Navigating Runners – Tangents

Navigating runners in a race refers to doing your best to avoid collisions or bumping into fellow runners during a race.

• Start in the pace group you plan to run with, if the pace groups are marked at the start line. This means that if you plan to run a 7:00 minute mile pace or faster, do not start back in the 10 minute mile pace group, and vice versa. Don’t start in a group much faster (or slower) than you plan to run. Starting in the wrong group will lead to lots of frustration, weaving, longer distances run, and possible collisions during the race.
• While it is acceptable to run with (alongside) another runner that you know during a race, it is common courtesy and a best practice to not run (and especially not walk) with more than two runners wide during a race. Again, this causes undue weaving by faster runners trying to pass.
• Being aware of other runners on the course is why I am personally opposed to runners wearing headphones or in-ear devices during a race. These runners can’t sufficiently hear people running near them. If you do encounter runners who seem unaware of your approach, it seems appropriate to call out “on your left!” or “on your right!’ when preparing to pass them, to let them know you are there.
• Be very cautious, especially at the beginning of races and in large crowded races, to see runners in front of you and to be aware of what they are doing. Are they coming into your running path? Or slowing down? It is a terrible situation to accidentally run up on, step on, or collide with a runner from behind, causing a potential crash and / or injury. This seems more common at beginnings of races when people are packed in tight, and jockeying for a clear path.
• Race courses are generally measured on the tangents of the course. The tangents means running curves on a tangent line, to achieve the shortest possible distance of the race. If you don’t run the tangents of the course – for example if you “hug the curves” during a race with many curves and corners, you can add a lot of distance, especially to a half marathon (13.1 miles) or marathon (26.2 miles) race. It is common for a marathon to measure up to 26.3-26.5 miles on your GPS device, especially if you don’t run the tangents of the course properly.
• Another tactic to avoid during races is weaving back and forth during the race. Some weaving will be necessary to navigate runners, and to approach water stops, but try to eliminate weaving across the road in other times and situations during the race. Pick an imaginary line on one side or middle of the course and try to stick to it. An exception to this rule is to run toward a shady side on hot weather day races. The coolness of the shade will more than make up for the little extra distance to run over to the shady side of the road.
• Remember, you don’t get any extra time credit (for qualifying for Boston, etc) if you personally happen to run 26.5 miles on a course listed as 26.2 miles.