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You are here: Home / Healthy living / Runners Thoughts From A Stoplight

Healthy living Running

Runners Thoughts From A Stoplight

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Most of my runs take place with my MRTT crew on the beautiful trails surrounding our neighborhood. For the most part, we can cross through the intersections with a brief pause to check for traffic. There are, however, 2 busy intersections we frequent where we are required to wait. So what’s a runner to do at the stoplight? Stop and stretch? Keep moving?

stoplight

Table of Contents

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  • Runners thoughts From a Stoplight
    • Stretching
    • Butt Kicks
    • Running in place
    • Water and Fuel Breaks
    • Me? I am hoping that the auto-pause on my Garmin has kicked in and I am happy to just stand still for a short break. Tell me what do you do at stop lights? Do you like to just enjoy the short rest or do you prefer to keep moving? We runners really are a unique bunch aren’t we?

Runners thoughts From a Stoplight

Noticing all of the different movements my running friends were doing at the stoplight got me thinking about what others runners do at stoplights. Here are a couple of activities I’ve witnessed lately. Do any of these look familiar to you?

Stretching

Upper body stretching and calf stretching seem to be the most popular moves I’ve seen.

stoplights

Butt Kicks

A few runners enjoy alternating but kicks to keep the legs moving.

stoplights

Running in place

Need to keep your heart rate up? Running in place seems to be a popular move.

Keep moving? Stretch? What’s a runner to do at #stoplights #runchat

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stoplights

Water and Fuel Breaks

Perfect time for a little hydration and refuel?

Me? I am hoping that the auto-pause on my Garmin has kicked in and I am happy to just stand still for a short break. Tell me what do you do at stop lights? Do you like to just enjoy the short rest or do you prefer to keep moving? We runners really are a unique bunch aren’t we?

Linking up with

Kim and Zenaida

Debbie and Marc

stoplights

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About Deborah Brooks

Hi I'm Deborah! I spend my days successfully raising a husband & 2 teens in the VA/DC area. I am a lover of all things running & fitness. As a life long vegetarian, I've always been passionate about healthy living & exercise. Looking for partners in crime, I started my own chapter of Moms Run This Town (MRTT) which has grown to over 700 members. I've met so many amazing women who inspire me daily to keep moving forward. You can usually find me running with my crew and training for the next crazy adventure they talked me into. I love to keep up to date on new running & fitness trends. I definitely choose my running gear based on color and love to express my fashion sense while exercising.

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Comments

  1. Maureen @ Maureen Gets Real says

    04/24/2019 at 6:25 am

    I always pause my watch and just enjoy the breather while at a stoplight. Sometimes I’ll stretch my calves though.

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 7:20 am

      I am always happy to pause my watch for a few seconds too!

  2. Kim G says

    04/24/2019 at 7:06 am

    If I have to stop at a light (which is often) I will either jog in place of stop and march in place. I try to make sure that I keep moving no matter what, but I do pause my Garmin, lol

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 7:20 am

      Always pause the Garmin! 🙂

  3. Debbie says

    04/24/2019 at 7:21 am

    I kind of think it’s funny when runners run in place at stoplights, though I guess if they’re doing a tempo workout or something it’s a good way to keep the heart rate up. I just tend to stop and wait, though there may be some stretching going on. I remember an old joke that was something like, Joggers bounce up and down at traffic lights while runners just stand and look pissed.

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 7:44 am

      ha ha I am always very appreciative of a little breather time myself!

  4. [email protected] says

    04/24/2019 at 7:25 am

    I’m a jog in placer. I know it looks silly and think so when I see others do it but I hate to stop moving.

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 7:44 am

      As long as you know it looks silly 🙂

  5. Annmarie says

    04/24/2019 at 7:48 am

    Thankfully, I don’t have to stop too much on any of my route but when I do I usually use it to stretch my upper body for a sec or refuel!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 10:49 am

      the upper body stretch is good!

  6. Laurie says

    04/24/2019 at 7:57 am

    Loved this post, Deborah! You got me thinking. I often pray (Oh, PLEASE be a red light!) for a red light just to have a good excuse to take a break. My usual routine at a stoplight is to stand there panting. I DEFINITELY do not jog in place.

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 10:49 am

      I am usually panting and hoping for a red light as well!

  7. Wendy says

    04/24/2019 at 7:59 am

    Haha! I love this! Yep, I’m like you, so relieved for the break in the motion. It’s kind of a gift…

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 10:50 am

      Oh it sure is! I have one friend who is always like yeah we can make it across let’s just sprint. lol

  8. Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says

    04/24/2019 at 8:36 am

    I usually use the stoplight as an opportunity to take a break lol! But sometimes I’ll keep moving side-to-side if I’m feeling restless!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 10:53 am

      It is funny how many different things you can do at a stoplight

  9. coco says

    04/24/2019 at 9:11 am

    Fun question! I’ve started doing leg swings – an easier version of butt kicks?

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 10:55 am

      yes if that works for you!

  10. Darlene says

    04/24/2019 at 12:08 pm

    The lazy runner. Just stop and rest. Lol.

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 7:23 pm

      That is me too!

