, I couldn't run by, not in my nature, not the way I was reared and I have never had someone refuse to give me directions.

You the MAN!

lightening

I know.

Stupid_Private

lightening wrote: »

I can't believe people wouldn't stop to give directions, amazing, I couldn't run by, not in my nature, not the way I was reared and I have never had someone refuse to give me directions.

I'd agree with you on that. I've never not stopped when someone has asked for directions.

If you came to a set of traffic lights would you just fly through them and all? "it's alright cars, I'm on a tempo run!"

Clum

Kids in boy racer cars with air rifles
and
The uncanny ability of boy racer cars to accomodate half a dozen kids who are willing to give chase to runners that react to air rifle yielding kids by throwing hard object at said car
also
Being chased by wolves around a recently polished smooth surface whilst doning only socks on feet - hasn't happened but sounds pretty scary.

Condo131

lightening wrote: »

Just out of interest, how many of you have been bitten? I don't mean chased or attacked, I mean actually bitten by a dog out running.

Only been bitten once. Person in charge was a kennel owner walking four dogs on lead. One was rearing up, snarling and difficult to control - I was on the other side of a narrow country road. ....meantime another quiet terrier, owned by the guy, and not on a lead, came out of the hedge behind me and bit me in the calf - I didn't even know he was there! Had to have shots etc. Dog was put down after statement to Gardai.

Been injured 3 times on account of dogs;

Dog ran into me, tripping me up - bad sprain - lost a few weeks.

Twice taken down by leads - both times at night on darkish streets and dogs were on long leads - got caught up in the leads. The first time two women were walking on the footpath, so I passed on the road adjacent to them. There was a dog on the other side of the road, about 4 or 5 metres away. Anyway it turned out that the woman on the inside had the dog on an extension lead. The 4 of us, dog n all, ended up on the deck!

I've also been forced to stop many, many times by dangerous dogs, neither on leads or muzzled. Last time it happened, I threatened the Gardai on the owner, who called off the dog. "get back ******!" Says it all.

In my experience, there are three types of dog situation:
Dog under control: on lead and, where appropriate, muzzled - 20%
Dog neither on lead nor, where appropriate, muzzled - 70%
Dangerous breed neither muzzled nor on lead - 10%

I regularly meet alsatians roaming away with their owners oblivious to everyone else and I've come across dobermans and the like, often in pairs.

btw, Jerry Kiernan was bitten very badly in Marley Park about 20 years ago.

Control of Dogs Act
Control of Dogs Act 1991

eliwallach

Condo131 wrote: »

btw, Jerry Kiernan was bitten very badly in Marley Park about 20 years ago.

And Eamonn Coughlan (that's twice in the space of 3 days I've name-checked the great EC) received a particularly nasty calf injury from an out of control canine in the Drumcondra area many years ago.

lightening

Boy racers with air rifles?? Seriously? Where is this?

So one dog bite and two stories, one from 20 years ago and the EC one, that was about 20 years ago too.

ss43

lightening wrote: »

If you run up behind a dog, on or off the lead at full tilt and the dog cops you at the last minute and reacts you might be in trouble, same with a goat, horse or donkey. I am dog savy and wouldn't do this, but people do. The dog may be under control, but animals get spooked. If the dog is on the lead and you do the same there is even a better chance the dog will bite, they are more protective on the lead and some dogs feel they are impeded by the lead and will be more defensive.



For dogs to get used to joggers they have to come in contact with them. My dog was a pup and I had to get friends to run by as I trained him to sit and stay. When he was older I would spot a jogger coming and get him to sit and stay. Sometimes the temptation was too much and the tail would start wagging and he would take off, the reaction was mixed, I would tell them the dog was in training, some understood, some were just idiots, others would reach down, pat the dog or play with him... different strokes.

Just out of interest, how many of you have been bitten? I don't mean chased or attacked, I mean actually bitten by a dog out running.

I have been bitten once on a run. I have been chased, interrupted
and forced to stop numerous times. Not biting doesn't to me necessarily mean acceptable behaviour. Not intruding on someone else's activities would be more like it.

People were idiots for not appreciating the fact that your dog was in training, is that right? Did you think maybe you didn't appreciate the fact that they were in training? What would you think if while your dog training was in process someone came up and started teasing your dog or annoying you and interrupting the training?

lightening

Condo131 wrote: »

I regularly meet alsatians roaming away with their owners oblivious to everyone else and I've come across dobermans and the like, often in pairs.

Same here actually, rottweilers, mastiffs and bull terriers too, but never been touched by any of them. Just shows you, the law is an ass. I reckon the biggest biters would be farm sheepdogs and terriers.

lightening

ss43 wrote: »

What would you think if while your dog training was in process someone came up and started teasing your dog or annoying you and interrupting the training?

That is exactly what happened!! I was getting the dog to sit and stay and people jogged right by the dog in between me and him as I was trying to train him! Couldn't believe it, it was obvious what I was doing.

Seres

• rain when you wear glasses , then you try to dry them in your t-shirt and they get really smudged (cause t-shirt is damp/wet)
• people staring at you while you are running : i am only running
• cars driving really slow past you while you are running
• people shouting at you : would they shout at me if i was walking ?!
• really incurrate pedometers

TheRoadRunner

lightening wrote: »

Boy racers with air rifles?? Seriously? Where is this?

So one dog bite and two stories, one from 20 years ago and the EC one, that was about 20 years ago too.

