BELL LAP #24

CATCHING UP WITH MISS ROAD MANNERS (March 8, 2000)

Here's today's question: When the Maven meets the Penguin, will feathers fly? Or will the convergence signal the dawn of a new age, one of harmony and understanding?

A year ago I asked a different Bell Lap question: Do we need a Miss Manners on the road? That question was in response to an increasing number of reports of rude behavior in running events, especially large, crowded marathons. As race numbers have swelled in recent years, reports of interference from walkers--sometimes traveling four or five abreast--have escalated, along with complaints of various sorts of rude or thoughtless behavior.

Discussing this a year ago, I wrote, "We may not need a Miss Manners, but a few suggestions to neophyte road race participants might just help everyone enjoy race day a little more."

As it turns out, I was wrong--apparently, we did need a Miss Manners. That became clear after the column appeared, when RRCA Vice President Freddi Carlip, who had offered to help develop guidelines for the RRCA to distribute, began receiving e-mails that began, "Dear Miss Road Manners..." Never one to miss an opportunity, Carlip agreed to morph into the maven of road-race etiquette, complete with white gloves and the ability to refer to herself in the third person.

Clearly, the subject of race etiquette hit a responsive chord. After receiving suggestions, developing guidelines and posting them (http://www.rrca.org/publicat/missrm.htm) on the RRCA's website, Miss Road Manners was swamped with inquiries. Running clubs, major events, and the media were all eager to "spread the race-manners gospel." Runners, especially those new to the sport, seemed eager to learn what race-day expectations were.

For a woman dedicated to polite interaction, though, Carlip's single quote in a New York Times story about the new breed of slow runners seemed uncharacteristically acerbic. "I've been impeded by new runners who stop cold in front of me to tie their shoes," read the quote. "These newcomers don't have a clue how to race."

Those sounded like fighting words, and many new runners took offense. So did Carlip, who felt she was misquoted and misrepresented. She was surprised that the intent of her efforts, to welcome newcomers by giving them information, was overlooked.

"Miss Road Manners was miffed at the misquote," says Carlip, slipping into character. "The RRCA has always welcomed newcomers to the sport, but there was no mention of the race-etiquette guidelines developed to help them learn the rules of the race. She knew she'd be in a heap of hot water."

Fortunately, though, Runner's World's John Bingham, aka the Penguin, came to the rescue--and rather quickly, I might add, for a self-professed waddler. Bingham seemed to understand the intent of the guidelines, and before long he was in touch with Carlip about joining forces. Now the two are planning their first appearance together at a workshop at the RRCA convention in May.

"Miss Road Manners was pleased that the Penguin wanted to step in and soothe the ruffled feathers of his flock," says Carlip.

After all, soothing ruffled feathers was where this all started. It may not be state-of-the-art drug testing, Olympic team selection or any of the other high-level topics that are typically bandied about here on Runner's World Online, but for most road runners it's the crux of the experience--the ability to run freely without being interfered with.

Now, with two alter egos working together, maybe we can look forward to a future where marathons see increasing numbers of new runners, but decreasing numbers of complaints about behavior that just won't fly.