The Decision and Friday Survey #2

After meticulous calculation and careful analysis of all the votes, the results from Survey #1 are IN. Thanks to everyone who participated and played along. Yes runners, we too have made our DECISION.

But before we announce where WE’RE HEADED with this, let me take a minute to explain the PROCESS by we came to our decision. There were three possible candidates – the nod, the wave, and the verbal communication. There were a total of 25 ballots casted. For those voters who declared a distinct preference, one full point was given in favor of the candidate. For those who declared no preference between two options, a half point was given to each. For those who stated they would perform two actions simultaneously, (a wave and a “Hi” for example) I gave a full point to each candidate. Finally, for those who couldn’t decide between any of the three choices, I gave a third of a point to all three camps and called it a day.

So if my math is correct, the final tally looks like this:

The Head Nod – 8.5 points

The Hand/Finger Wave – 14.5 points

The Hi/Good Morning – 6 points

The DECISION then is that the Hand/Finger Wave is runner approved as the most appropriate gesture to use when approaching a fellow runner! How fascinating! In fact, it is preferred as much as the other options combined. In hindsight, this seems to make sense because verbal cues requires more energy expenditure and the head nod is at times too subtle to be noticed. Besides, we can use either hand to direct our waves to either side,which in a certain way seems friendlier than a random bobbing of the head or a general verbal greeting. Very cool. See, we all learned something!

While we’re on the subject of hands gestures while running, do any of you ever find yourself doing something peculiar in the middle of a run in private that would be totally inappropriate/funny to a general audience or even to yourself when you’re not running? For me, when I’m having feeling particularly good on a tempo run or rocking out a set of fast intervals like no one’s business, I’d take a quick glance to make sure no one’s looking, run over to the nearest tree with a branch that’s just slightly just above my head and reach up and slap the leaves as a high-five celebration to myself. The feeling is awesome and exhilarating! I’m just not sure if someone else were to see me, especially a non runner, would I be seen as delusional for interacting with a tree! Haha!

So for this week’s survey question, I want to hear what peculiar things you guys do while running in private that you would never do if you were running or just hanging out in public. Beyond the usual peeing/pooping in odd places, what have you done out on the run that you thought was perfectly appropriate at the time only to think about or find out later that it would be better if left undiscovered?

Think about it and get back to me. Meanwhile this weekend is going to be quite awesome in the Lam household because my little brother is going to be running a four mile race around Central Park – his first NYRR race ever! Not only so, but he’s going to write a race report detailing his impression and experiences for the blog as well. Woohoo! Both of us are very excited. He’ll be running while I’ll be cheering!

Hope all of you who’s running/racing this weekend have a blast too! It’s time for all to celebrate this summer of fun. Get out there and enjoy my friends!

Friday Survey #1 - A Hi, A Nod, or A Wave?

Wow, thanks for the feedback on the results of my summer running survey! It was indeed fun to hear such varying viewpoints on how/when we run in extreme hotness! I apologize to those of you who missed out. I had no idea so many of you wanted in on that. Not to worry though because I have a new survey question to ask all of you. Before I do, let me announce that since so many of us expressed interest in participating in these, I'm going to make it a regular feature every Friday on my blog! Every week, I'll have a new survey question for you all to think about, mull over (perhaps on a long run) and comment on throughout the weekend. Then, by the middle of next week, I'll tabulate the results, generate a scientific analysis and post my conclusions based on my findings. I think that would be cool, interesting, informative, and fun...for you and for me!

So here's my survey question for the week. It is actually based on something I experienced today while out on a morning run. Allow me to paint the picture for you.

It's Friday morning, 5AM. I enter the park just as the first rays of dawn hits the earth. There's a cool breeze in the air which is refreshing, a stark contrast to the dry and still heat we have had for the past week. I'm running at my recovery speed, enjoying the scenery and the fresh air. I feel generally happy because it's Friday and I've got cool plans coming up this weekend. In the near distance, I see a guy my size and height running towards me all serious and business-like. I give a slight wave with my right hand. He blows by me without acknowledgment. Okay, maybe he couldn't see me through this reflective sunglasses. I move on. A half mile later, I see an older woman running and approaching from that same side. I waited until she was within earshot of me. "Hi. Good morning!" I said succinctly. It startles her. She falls over a step onto the grass before apologetically mumbling "Oh Hi!" and running away. Oh, that was maybe too strong. The third runners comes through about a quarter of a mile later. It's a teenager this time. A lanky high school runner. Probably on the track team. I decide a nod was probably appropriate here, so I flick my head when he's within my visual field. He runs by, staring straight ahead, oblivious to my existence. By now I'm agitated, irritated, and hating life because I just can't seem to get this right. Never mind the next several runners I passed did say Hi back or wave or in general acknowledged my existence in some way. But by then the damage had already been done. I basically had an anxiety complex trying to decide how best to greet the next approaching runner everytime I saw one. I was traumatized for the rest of my run and through the entire day.

So, I ask you, my fellow runner friends, for my survey question of the week - What is the most socially acceptable way to acknowledge a fellow runner approaching from the opposite side? What is the social etiquette? Is it a quick wave, a nod or a verbal greeting of some sort? Do you do a combo of things hoping to ensure that you'll catch their attention? Do you vary your tactics based on age, race, sex, location, religion, political affiliation, or how you happen to be feeling that day? I really would like to now. [For the purposes of the survey, please declare a preference and then state your reasoning. Thanks.] I'm surely going to think about this on my seventeen mile long run tomorrow.

I thank you in advance for leaving a comment and participating in this survey. Have a fun, safe, and hopefully cool weekend!