Don't Let the Runner go by...

That's another benefit to running with a dog -- all the other dog owners reel in their leashes when they see us coming.  And I'm usually breathing so hard they can't help but hear us.   My Moose is part pit bull so that may have something to do with it

But I agree, the wide multi-use paved trails are hazardous obstacle courses for bikers and runners, especially as the weather improves.  I try to avoid them spring thru fall.

Flexileashes are awful. It's asking the dog to walk you, rather than vice versa. IMHO, the dog's collar should never be more than a step away from arm's reach. When we walk, the dog's leash is clipped to my belt, leaving my hands free to pick up poop. When we run, the leash is wrapped around my hand, keeping the puppy's shoulder even with my knees.

I run and walk the dog almost exclusively on sidewalks, and I/we always give other users of the sidewalk a wide berth. I just don't trust other dogs or their owners, and I don't want to disturb their enjoyment of the fresh air with my panting and gasping.

Not everyone can be so lucky! Our "multi use trail" is about 4 feet wide and runs maybe 8 miles total. You work with what you've got. And I wish it were as easy as "taking it up with my local government" - LOL!! Oh how I wish.

I've yet to have any issues with dog owners and leashes on our trail - I think they realize how narrow it is and when they see a runner they move completely off the path with the dog and wait for me to pass. I would never attempt to ride on this trail, though I do see people doing it occasionally.

breckview - 2009-03-23 11:26 AM

lisac957 - 2009-03-23 8:42 AM Not everyone can be so lucky!

Lucky yes. But downsides also. Here was our bike path late last May which was a huge snow year. Should be better this year as our snow has been very low. BTW, that's not me. It's just a photo from our paper.

Wow!

That is nice!  I only wish we had something like that around here...

 Oh yeah, Colorado mountain bike, sorry multi-use, trails are heavenly for many reasons including their width, material, striping, maintenance and signage.  Whenever I head up for a ride there I'm hugely jealous (not to mention the views!).  Here's a pic of me that gives a better view up the trail.  This is between Frisco and Copper Mountain last September.

It's not just dog owners it's just a certain type of person

As a dog owner (and I run with my dog on a leash and get very annoyed when others (unlawfully here) are off leash and interfere with my run when I pass them (as the dogs lunge - playfully or not at my dog))

We have a canal towpath here, multiuse and not particularly wide but families think it is ok to walk 3 abreast filling up the entire path.  I always shout when I am coming up from behind at a run "coming through with a dog" as I don't want to startle them.  Most are fine to move but some of them  give me really dirty looks and I have to end up running BETWEEN them.

My multi-use trail is a little more low tech, but it works out ok.  It was built on an existing rail-road bed and the surface is dirt/cinder.  It's great for running and hiking, and the MTB guys ride it a lot, even though it is almost pancake flat...a rarity in my area.

As a constant user of our multi use trail and dog owner, I can relate and I always take extra caution when I see a runner or biker come by when I am walking my dogs. I have found though, that not all runners and bikers are gracious either. It's a small number but bodes negative for the rest of us. When I am running or biking and I come across folks who make an effort to give me space I always thank them. Not only does it let them know I appreciate it but it sets a civil and positive tone that seems to rebound all along the trail.

Wow!  and Double Wow!

I'm gonna have to move to Colorado ... that is outstanding ... and this goes on for 100 miles?  Wow, I could really get in my long training rides on something like this, vs. fighting the traffic here where I live and about getting ran off the road every day.

About got ran off the road 3 times yesterday .. had numerous cars blow there horns at me ... had one yell out the window "Get out of the way, fat boy!"  and had several give me the middle finger.

Just remember, this is at 9000 feet of elevation (I had some nasty exercise induced asthma on that ride particularly) and some of those 100 miles is over mountain passes.  So, if your long rides should have some hills in them it's great.  If you're looking for flat, not such a good plan.  

On the other hand, I've been screamed and yelled at and had the middle finger flown at me in Denver so we're not perfect either.  The fat comment, yep, heard that too.  I just remind myself that I've been on a bike for 4 hours while their lazy butts are driving around in a car.  

Yeah, I'm still kinda chunky but not really fat ... I had on bike shorts but then had a long pair of sweats over them ...so I couldn't have been grossing out people with too much butt stuffed into lycra ... so anyhow ... I could just imagine this woman yelling this ... from the passenger side of a mini-van ... was probably your typical redneck, Jerry Springer watching, fat-azz herself who probably had to pry the Marlboro cigarette from her mouth before she could shout out her obscenities.

Anyhow, it was all good ... survived it, got in my longest so dar this year of 37 miles, and my legs actually feel better today than they did yesterday before I started.

Ahh the trace!  Yeah sometime folks on there seem to be in there own little world.

When I ride the multi-use trails around here, I always make a point of YELLING prior to passing a dog walker.  Most times they get their dog moved over without any problem.  I have never had a dog trip me when I was running, but then most of the people in this area tend to be considerate of others. 

I am not sure what I would do if some one were to NOT keep their dog under control.  I have only had 1 close call, and that was with dogs NOT on leashes, they were running free.  Jumped my wife and I while we were biking, we out rode them but scared the crap out of me.  I don't know what I would have done had that been a family ride.

Or from some other world, I think.

Most mountain bike single track1-2' (at least in these parts) are multi use.. sucks when you don't avoid the big piles of horse dung, hehe