Frightening Pedestrians

az2wp0sye65487

I've noticed in the last while (especially since the evenings are getting dark early) that when I'm out running I tend to scare the shyte out of people out walking.

When I'm coming up towards someone who's walking the same direction as I'm running (ie they have their back to me) and I go to pass them around 40% of the time the person jumps and gets a fright.

The other night I passed a girl who heard me at the last second and turned around with a look of panic on her face! I'm not that scary lookin.... I'm sure she thought I was getting ready to attack her or something! Something similar happened with a fella I was passing too. He turned round and looked like he was getting ready for a fight when he saw me running towards him!

I don't want to end up getting a punch off someone who's quick reactions get the better of them; but I'd feel a bit silly screaming "runner coming up behind you" while I get closer and eventually pass.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? If so, have you found a solution??

ecoli

Estella Plump Stagehand wrote: »

I've noticed in the last while (especially since the evenings are getting dark early) that when I'm out running I tend to scare the shyte out of people out walking.

When I'm coming up towards someone who's walking the same direction as I'm running (ie they have their back to me) and I go to pass them around 40% of the time the person jumps and gets a fright.

The other night I passed a girl who heard me at the last second and turned around with a look of panic on her face! I'm not that scary lookin.... I'm sure she thought I was getting ready to attack her or something! Something similar happened with a fella I was passing too. He turned round and looked like he was getting ready for a fight when he saw me running towards him!

I don't want to end up getting a punch off someone who's quick reactions get the better of them; but I'd feel a bit silly screaming "runner coming up behind you" while I get closer and eventually pass.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? If so, have you found a solution??

Have found if you exaggerate your breathing and make it really heavy they tend to hear you as you are getting near

trats

I find a cough when about 10 meters behind usually gets their attention

robinph

I find myself coughing or something at a certain distance before I catch up with them. Make some sort of noise, but not too close to them or it's the same effect as if they just notice at the last moment, they then end up moving randomly across the path and get in your way. Make them aware of you soon enough and they will just keep going and you can get past them fine.

I'd shout excuse me occasionally, but would tend to be on narrower country paths where there is nobody else about and no traffic noise, and also nowhere to escape to if they don't notice you.

az2wp0sye65487

ecoli wrote: »

Have found if you exaggerate your breathing and make it really heavy they tend to hear you as you are getting near

I think it was the heavy breathing that shook up that girl the other night!

trats wrote: »

I find a cough when about 10 meters behind usually gets their attention

Tried that a few times... no effect!

robinph wrote: »

I find myself coughing or something at a certain distance before I catch up with them. Make some sort of noise, but not too close to them or it's the same effect as if they just notice at the last moment, they then end up moving randomly across the path and get in your way. Make them aware of you soon enough and they will just keep going and you can get past them fine.

I'd shout excuse me occasionally, but would tend to be on narrower country paths where there is nobody else about and no traffic noise, and also nowhere to escape to if they don't notice you.

I live in Dublin, and do the majority of my running in urban areas during times with heavy traffic. As i said I've tried coughing, and even some heavier footsteps. No effect!

ThisRegard

Yea, the cough or clearing of the throat is what I do. I can't help but have a wry smile to myself every time I do give someone a fright, usually people with ear phones.

I never go the exaggerated breathing route though, that makes you look weak and tired ;-)

robinph

Estella Plump Stagehand wrote: »

I live in Dublin, and do the majority of my running in urban areas during times with heavy traffic. As i said I've tried coughing, and even some heavier footsteps. No effect!

Most of my running is around urban streets as well and the cough works well enough. Could always try clearing the nose loudly, that will probably scare them into moving with the threat of a stray snot hitting them.

fiddy3

The only proper thing to do is punch them in the face as you go past. That'll make them feel better about being frightened as the reaction will be warranted. There's a 98pc chance they won't catch you.

donothoponpop

Estella Plump Stagehand wrote: »

I've noticed in the last while (especially since the evenings are getting dark early) that when I'm out running I tend to scare the shyte out of people out walking.

Happens too when running on my local forest trails. I've tried coughing, shouting, scuffing the stones; and generally found this no better than doing nothing and running by (some walkers get panicky when they hear the cough).

