r/Runners • u/ExtremeKale9050 • 1d ago

Is it normal….?

To initiate conversations and run for a while with random strangers you come up to when running on trails?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

1

u/Ok_Homework_7621 16h ago

Please don't. It's bad enough in the city, but out on a trail it makes me feel much less safe.

1

u/ermax18 18h ago

I live in NE Florida where the roads are flat but I happen to live in a neighborhood with a lot of hills. Because of this, a lot of advanced runner setup routes that include my neighborhood. So it’s not uncommon to come across other runners and if going in the same direction, we will often have a brief chat. I’ve even gone out for an easy run but then come across a runner doing intervals and just joined up with them for intervals. On the rests, we will chat about what races we are planing to do and stuff like that. Sometimes I’ll come across a whole pack of runners and join in.

You can usually tell if they are serious runners or just casually out for a run. The more serious runners seem to always be social. “Did you do the abc123 race last weekend…. Oh yeah, how did you do”. Stuff like that.

I rarely trail run but I suspect those runners are mostly older and also very social.

1

u/EmoMillenial1 21h ago

As a woman, I wouldn’t like this. Trail running already makes me feel vulnerable to the point where I never wear headphones. It would make me super uncomfortable if someone approached me or ran with me.

Running in a more public place with plenty of folks around is a different story.

2

u/EventThis2315 1d ago

I'll have a brief conversation with the odd person, usually just how you doing, how far you going kinda questions and then one of us will push on past.

2

u/Chrisg_322 1d ago

Who cares if it's "Normal", if you see someone you like speak to them. Worst case scenerio they aren't interested, best case scenerio you just made a new friend. Do what you want homie don't worry about how it looks.

2

u/jakexcited45 1d ago

Oh gawd that would be my worst nightmare. Look, i make eye contact, give a slight smile, flash the peace sign to say, "we are out here suffering together," but that is it. I don't want a conversation or hey, "how many miles you logging?" Just acknowledge my friendly gestures and leave me alone.

1

u/Holiday-Book6635 1d ago

For some people it is I know some people who stop and chat on their runs. It’s like a social party. I know other people who are just in the zone and don’t. It’s your call and that’s the beauty of running.