Fellow Runners - I was asked to post this. Thanks, Annie

Runners, please take this with the utmost respect.On Sunday mornings on
Rockledge Drive, there have been many bikers and runners sharing the road. No
problem. We all expect that, by now. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I've
been a biker and a runner for a long time, so I know how each thinks and reacts
to various situations.The past two Sunday mornings have created scary scenarios,
which were virtually identical, but with different individuals involved. When
our Sonic ride group, (or any cyclists, for that matter), approaches a group of
runners, running 4 abreast or in a small pack (hey, it's Sunday morning and not
much traffic. . . why not???), and one of them suddenly crosses in front of our
group to get across the road, because they probably think there are too many of
them running together and maybe it would be better if some were on one side of
the road and some on the other, to let us through the middle.Please, please,
please, runners. . . never cross in front of us. Staying together as a group is
OK, just drop back behind the runner in front of you if you want or move a
little toward the side of the road you have been running on or simply tighten up
your group. Single file is even better, though not absolutely necessary.When we,
as a group, approach you, here is what we are thinking:We are going to go around
you, as a group, (probably without slowing), toward the center of the road, or
whatever it takes, to clear ALL of you. (BTW, slowing causes some of us to start
moving to the left or right, to clear each other's wheels to avoid crashing
amongst ourselves). That could cause some of us to be set on a collision course
with some of you. Therefore, it's better if we hold our speed constant and
smooth.You may have heard us use shouting (plus hand) signals to let cyclists
behind us in the group know you are there. Many of us cannot even see you, and
must trust those in front to let the others know.A common shouting signal is
"runner(s) right". This means that there is a runner(s) approaching us on OUR
right. (You are correctly running against the flow of traffic). Please hold your
line. If you suddenly cross the road, our riders may unknowingly veer into a
collision course with you. If you are incorrectly running on the wrong side of
the road (with the flow of traffic). . . stay there, don't cross. We will go
around you.If you are wanting to cross and you see a cyclist coming, please give
them an entire football field (300 feet) of separation, or cross behind them. If
you don't have at least 300 feet, please wait until they pass to cross. (That
may seem like a lot to ask, but a cyclist can cover that in a few short seconds.
. .a top runner can cover it in about 10 seconds). At the speeds some of us
ride, we need time to mentally prepare our course around you and if you'll "hold
your line" that will help us out A LOT!Another thing that can help us out a lot
is if you stay in one lane and try not to run using both lanes. Encourage your
friends to try to use only one lane and warn them about the "crazy cyclists" out
there.One last thing. . . at your turn around point, or crossing the road to get
to the aid stations you have set up, please look carefully, before you cross.
Assume we are riding fast, approaching you silently.We all want to be safe to
train another day. If we're all not careful, the outcome could easily be this:
If, for example, we are coming toward you at 28 mph and you are running toward
us at 8 mph, that's a 36 mph head on crash, with as many as 25 cyclists and
several runners. (I'll leave the tragic results to your imagination).Many of
whom I am addressing are very experienced runners, who are out there week to
week. If we will respectfully work together, then safety for everybody should be
the outcome. This is one of those times that slight changes can yield huge
benefits.Thanks, everybody. Ride/run safe!Rick Dean
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