Which way to run on rural roads?

menoscemo

I am planning to start doing some hillrunning at lunch breaks in work (work by the Dublin Mountains). I was mentioning this at coffee break today and everyone seemed to be of the opinion that it is correct to run against the flow of traffic where there is no footpath so you can see the cars coming. I would have thought it would be better to run with the flow so the cars can see you from a distance.
So should I be running with or against the traffic flow on country roads?

Stupid_Private

just read this at lunch today

Move in the Right Direction
Bike with traffic and run against traffic. This rule of thumb applies for all times of the day. Running against the flow of traffic allows you to watch everything coming your way--cars, buses, bikes, etc. Even at a five minute per mile running pace, oncoming traffic can see you from afar and you should have reaction time to get out of the path of any oncoming danger. As drivers increasingly text and talk on the telephone, all it takes is a momentary swerve of the car to cause an impact. Runners with their back to an oncoming swerving vehicle don't have a chance to react.

Unlike running, bike speeds of 10 mph and faster create a dangerously short reaction time for drivers headed in the opposite direction. So, riding with the flow of traffic is the safe bet. (Note: Most state vehicle codes require bicycles to ride with the flow of traffic anyway.)

RoyMcC

Certainly I've always understood you should run facing the oncoming traffic. BUT coming towards right-hand bends cross over to the left, otherwise oncoming traffic can't see you.

However, race rules most often state that runners should run on the left. I've never fully understood this, especially on a clockwise course where the race has to take right turns across the traffic

Woddle

On rural roads in Hook, I tend to run in the middle of the road and make a decision accordingly, alot of bends in the road with very little traffic, at home though I tend to run facing traffic with my flashing led arm belt

robinph

On foot, always towards the traffic.
On wheels, always with the traffic.

petermijackson

Always run against the oncoming traffic as it gives you a chance to get out of any danger!! Same when you walk on a country road - walk/run on the right and cycle/drive on the left

louthandproud

RoyMcC wrote: »

Certainly I've always understood you should run facing the oncoming traffic. BUT coming towards right-hand bends cross over to the left, otherwise oncoming traffic can't see you.

That was my thinking too, although I did nearly get killed by a speeding car once when crossing over to be seen (heard him coming but wasn't expecting the 70mph speed on a back road) :eek:


I think when running on narrow roads the iPods should be left at home too and a high-vis jacket or some equivalent are also very advisable.

menoscemo

Woddle wrote: »

On rural roads in Hook, I tend to run in the middle of the road and make a decision accordingly, alot of bends in the road with very little traffic, at home though I tend to run facing traffic with my flashing led arm belt

Actually woddle, you would know the run, Up stocking lane and across the Mt Venus rd. There are some tricky bends on the Mt venus Rd. I wouldn't like to be running round those bends into oncoming traffic. What do you do? maybe I am just being papranoid though.

menoscemo

RoyMcC wrote: »

Certainly I've always understood you should run facing the oncoming traffic. BUT coming towards right-hand bends cross over to the left, otherwise oncoming traffic can't see you.

This makes a lot of sense.

RubyK

RoyMcC wrote: »

Certainly I've always understood you should run facing the oncoming traffic. BUT coming towards right-hand bends cross over to the left, otherwise oncoming traffic can't see you.

This is what I've been doing on my longer runs, which take me out the country. It can be nerve wracking at times running on country roads - a horse truck with driver on his mobile and a speeding BMW, again with his mobile stuck to his ear, nearly had me diving into a couple of ditches Saturday :eek:

Woddle

menoscemo wrote: »

Actually woddle, you would know the run, Up stocking lane and across the Mt Venus rd. There are some tricky bends on the Mt venus Rd. I wouldn't like to be running round those bends into oncoming traffic. What do you do? maybe I am just being papranoid though.

Running up stolking lane isn't too bad as there's a path on your right hand side as you come off scholarstown and that gets you as far as the roundabout, traffic is fairly quite from the roundabout to start of mount venus but mount venus can be quite bad and I actually end up running most of it on the left hand side and swap over to the right when I get to the dspca, as if you started running on the right when you hit mount venus as in facing coming cars, they can't see you because there coming up a hill but I've run that route hundreds of times now (mainly early Sunday morn) and have never even had as much as a close call, although do watch out for the barking dog. I think he knows me now so he doesn't bark at me.
If you have your car would you not consider parking close to the roundabout on scholarstown and run on the new paths down towards Firhouse, Tallaght where the new appartments are and then come back down around scholars pub and over the M50 exit and back up scholarstown rd to your car using the path I mentioned early on, it would be somewhere between 4 and 5 miles.

gerard65

RoyMcC wrote: »

Certainly I've always understood you should run facing the oncoming traffic. BUT coming towards right-hand bends cross over to the left, otherwise oncoming traffic can't see you.

I find this the best way. Make it a point to see and hear the cars before they see you.

menoscemo

Woddle wrote: »

If you have your car would you not consider parking close to the roundabout on scholarstown and run on the new paths down towards Firhouse, Tallaght where the new appartments are and then come back down around scholars pub and over the M50 exit and back up scholarstown rd to your car using the path I mentioned early on, it would be somewhere between 4 and 5 miles.