I asked before on the forum what approach was best, someone suggested that calling "Ahoy hoy!" was just gay enough to be unthreatening. Tried it once while barrelling down a fire road on a Wicklow hill, and a large group of American tourists immediately stood aside. I thanked them and ran on: could hear them with perplexed laughs- "Did he just say Ahoy-hoy?!"

It's worth a shot:)

maria74

Could always try clearing the nose loudly, that will probably scare them into moving with the threat of a stray snot hitting them.[/QUOTE]

UGGGHHHH!!!!!

Love the Ahoy hoy tho, that would bring a grin to may face if someone shouted that...so for the humor if nothing else I vote for that one..:D:D

gerard65

I'm a bast***:) I actually wait until i'm right behind them and then cough, always makes my day to frighten the sh1t out of someone so wrapped up in their apple thingys they have no awareness of whats going on around them.

ct_roy

great thread was only thinking about this earlier today

this happens to me at least twice a week - i put it down to my excellent stealthy running technique!

one girl recently shrieked as I ran past her and then instantly burst out laughing at her OTT reaction.

think walkers should just be fitted with rearview mirrors.

problem solved.

racheljev

Just frightened the bejeezus out of two men. Did the coughing thing but they were talking to each other and didn't hear me, only noticed me when I ran by them - they had the look of a pair who'd been out on the batter and might be only heading home now... One let out a string of 'what the f*** was that, jaysus I'm nearly after having a f*** heart attack' etc, while the other one laughed his head off at the first fella

Krusty_Clown

Two words: Leper Bells

Cabaal

ecoli wrote: »

Have found if you exaggerate your breathing and make it really heavy they tend to hear you as you are getting near

I generally cough, the problem however still remains if they are wearing headphones,

donothoponpop wrote: »

I asked before on the forum what approach was best, someone suggested that calling "Ahoy hoy!" was just gay enough to be unthreatening. Tried it once while barrelling down a fire road on a Wicklow hill, and a large group of American tourists immediately stood aside. I thanked them and ran on: could hear them with perplexed laughs- "Did he just say Ahoy-hoy?!"

Fun Fact of the day: Did you know that Ahoy hoy was the original greeting suggested to be used for telephones as people didn't know what to say at first

Telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell originally suggested "ahoy" be adopted as the standard greeting when answering a telephone, before "Hello" (suggested by Thomas Edison) became common. In The Simpsons, Mr Burns is usually heard answering the phone with the greeting "Ahoy-hoy".

robinph

I think that a certain Mr Fry recently stated that he invented the word "hello" as well, previously the word "hullo" ( or something like that ) meant a similar kind of greeting but there wasn't any common word for what we now use "hello" for. Probably something about it being more audable over the dodgy phone connections as well.

5h4mr0(k

Don't worry about it. Just threat them like a strange dog and try and give 'em room as you're going past.

When doing a long run it's something to laugh about for the next few miles.

Sklarker

gerard65 wrote: »

I'm a bast***:) I actually wait until i'm right behind them and then cough, always makes my day to frighten the sh1t out of someone so wrapped up in their apple thingys they have no awareness of whats going on around them.

Yeah. Damn ipodded pedestrians and aul wans walking 3 abreast. Enjoy giving a stealthy undertaking scare!

Oryx

This is a secret fun thing runners get to do. I run on quiet country roads so if the wind is in my face I cant be heard coming up behind someone. I find a loud and cheery 'Morning!' as you pass them generally makes them jump about two feet and clutch their chest. Seriously tho, I do try not to do it much, especially after I frightened a little old lady so much she nearly fell in the ditch, and I thought she would need CPR. But its hard to avoid. I cough, or say 'Coming thru', or 'scuse me' but youll still make people jump a lot of the time. Maybe we need to carry bicycle bells!

gerard65

Cow bells? Or those little collars with bells some cat owners put on their moggys so the birds can hear them?

5h4mr0(k

Not at all.
Just get yourself a pair of these little beauties


They're also appear to be suitable for people that don't like cutting their toe nails.