A greeting
protocol whereby two runners who don't know each other pass. This protocol is exceedingly simple and is used to communicate a few key concepts in a short period of time
- Hello. I am going the other way ... nod
- Hello. I am passing you on your left ... on your left
- Hello. Watch out for the thing. ... watch out for the blank
In a longer
run, such as a
marathon, it is entirely probable that you will run in unplanned pairs or small groups for some part of the
race. It is also very unlikely that you will pass someone going the other way. In this case, the protocol appears to be dominated by
weather and locale references. This is a two-way protocol, in which exchanges are really an excuse to talk about other races. If somebody has a
runner's high, then his contribution is slightly giddy.