TRAIL ETIQUETTE FOR THE NOVICE:
I see it all the time… people not engaging in proper trail etiquette on both training runs and, unfortunately, while racing.
While I’d like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, I know that some people have an issue with being passed by someone faster and just simply will not move. Unfortunately, I experience this often as a decently fast female. These people are few, but they exist.
Others simply just don’t know trail etiquette, especially if they are new to using trails or racing single track.
In a training run, it’s irritating. In a race, it’s downright rude.
Generally speaking, in an obstacle or trail race humans would do well to keep in mind the following:
- As a runner, you should be yielding to any runner moving faster than you.
- Males should remember that they aren’t racing against females, and
- Females should remember they aren’t racing against males.
- So… it doesn’t matter if you get passed by someone who is competing for a different podium!
So, what is proper trail etiquette (in most places, anyway!)?
YIELD TO WHOM?
Generally speaking, there is a 3-way yield system on trails between hikers, bikers, and horses. Runners fall into the “hikers” category, but when it comes to hikers v runners… it can sometimes be a troublesome issue.
TRAIL RUNNER v TRAIL RUNNER/HIKER
Are you both going the same direction? If you’re approaching (or being approached) by a faster runner or hiker, the faster runner should state “ON YOUR LEFT” loud and clear. The person being passed has a responsibility to move to their right so you can safely pass on the left. The faster person gets the right of way.
End of story.
You should NEVER refuse to move for someone moving faster than you. It’s dangerous and rude. If you are on a typical trail run or mid-race and the person can’t move right away (remember, it also needs to be safe for them to move over), give them a little bit to figure out where they can go. It’s common courtesy for the person being passed to indicate they’ll move as soon as possible, but not expected.
If you’re both heading toward one another, you both should just simply move to your right if at all possible, allowing both of you to safely pass each other and carry on.
Now, chances are you aren’t going to be seeing any horses or bikes on an obstacle course or trail race. However, these are good trail etiquette habits to practice while out on your training runs so we’ll still go over the proper procedures for those scenarios.
TRAIL RUNNER v BIKER:
This one is the trickiest in my opinion. Essentially, bikers technically are supposed to yield to EVERYONE. This is because they are able to maneuver more easily without injuring anyone else or themselves. Keep in mind that the level of experience a biker has may also dictate their ability to maneuver easily or not. A lot of bikers know the right-of-way structure, but it also seems that just as many don’t (or don’t care).
When you are on a trail run and a biker approaches, you technically always have the right of way, and it’s yours to decide to yield. A biker should never assume the right of way (though they often do in my experience). However, the situation sometimes calls for common sense and just allowing the biker to go first.
When a biker approaches, there are several things to consider.
First– are you on a hill or a flat? If you are on a hill, are you and/or the biker going up or down the hill? Are you coming toward each other from opposite directions, etc…?
- If on a flat and approaching each other, just move to your right as you would an oncoming runner or hiker. You should both be able to pass. If it’s not wide enough for you both to pass by moving right, you have the right of way as a runner and the biker should yield to you.
- If on a flat and a biker comes up behind you and it’s wide enough for them to pass, they should yell on your left or indicate somehow that they’d like to pass. (They’ll often also tell you how many riders are in their party, which is really helpful).
- When you’re both heading uphill, you should take the right of way if you think you will be faster than the biker going uphill. (This is often the case because it’s difficult to go uphill on a bike).
- If you’re both heading downhill at roughly the same time, you might consider yielding and just letting the biker go on ahead. They will be out of your way in two seconds and you can proceed normally. Experienced bikers will let you know if they’re stopping to wait for their group and typically encourage you to go ahead.
- If you’re going uphill and a biker is coming down, you might consider yielding your right of way (even though uphill typically has the right of way). Why? It’s safer for you to stop and take a step to the right than it is for a biker to brake while bombing down a hill. Safety is the most important factor here. Ultimately, a biker wants to be able to bomb down a hill. As a runner, I do, too.
- When you’re going downhill and a biker is coming uphill, you might consider making an audible based upon the situation and trail. If it’s safe to just continue going down by taking a step to your right allowing you both to pass, that’s ideal.
TRAIL RUNNER v HORSE:
Everyone yields to a horse. It does not matter the trail, situation, etc…
Give them a wide spot to pass in, even if this means slightly stepping off the trail. If you’re on a hill, step to the more downhill side. Horses are more likely to run uphill than downhill when spooked. Don’t make any rash movements that will startle the horse.
I generally stop running about a minimum of 10 yards (or 30 feet) away when I spot a horse. I’ll move over until the horse rider either tells me it’s safe to proceed or they pass by me. If I’ve approached the horse/rider from behind, I stop the same distance away and call to the rider, asking if I may pass when they deem it safe. The last thing you want to do is spook a horse and have its owner get bucked off.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST…MUSIC.
This is often a hot topic. Listening to music out on the trail. Personally, I’m a weirdo who prefers the radio silence of my head and to listen to nature. I never listen to music when running. It’s okay if you do! But, you should keep in mind the following:
Obstacle course races and trail races often do not allow you to listen to music out on a race course for the safety of all runners. One reason is that a lot of these races take place with large portions on single-track trails making the ability to pass hard enough to begin with.
What if a race does allow music?
If a race allows music, there may be a rule limiting only one earbud in. The race might also ask that music is low enough to hear your surroundings. Aftershokz are a great alternative! They sit outside of your ears and you can listen to music and have a conversation simultaneously.
Ragnar has a pretty good happy-medium music policy for their trail races (scroll down on the linked page to read it over.)
There’s nothing worse than saying on your left like 4x only to go ahead and decide to pass thinking the person is just a jerk! You pass and realize they can’t hear you because they have two earbuds in and the music up loud. Wonderful.
(Though it’s fun to watch the person jump and get scared as you pass because they didn’t hear you.)
But seriously, having only one earbud in lends itself to several practicalities: it’s simply safest and it allows for common courtesy to those around you. You’ll hear when people call out to pass by, or a biker’s spokes are spinning and coming up super fast. It also allows you to hear nature that may be harmful to you… here in Phoenix? Let’s call it rattlesnakes. Would hate to be bit because The Weeknd’s jamming loud covering up the warning rattle!
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Published October 11, 2021