I've been bitten twice and brought to the ground once.

Dogs are a pain in the arse for runners and like you I have a dog who is generally well behaved around runners. However if I can help it I will never allow the situation arise where she will get spooked by a runner coming up behind her. A spooked dog can bite and when it bites it's time for said dog to wave good bye to this world. So it's not the dogs fault it's inconsiderate dog owners I have a problem with.

Seres

i think there is always a few seconds before a dog attacks you that its that type of dog , the way they run at you , without hesitation and their bark is always sounds really vicious

HardyEustace

lightening wrote: »

That is exactly what happened!! I was getting the dog to sit and stay and people jogged right by the dog in between me and him as I was trying to train him! Couldn't believe it, it was obvious what I was doing.

Not trying to be smart but why would you attempt to train your dog in a main thoroughfare where you knew that people would be passing by?

plodder

I was bitten once last Summer while on holiday. I like dogs, and can usually tell what their intentions are, but this f**ker of a sheep dog, crept up behind me, without making any noise and sunk his teeth into my calf. Probably had never seen a runner before. 60 euros for a tetanus shot, that cost me. :mad:

Seres

HardyEustace wrote: »

Not trying to be smart but why would you attempt to train your dog in a main thoroughfare where you knew that people would be passing by?

was thinking the same thing

MCOS

plodder wrote: »

I was bitten once last Summer while on holiday. I like dogs, and can usually tell what their intentions are, but this f**ker of a sheep dog, crept up behind me, without making any noise and sunk his teeth into my calf. Probably had never seen a runner before. 60 euros for a tetanus shot, that cost me. :mad:

Those f***ers sheep dogs. They are like cats in their stealth like manner to get you. Bitten by one myself 2 weeks ago but luckily managed to turn my foot so he only tore the toungue of the shoe.

As for my pet hates when running

- pot holes in the dark
- dogs in the dark
- clouds in the dark making it extra dark
- it being dark at 4pm in the winter before you get out of work for your run
- the immediate cloud of midges when you stop on a humid evening just before it gets dark
- cars driving past you at 70mph on coutry roads in the dark

Apart from that I actually quite like running in the dark!

shels4ever

most annoying thing is " No been able to run".....

TFBubendorfer

lightening wrote: »

Just out of interest, how many of you have been bitten? I don't mean chased or attacked, I mean actually bitten by a dog out running.

I have been bitten twice, by the same dog no less. The first time the dog's owner was standing outside her house with 4 or 5 of her dogs running loose. One of them bit me as I ran by - the road is narrow and I could not have left any more room, especially with the sheer number of dogs around.

The second time was a few weeks later, running past the same house that same dog plus his mates shot out of the driveway as I was passing by. Before I knew what was happening it went straight for my shin. It was a nasty bite and drew a surprising amount of blood.

What really pissed me off was the complete and utter indifference of the Gardai when I reported then incident. They really did not want to get involved.

I avoided that road for a few months afterwards. It was a major pain, because it happened to be part of my favourite running routes.

Dogs have shot out of driveways heading for me on numerous other occasions, but that was the only time I actually got bitten.

Stupid_Private

Only thing that annoys me is when my race times don't reflect my training. Other than that I can't think of a single thing that bothers me when I'm out running.

I did get hit by an air rifle a few weeks back but that was such a once off I'd find it hard to call it something that annoys me - it actually confused me more than anything.

shels4ever

Stupid_Private wrote: »

Only thing that annoys me is when my race times don't reflect my training. Other than that I can't think of a single thing that bothers me when I'm out running.

I did get hit by an air rifle a few weeks back but that was such a once off I'd find it hard to call it something that annoys me - it actually confused me more than anything.

:eek: had a full unopened can of coke flung at me a few weeks back, couldnt understand the logic for that.

Condo131

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

What really pissed me off was the complete and utter indifference of the Gardai when I reported then incident. They really did not want to get involved.

Next time you have a problem, make a statement - maybe even have it written/typed and bring it with you. Also notify the dog warden.

If you incurred medical expenses you could also claim against their house insurance.

lightening

HardyEustace wrote: »

Not trying to be smart but why would you attempt to train your dog in a main thoroughfare where you knew that people would be passing by?

I know your are not being smart HardyEustace and Seres, but it's a no brainer. The only way to get your dog used to joggers is to have him or her around joggers, get the dog used to people running by at close quarters to the dog. As I explained already, I used friends at the start to get him familiarised.

It was very obvious what I was doing... a dog sitting staring at the owner who is 10 meters away, treat in hand, saying "STAY STAY... GOOD BOY" in the middle of a 240 acre park and two joggers run in between the dog and trainer! That's moronic.

Still can not get over the air rifle thing. Unbelievable.

run_Forrest_run

lightening wrote: »

Just out of interest, how many of you have been bitten? I don't mean chased or attacked, I mean actually bitten by a dog out running.

I was bitten once and in fairness to the dog it was out in the middle of no where, not a place that would see people walking, not even mention running on the road. It was a sheepdog I think and he took a right little snap at me, I turned to him and roared at him to fcuk off!! It worked!

Along my regular route I've never been bitten by a dog, it's more of the hassle of trying to anticipate where the dog is going to walk next and to try avoid it. And of course there is the dog sh*t, I know there are some very responsible owners out there but seriously, I think the majority of dog owners bring their dogs out for a walk in a public area so they can go to the toilet there and they never bother cleaning it up, as long as their own garden is nice and clean!