If you've ever taken to the Chicago Lakefront Trail on a summer Saturday morning, you know it's a jungle out there.
Runners, cyclists, strollers, dogs, tourists and even the occasional rollerblader are all out there jostling for position.
And yes, while some cyclists are obnoxious, and yes, most tourists are clueless, I have encountered enough oblivious runners to know my kind is not an innocent bystander in the ails of the trail.
But don't worry. I'm here to help with some tips for properly navigating the trail when you're on the run. (Note: This post refers specifically to the lakefront trail, but really, these rules can and should be applied to all recreational trails.)
Stay to the Right: Just like on the highway, run on the right and pass on the left. The Lakefront Trail even has a gravelly "shoulder" that you can run on to get really over to the right and stay out of the way.
Run in a Straight Line: Why is this so difficult? I don't get it.
No More Than Two Across: If you're running in a group of more than two people, sorry, folks, you have to stagger. Deal with it. Oh, and your two across cannot span the entire width of the trail. If you're friendly enough to run together, you're friendly enough to run closely together.
Throw Away Your Trash: Trash cans are EVERYWHERE. There is no excuse for jettisoning your GU packet in the grass. This is not a race, so if you do that, you're just straight up littering. Boo on you.
Look Before You do ANYTHING: Look before you turn around, look before you pass someone, look before you spit, look before you start walking, look before you veer off for a water stop, look before you cross the street, look before you stop to tie your shoe. LOOK!
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I know it's easy to disappear into your own little world -- especially when you're logging 14, 16, 18 miles -- but you are not in your own world. You are in my world and the world of hundreds of other trailgoers. So, for the love, be aware of your surroundings and watch what you're doing.
Got it? Good.
