ArticleBliss Directory
Free Article Directory
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Actions
Print Article
BookMark Article
Author Login 
Important
Existing members will have to use the lost password facility to get new username and new password
Welcome Guest! Please login or create an account.
If you do not have an account yet, you can register ( Here ), or you may retrieve a lost user/pass ( Here ).
Navigation 
- Home
- Privacy Policy
- Terms Of Use
- Submit Guidelines
- Learn More
- Top Articles
- Ebay UK Store
- Ebay US Store
Author Highlights 
Simran Chaudhary
Panchkula
Gabriele Gona
London
Richard Crandall
Salt Lake City
Other Websites 
To Wave Or Not To Wave? That Is The Question
Author : Dr Marybeth Crane
Sounds like a funny question, but what is the right answer? Is there a universal unwritten rule? Should you always wave so that other runners will see you as friendly? Or should you only wave at people you know so that a stranger won't think you are a potential stalker?
In Texas, it is typical to wave and even say hello to every runner you pass on your runs. Heck, I wave at runners, walkers, people's dogs, and even a few passing motorists who yell out the window. I figure they are either saying "Hi!", because they know me or they are admiring my sweaty derrière. Either way, a wave is indicated. I also talk nonstop while I run, so people either love to run with me or find me incredibly annoying. I was even told to shut up by another runner while running a marathon. Guess they were having a bad day. I know my incessant chatter can be distracting, but what about the wave?
To complicate the musing in my head, I also wonder about cyclists? Do you wave to everyone on a bike? After plunging head first into the triathlon world a few years ago and riding hundreds of miles, I still don't know the answer to the waving question when it comes to cyclists. The first few months I was learning how to cycle without falling down; a wave would've caused me to crash. I didn't even think about it! Now, I often wave or at least nod at the passing cyclists. You never know who is a friend or not with the helmets on.
Geography may also have something to do with it. I have come to realize, after running quite a bit while traveling, that the automatic wave is not the norm in other cities. I even started to think it was just a Texas thing, but remembered my childhood running in Rhode Island where everyone waved. Then again, everyone knew everyone else in my small town. Maybe it's a suburbia thing. In fact, while running in Chicago, people looked at me quite strange when I waved. No one actually returned my hello and I have to admit I was not feeling very welcome by the time I finished. My experience was similar in Pittsburgh. Not a lot of waving going on. I expected the same in New York, but was surprised when I received quite a few waves and even a passing grunt while running. Who knew New York runners may be friendlier than Chicago and Pittsburgh?
So, I embarked on a mission to answer the waving question. To wave or not to wave? After a very unscientific poll of over a hundred runners across the country, it turns out there are no hard and fast rules. There are however some loose guidelines:
1. It is always better to wave than not to wave unless you are running in a city. Wavers may be confused with muggers.
2. Wavers tend to be out for a recreational run, not a hard tempo run or speed workout.
3. There are more wavers in the South than in the North.
4. Woman wave more than men. In fact, one man felt a wave may be interpreted as a pick up line.
5. Non-wavers are often wearing an IPod and never even realize they are possibly considered rude and unfriendly.
6. Most cyclists have actually never even thought about waving, but feel a simple nod is recognition enough.
So, I guess there is no universal rule about waving, but I am going to continue to wave to ever and all runners to try to foster a community feeling while I run, but as for cycling; I think I will stick to the nod.
Author's Resource Box
Dr Marybeth Crane is a board certified podiatric foot and ankle surgeon specializing in sports medicine and veteran marathon runner and triathlete. Your feet should last a lifetime! For more foot health tips, a copy of her new book If Your Running Feet Could Talk and doctor-approved foot care products, visit her website or read her blog. Your body will thank you for it!
Article Source:
Articlebliss
Tags: marathon runners, triathletes, running etiquette, running humor
Author RSS Feed
Category RSS Feed
Submitted : 2010-03-18 Word Count : 1 Popularity: 72 Times Viewed: 12
