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Runners: Why are you too good for the sidewalk?

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When there is a big shoulder, busy road, sidewalk nearby (or hell, running/bicycling trail), etc, runners and cyclists get on my nerves. Have some freaking courtesy for the rest of us. I will give you room, give me some room as well.

Also, whining about sidewalks, etc...run on a track.
 
Because its better for the runner to be on the black top, not the cement. The impact on the legs and joints is easier. Provided motorists are actually following the rules of the road, which is a pretty big IF, its safer.
 
KeithTalent said:
Do you guys run often and still get shin splints? I run three times per week (give or take) and never get splints and I run on concrete exclusively.

KT
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I never got them until last year. Then a doc showed a simple warm up that last about 45-60 seconds. I haven't had them since.
 
WilliamM2 said:
Seriously? I can't imagine asphalt having any more give than concrete, unless you weigh 5000 lbs.
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indeed it does. asphalt is designed to be "soft"

i assumed this would be the reason, and also the issue with uneven sidewalks, cracks, random tree roots protruding, cars backing out, kid's toys, etc etc to be many of the reasons to avoid the sidewalk.
 
WilliamM2 said:
Seriously? I can't imagine asphalt having any more give than concrete, unless you weigh 5000 lbs.
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That's what I'm thinking too.
Any solid material will deflect when a force is applied to it. Some things deflect less.

Yes, if you increase the time it takes to go from a speed to zero, the deceleration experienced is reduced.
But you're putting that up against the cushioning of your sneaker, and of your flesh against bone, and of the cartilage in your joints, all of which are immensely more pliable than either concrete or asphalt.


You also shed water as you run, thus reducing your weight. I would expect that to have a more significant effect than the hardness of concrete or asphalt. (Not that that is much more significant.)

But that's based on a simple thought experiment. I currently lack a human foot with an accelerometer embedded in the bone. I never get what I want for Christmas. :\
 
I ran crosscountry all through highschool, and this is the first I've heard about asphalt being softer than concrete.
conf.gif


Anyway, around here sidewalks are really inconsistent. They may or may not exist on any given block, branches and parked cars get in the way, etc. Our roads slope quite a bit, to help drain rain, so I would run on sidewalk or grass whenever possible, but I did plenty of running on roads too. It was only ever an issue when I was running in a pack of 3+ and certain people were too stupid to jump off the road when a car was about to pass.
 
What is this shin splint you speak of. I run often, on all types of surfaces and never experienced splint shin.

Yes, I run on the road. What you got a problem?
 
Jeff7 said:
That's what I'm thinking too.
Any solid material will deflect when a force is applied to it. Some things deflect less.

Yes, if you increase the time it takes to go from a speed to zero, the deceleration experienced is reduced.
But you're putting that up against the cushioning of your sneaker, and of your flesh against bone, and of the cartilage in your joints, all of which are immensely more pliable than either concrete or asphalt.


You also shed water as you run, thus reducing your weight. I would expect that to have a more significant effect than the hardness of concrete or asphalt. (Not that that is much more significant.)

But that's based on a simple thought experiment. I currently lack a human foot with an accelerometer embedded in the bone. I never get what I want for Christmas. :\
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This. The argument about concrete being harder is BS. I am sure it is harder, but the combination of surface + shoe + sock + skin + heel padding + cartilage + bone is virtually identical in both cases.
 
tcsenter said:
I was always wanting to start a similar thread entitled "Punjabis or Pakistanis, why are you too good for the sidewalk?"

Around here, whenever I see someone walking on the road, its usually Indians or Pakistanis! Is it just that there are no sidewalks in India or Pakistan and they don't know what they are for? Or maybe some caste thing?
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I would totally trash on you for racism but since I was in India for the first time in February I am actually going to take this as a legitimate question.

When I was walking down the street in Bangalore, I avoided the sidewalks. Sidewalks there were basically a set of open sewers that had been covered over with a series of concrete tiles. Many of the concrete tiles were cracked, had pieces broken off and were missing, or were loose. Walking on them was hazardous at best (and in high heels was seriously risky.) So we walked on the edge of the street.

I could see that becoming a habit, something you just do unconsciously.
 
silverpig said:
This. The argument about concrete being harder is BS. I am sure it is harder, but the combination of surface + shoe + sock + skin + heel padding + cartilage + bone is virtually identical in both cases.
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I ran for years on both surfaces. I _always_ felt more pain in my knees if I ran on the sidewalk compared to the road. It's not a trivial difference. Make a free body diagram and treat the layers of absorption you mentioned as springs and dampers. You'll see the forcing function is significantly greater than the compensation offered by a shoe, sock, and everything else. I did this once after contemplating the reason behind increased soreness after running on the sidewalks on the campus instead of the road around the campus.
 
PowerYoga said:
Cement is harder. Also a lot of sidewalks are shit and are uneven and a pain in the ass to run on.
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Ah, so it hurts your vagina.

I run on the sidewalk. I don't run where there aren't sidewalks, unless...it's to get to a close section of sidewalk. Fuck running on a road around here.

If I am otherwise in the road, it's because a) some dickface won't cut his fucking tree that only allows enough clearance for midgets to pass underneath it, b) some dickface DID cut his tree, but has piled up branches and shit on the sidewalk, or c) some dickfaced retard assfuck is riding a bicycle on the sidewalk.

Also, children. If you're going to let your kids run amok, do everyone a favor and instruct them to play in the street.
 
tcsenter said:
I was always wanting to start a similar thread entitled "Punjabis or Pakistanis, why are you too good for the sidewalk?"

Around here, whenever I see someone walking on the road, its usually Indians or Pakistanis! Is it just that there are no sidewalks in India or Pakistan and they don't know what they are for? Or maybe some caste thing?
Click to expand...

Yes it is a caste thing, they are forced to walk in the road through shame from being born into the wrong tribe. It sucks when one randomly jumps under your car as you pass to try and atone for their ancestors lack of commitment because they can take upwards of 10 minutes to jetwash off.

Does knowing that make you feel better.
 
MrDudeMan said:
I ran for years on both surfaces. I _always_ felt more pain in my knees if I ran on the sidewalk compared to the road. It's not a trivial difference. Make a free body diagram and treat the layers of absorption you mentioned as springs and dampers. You'll see the forcing function is significantly greater than the compensation offered by a shoe, sock, and everything else. I did this once after contemplating the reason behind increased soreness after running on the sidewalks on the campus instead of the road around the campus.
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Will I? The compression in your shoe alone is at least 1/8". There is no way the difference between asphalt and concrete will be 10x that.
 
The only thing I can figure about the difference between running on 'crete and asphalt is the impact of the foot hitting either surface is returned differently. Otherwise unless your the Incredible Hulk it shouldn't matter.
 
My city has a paved bike path that goes through several cities. I think it's a good 40+ miles. It's wide too, can probably fit 4 bikes side by side.

For some reason we still have these damn cyclists riding their bike on the side of the road, small 2 way road mind you with very little shoulder, and the trail is visible from it.

One of these days I will have to pull over and ask them why they are so dumb.
 
Runners are superior to car people. They can run where they damn well want and anyone inferior subhuman car driver should stfu about it and stay out of the way.

Cyclists are of course superior to runners, but that's a bit off topic.

If car drivers want equal rights they need to stop sucking up socialist road subsidies and start really paying their fair share for road construction and upkeep.

Automobile driver = freeloading no-character commie who will never make anything of themself until they start taking some responsibility.
 
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