“Along the top of Table Mountain after the monster climb, I started to catch groups of men. Passing them one by one with no hassles – no I don’t for one second believe that all men are chauvinists, I would like to make that very clear! I caught a guy with a flat cap, some cringe tattoos and inov-8s (name and shame right there – look out fellow trail runners). I asked if I could pass, he was clearly buggered as he had no muscle control over the technical terrain in the gale force winds, I didn’t get a response, but I figured he didn’t hear me. I asked him again a little louder, he paused for a moment and then, to my surprise said no. Being frustrated as anything, I thought I’d run through the thick foliage and pass him, as I stepped off the trail to pass him, he stuck his hand out to block me from passing him. I was pretty shocked, slowed down for a few seconds and thought to myself, “did that really just happen?” I saw the path stretched out a few meters ahead and skipped past him. I didn’t see him at the finish, I presume he flopped in after I’d left. BUT COME ON, physically blocking a “giiirrrrl” from passing you, I felt/feel slightly violated in all honesty.”
Link to the full story for those that have not read it.
This blog by Marzelle van der Merwe got a lot of us talking this week. It’s no secret that female trail runners are closing the gap on their male counterparts in both local races, and abroad. We were saddened to read that this reality is viewed as a potential threat to the men on the trails, as trail has always been a place of inclusivity and equality. Even more disheartening was the indication that men (a man?) would go so far as to try to prevent a female runner from achieving her race goal. So here is a pretty comprehensive overview of Trail Etiquette.. Yup, even the freedom of our trails requires a little bit of law and order, and a massive helping of respect.
Read up before your lace up!
1.Self-seed according to your true ability and fitness levels. This allows the whole field to start the race smoothly, and generally cuts down on bottle necking and other issues out on the course.
2.Keep a check on your ego. Nothing wrong with a competitive spirit or pushing yourself, but ego generally leads to regrettable mistakes (think big falls, and taking wrong turns).
3.Keep left, pass right. If a fellow runner is breathing down your neck and asking to pass, yield to the left as soon as it is safe to do so. If you’re the one passing, make your intentions known and thank the person now eating your dust. Making physical contact as you pass, or giving a runner a mild heart attack through a silent approach is just not done.
4.Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but great Instagram shots. Don’t drop even the tiniest piece of litter out on the trails. We are just visitors out there, and treading lightly allows us to keep going back.
5.Help a fellow runner. From a rolled ankle to dehydration, bee stings to big falls, the trails have seen it all. Every trail runner should have emergency numbers and basic first aid kit. It’s not cool to leave a runner until you know they are taken care of.
Stick to these guidelines and you probably won’t find yourself named or shamed in a blog #awkward