  11. Chris Tiley says

    04/24/2019 at 12:36 pm

    This make me glad I live in the country. My regular running route means I only have to cross a main road once and can normally get across without needing to wait.

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 7:23 pm

      Well I guess that has it’s positives and negatives

  12. Kimberly Hatting says

    04/24/2019 at 1:09 pm

    I usually pace back and forth and (probably) look rather annoyed LOL I don’t do the run-in-place act, though…I know my heart rate will not plummet that much in the short time I’m waiting.

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 7:25 pm

      I am sure you just look like you are anxious to get back at it!

  13. Abbey Sharp says

    04/24/2019 at 1:22 pm

    I love all these tips! I am more of a running in place kinda girl to keep my momentum going

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 7:25 pm

      That works too!

  14. Chaitali says

    04/24/2019 at 1:38 pm

    I think I just pause my watch and anxiously wait for the light to change! To be honest, I’m not sure what I do. I’ll have to pay attention next time.

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 7:26 pm

      Yes let me know!

  15. Nicole @ Fitful Focus says

    04/24/2019 at 4:08 pm

    Now that I’m in a less busy area, I use lights as an excuse for a quick break, but when I lived in NYC, there were so many stoplights I couldn’t take a break at every one. I usually used the lights to guide the direction of my run. Can’t go straight here? I’ll go left!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 7:28 pm

      Yes I can see living in NY you would really need a good strategy for the stoplights!

  16. Marc Pelerin says

    04/24/2019 at 7:21 pm

    Definitely stopping my watch and catching a quick breather… that or turning the corner so I don’t have to stop!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/24/2019 at 7:28 pm

      Ha that works too!

  17. GiGi Eats says

    04/24/2019 at 7:25 pm

    Running in place is always a good idea in my mind. It’s a great way to warm up those joints!!

  18. Jenn says

    04/24/2019 at 7:53 pm

    I encounter very few traffic lights on my running routes. We have a few stop signs but since we run so early, we don’t usually have to stop to wait for cars, either. When I’m in a city where there are lights, I think I just stop and wait for them to pass.

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/25/2019 at 7:02 pm

      That’s good that you don’t have to stop at many lights

  19. Amy Barker says

    04/25/2019 at 6:55 am

    I’m with you, I’m happy to stand there and have a little break!!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/25/2019 at 7:03 pm

      It sure is nice to have a little break!

  20. Angela Cardamone @marathonsandmotivation.com says

    04/25/2019 at 9:11 am

    I’m with you! I just take the time for a short stretch break and hope my Garmin auto-paused!!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/25/2019 at 7:07 pm

      Yes exactly!

  21. Esther says

    04/25/2019 at 11:03 am

    I used to be a running in place girl, but now I enjoy a little break!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/25/2019 at 7:07 pm

      I am right there with you!

  22. Zenaida Arroyo says

    04/26/2019 at 4:56 am

    I stop my watch and take a break. Normally this happens when I am doing an easy run so that is “OK”. 🙂

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/26/2019 at 7:30 am

      Definitely oK!

  23. Cari says

    04/26/2019 at 9:00 am

    Ooh didn’t realize Garmin had an autopause. I’m used to manually pausing and either water/calf or both. There was question somewhere – thinking Wendy’s but can’t remember for sure – about when to stop your watch in training and my theory was only in conditions that don’t exist in race. So photos, water – let it run, I’ll do same during race. But street crossing? Nope, that’s a puse as hopefully no intersections on race day

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/26/2019 at 3:28 pm

      That makes sense to pause on situations that do not occur on race day. Never thought of it that way

  24. Shathiso says

    04/26/2019 at 9:12 am

    I always run on the spot! 🙂 Thankfully, it’s usually not long enough to stop my Garmin but if had to wait any longer I would – I’m always about that stats!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/26/2019 at 3:31 pm

      ha yes don’t want to stand still too long!

  25. Katie says

    04/26/2019 at 9:18 am

    Newish reader, and I enjoy your blog! OK I’m a “running back and forth on the sidewalk” type which I realize looks stupid, HOWEVER, I will argue that this is, in fact, the lazy option – rather than stopping & waiting. Why? Because it’s harder to stop and start up running again then to just keep running back and forth. A different perspective. 🙂

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/26/2019 at 3:32 pm

      Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I do like to hear different perspectives so thanks for sharing yours. Hope you have a great weekend

  26. Debbie @ Deb Runs says

    04/26/2019 at 8:45 pm

    I’m with you, I just stand there thankful for the short little rest!

    • Deborah Brooks says

      04/27/2019 at 11:41 am

      The short rest is always appreciated!

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Successfully raising a husband & 2 young adults in the VA/DC area. I am a lover of all things running & fitness. NASM Certified Nutrition Coach & RRCA Run Coach. As a lifelong vegetarian/pescatarian I’ve always been passionate about healthy living & exercise. Looking for partners in crime, I started my own chapter of Moms Run This Town (MRTT) which has grown to over 800 members. I’ve met so many amazing women who inspire me daily to keep moving forward. You can usually find me running with my crew and training for the next crazy adventure they talked me into.
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