Paul, the law may state that you are supposed to use a sidewalk if one is available.  The officer may be technically correct.  I offer that only as information, not telling you what you should do.   

Sierra, hope you are feeling better.  As I'm returning to the road after an injury, I do run 3 times a week and am now up to 45 minutes for each session.  I increase 5 minutes every 2 weeks and pool run or cycle on other days.  I started riding a road bike last year and just bought a new one after convincing my husband it was medically necessary.  My big ride at the end of the month will, hopefully, get me over the mountain to meet some friends for dinner.  It's only 34 miles, not a race, but involves lots of climbing.  Every ride here is very hilly, but this one will be more intense with greater changes in grade.  A favorite easy ride here includes one 4 mile climb with a 6% change in grade.        

I ran for 45 sluggish minutes yesterday.  You'll find me in the pool today and on the road tomorrow when our temps will rise into the 60's with little wind predicted. 

Ks, don't forget to include the fashion details in your Boston report.          

Hello everybody--

I'm a first-timer here--I hope it's okay that I join your little on-line group.  

After running, basically, all of my life to stay in shape for other sports, or to clear my head, or for just the pure fun of it, I started training for and completed my first marathon in 1994.  Fifteen years and 34 marathons later, I'm 20 states into my 50 + DC journey and hoping to complete it when I'm 60 years oldI'm 50 right now.  Anywaythat's my quick little story.

The post that kind of prompted me to log in and give an opinion on is Paul's sidewalk problem.  I guess I can't really talk about the legality of it or anything and I would never encourage anybody to defy a police officerbut I think if he ever gets on to you again, I would take a little trip to the police station and talk to somebody.  I would tell them the many advantages of running on the street rather than the sidewalk.  First of allif it's a concrete sidewalk and an asphalt street the wear and tear on a runner's body is much less severe on the asphalt.  But they, probably won't really care a whole lot about that, so then I would talk about the safety aspect.  Most of the time, when drivers are aproaching a street, their attention is on the traffic that they're about to turn into.  So, if you're running against trafficlike you should beand the driver is about to make a right turn, his head is looking to the left to see if he can make his turn.  Maybe, if you're lucky, he'll look one more time to his right, but many times they don't.  By being out in the street, we have a better angle to watch the driver's eyes and we're also a little further away for them (or us) to react in time to avoid us. They, also, very rarely stop behind the cross walk but, instead, pull all the way up to the stop sign.  If we're about to step into that cross walk, because we're running on the sidewalk, they either slam on their brakes or stop right in front of us so we have to go around themwhich could put us in a more dangerous situation.  Plusmany sidewalks change sides of streets for no apparent reason.  So do they really think it's safer to have to cross a street just so we can run on the sidewalk?  Ohand I haven't even talked about the pedestrians who are walking with their dogs on the sidewalk who have to pull back on their leash to keep them from taking a hunk of meat out of the back of our legs.  And how about lighting?  I know on my routethe sidewalk is pitch black, at night, while the street is somewhat lit.

Okaythat's enough out of me.  I'm sure you know all of these things, already, but thought I might arm you with a little more ammunition if you do decide to go and talk it out with them.  My experiance with police officers is that 99% of them are very reasonable people and would appreciate a conversation on the issue rather than just ignoring their orderswhether it's a bonified law or not.

Mike

I live in Dallas where the news of that cop who delayed the guy on his way to visiting his dying mother in law was a big deal down here, and while I would agree that the majority of cops are good guys, I would never put the percentage at 99.

5 miles at 9:12, just within "easy" pace.  As I look at my log I am now seeing more miles in the "easy" color as opposed to "slow," which encourages me.

Nice run KS.   Spareribs

In times past, there have been lots of discussions about asphalt  vs. concrete and hardness.  Concrete is harder, but I think the cushioning in my shoes helps to minimize that difference.  The road, softer, slopes down to left if you run against traffic, so you are running on an uneven surface and you're always off-kilter.  My shoes can't adjust for that variation.  Trails are rough  and can cause other problems.  I just have to choose my poison and run with it.

I can't believe I just wrote that.

Euphoric, That's so true about the road and a good point. I frequently find myself running on that downward slope, and it's not good. You're right about good shoes compensating for the concrete. Some of the roads around here have a pretty severe downslope. If I find myself sloping on the asphalt, I try to run toward the middle of the road but I can only do that at certain early morning times when there's no traffic. At other times, I jump back up on the sidewalk.

Hi Mike.., and thanks. Those things should be evident to any thinking person. Thanks, also, to everyone who has lent their support on this matter. Now, every time I go out for a run I will have to feel like a criminal. I'll have to be looking over my shoulder and hoping that I am not seen by any police. I can't fight. I can't just give up running or run on the sidewalks. I refuse to live in a climate of fear, running while breaking non-existent laws. I'll have to move away to a more sane community.

Also, Mike, elders and handicapped and people on medication are not expecting a runner to appear when they are entering or exiting businesses or residences. Children can make abrupt moves on sidewalks and if they do, they could collide with a runner. I'm going to run in the streets because I would rather risk myself than risk some kid's health or life.

Anyway, this should be on Judge Judy, not here, so let's skip this nonsense.

Paul

Hello, Cainteanna! It sounds nice!

                                                              Paul