Thanks for the advice.
I think that run would be avoiding the most of the hills which I am really looking for. Also with an hour Lunch break I don't have much time. Down edmondstown rd from the school and back up sticking lane and Across Mt Venus is just short of 4 miles so should be about 1/2 an hour. Gives me time for a quick sandwich and shower before back to work, so I was thinking of this route.

Woddle

menoscemo wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.
I think that run would be avoiding the most of the hills which I am really looking for. Also with an hour Lunch break I don't have much time. Down edmondstown rd from the school and back up sticking lane and Across Mt Venus is just short of 4 miles so should be about 1/2 an hour. Gives me time for a quick sandwich and shower before back to work, so I was thinking of this route.

You would be finishing the run with a mile uphill, it's exactly a mile from start of stolkin lane to the roundabout and thats a tough hill, I ran it on Monday night

Oryx

menoscemo wrote: »

I am planning to start doing some hillrunning at lunch breaks in work (work by the Dublin Mountains). I was mentioning this at coffee break today and everyone seemed to be of the opinion that it is correct to run against the flow of traffic where there is no footpath so you can see the cars coming. I would have thought it would be better to run with the flow so the cars can see you from a distance.
So should I be running with or against the traffic flow on country roads?

I run on rural roads all the time. You always face oncoming traffic. But if youre on a particularly bad bend with no grass verge, Id say go to the opposite side. Otherwise youre in danger of being swept by a car who wont see you. All this has been said.

In practice tho, crossing the road can be just as dodgy as being on a blind corner. Sometimes I just stay out a bit to give myself a clearer view and to allow oncoming cars to see me sooner. As mentioned wear high viz clothing, dont have music blaring in your ears, and if an oncoming car doesnt indicate, assume he hasnt seen you and be ready to dodge.

topper75

Always face your killer!

ciaran_kdc

topper75 wrote: »

Always face your killer!

Personally, I run in the middle of the road (less potholes) when the road is quiet, otherwise on the right, unless in a blind bend, in which case on the left....phew!

I'm surprised, especially coming up to high-profile dates like DCM, that I don't see more people running in Wicklow, where you can have very pleasant longer runs on quiet roads, without traffic or having to do laps. My folks live in Wicklow, so that makes it a bit easier to do an A to B run with a shower at the end, but loops are also very feasible.

just my 2 cent

Ciaran

Enduro

menoscemo wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.
I think that run would be avoiding the most of the hills which I am really looking for. Also with an hour Lunch break I don't have much time. Down edmondstown rd from the school and back up sticking lane and Across Mt Venus is just short of 4 miles so should be about 1/2 an hour. Gives me time for a quick sandwich and shower before back to work, so I was thinking of this route.

I also run mainly on these roads... to connect me to the mountains from the Ballyroan road area (past Woddle's Gaff, at a guess!). I mostly run directly up edmonstown road, past mt venus, and then right into Massey's woods where the really good running begins

I've never had a problem running on Edmonstown road. Like everyone else, I run into the traffic, whichever direction I'm going myself, if there is no footpath. I've been lucky enough not to have any problems on Mt Venus road either, the odd time I run it. That would mainly be in the dark though, and with flashing LED armbands I'm probably more noticeable to drivers at night than during the day.

Enduro

Actually, if you want lovely traffic free hilly forest trail runs, park your car in one of the forest car parks and run on the tracks. Masseys woods, Tibradden, and Cruagh would all be good for that.

ciaran_kdc

Enduro wrote: »

Actually, if you want lovely traffic free hilly forest trail runs, park your car in one of the forest car parks and run on the tracks. Masseys woods, Tibradden, and Cruagh would all be good for that.

The trouble is getting a decent distance out of these places - if you want to get over 5Ks you often find yourself hill running when you want to work at road pace. For longer runs, there's a great one in Djouce Woods, goes all the way to Powerscourt Waterfall. Also good are Coillte's Loop Walks (google them), which include at least one 10K one in Clara, not far from Laragh. Incidentally, Glendalough has lovely trail running too.

gerard65

Enduro wrote: »

Actually, if you want lovely traffic free hilly forest trail runs, park your car in one of the forest car parks and run on the tracks. Masseys woods, Tibradden, and Cruagh would all be good for that.

A few years ago there was a problem with cars been broken into in these car parks, don't know if its still an issue, but might be something to keep in mind.

T runner

RoyMcC wrote: »

Certainly I've always understood you should run facing the oncoming traffic. BUT coming towards right-hand bends cross over to the left, otherwise oncoming traffic can't see you.

However, race rules most often state that runners should run on the left. I've never fully understood this, especially on a clockwise course where the race has to take right turns across the traffic

Id agree with this and good point about the runnng direction of races.

I often cross the road if I hear/see a car coming from a certain direction particularly near a bend. If you cant cross (two cars are coming from opposite directions) and a car is approaching you blindly from behind a corner-step off the road as much as possible and wait.