is this ignorant or rude behavior cuz i'm doin' it!!!
last two races i just seem to hitch onto someone who is really running my pace and get behind them just to keep moving. i don't know JACK about no drafting. i'm just doing it to keep my pace, however, i do get kinda close but never too close to touch them. God forbid i actually trip them or interfere with their stride (a la Robp 8O )
my main reason, again, is to keep moving cuz i've most probably seen the wall and just want to keep up....i rationalize this behavior by saying it keeps them moving too cuz they don't want to be passed.
rude? acceptable? go ahead, i can take it.
last two races i just seem to hitch onto someone who is really running my pace and get behind them just to keep moving. i don't know JACK about no drafting. i'm just doing it to keep my pace, however, i do get kinda close but never too close to touch them. God forbid i actually trip them or interfere with their stride (a la Robp 8O )
my main reason, again, is to keep moving cuz i've most probably seen the wall and just want to keep up....i rationalize this behavior by saying it keeps them moving too cuz they don't want to be passed.
rude? acceptable? go ahead, i can take it.
There really isn't a rule about drafting in running like there is in cycling/tri's. Not really that much of a wind issue. But some people don't like to have someone 'lurking' right behind them. I've actually heard some nasty comments during races.
I would suggest saying something to the person off whom you're drafting, if nothing more than "I'm gonna draft off you since you're doing such a great pace." That comment will let the person know what you're doing, and also bolster his/her confidence, and possibly pace. And who knows, maybe a conversation will start and you will be able to help each other through the rest of the run.
Normally I won't draft. If we're running into a strong wind, I will. I don't think it's rude as long as you don't interfere with their running.
I don't draft because I obviously like my space a lot - stay away from me! But I usually don't mind if someone tags along after me. It can serve as encouragement to keep going more than anything else.
Unless they trip me, of course, which has happened to me TWICE. Then I get a little angry.
Unless they trip me, of course, which has happened to me TWICE. Then I get a little angry.
I don't see anything wrong with it, as long as you are a "respectable distance".
As far as what a respectable distance is? :shrug:
The only time this would make much of a difference is running in strong wind. (Which happens in SD from time to time)
As far as what a respectable distance is? :shrug:
The only time this would make much of a difference is running in strong wind. (Which happens in SD from time to time)
I can say that I'm not very fond of people running right behind me.... I can see where having someone directly in front of you would help during a strong headwind. Drafting, as a race car driver might do, is actually using the vehicle (person) in front of you to help pull you along and I doubt seriously many people can run fast enough to notice an improvement. The aforementioned woman who tripped me up was using me as a wind block and really didnt' need to be that close.
I think it was Joe Henderson (RW reference here, stick with me) that wrote an article once about "the invisible thread". Really. I found it to be quite true. And drafting aside, like fla says there really isn't a big benefit, there is a certain distance in all our minds which represents a "gap" that we can feel like we're being "towed" to an extent.
You've all likely read posts about guys focusing on a woman's ponytail and other techniques to keep pace with someone. And in that article, Joe talked about how that thread is elastic. It is normally around six feet and stretches easily to ten. Then after that, it really gets tight and starts to lose it's power. Somewhere around 20 feet it snaps and that little pull you were getting is gone and they seem to take off for no reason.
Personally, I make a consious point of not tailing anyone for more than a mile. And if I notice someone turn around and see any glint of "evil eye", I definitely drop off or pass. Now that I think about it, I've found the best bodies to tail/draft are when I find a group of two or three running together (Bart Yasso & company ) and usually their conversation and such will keep them from noticing I'm just beyond their shadows. :twocents:
You've all likely read posts about guys focusing on a woman's ponytail and other techniques to keep pace with someone. And in that article, Joe talked about how that thread is elastic. It is normally around six feet and stretches easily to ten. Then after that, it really gets tight and starts to lose it's power. Somewhere around 20 feet it snaps and that little pull you were getting is gone and they seem to take off for no reason.
Personally, I make a consious point of not tailing anyone for more than a mile. And if I notice someone turn around and see any glint of "evil eye", I definitely drop off or pass. Now that I think about it, I've found the best bodies to tail/draft are when I find a group of two or three running together (Bart Yasso & company ) and usually their conversation and such will keep them from noticing I'm just beyond their shadows. :twocents:
this is good!! Keltic always snaps that damn elastic between us
i think i've decided to not get so close but still follow those who inspire me to do so....look out all you 8.30s out there.
i think i've decided to not get so close but still follow those who inspire me to do so....look out all you 8.30s out there.
it would only bother me that someone was so close to me for a while and I would want to know why. Unless they liked the view.
Never really thought of it before this though.
Never really thought of it before this though.
We are talking about a race, right? If someone drafted me around the lake on my runs, I would be a little creeped out.
......if the "draftee" is a female threat to my AG or OV placement.....I look at it as part of the game.....puts on a little twist rather than just seeing how fast you can get from A to B. If the "draftee" is male and my placement has virtually no impact to his standing on the podium---then I am a little annoyed if he drafts off of me the entire way (this has happened to me in a 1/2 marathon)---I feel that he should share the load. In 1/2 marathons I will ususally ask the guy if they want to take turns on a windy day.
sue
sue
on a windy day in a longer race, a little drafting can safe some of that energy, always enjoying drafting off of a small group compared to an individual.