View From The Edge | How to be a conscientious mid-pack trail runner – etiquette for bottlenecks, headphones and loudspeakers

It is unlikely champion trail runner Jim Walmsley has ever seen the back of someone’s head. For Kilian Jornet, three people within 10 minutes of him probably constitutes a bottleneck.

But for us mere mortals, nose-to-tail crowds on trail races are just part of the experience.

It can be frustrating as you are left with no option but to move at the crowd’s pace. It can be liberating as you get a chance to chat to those around you, tapping into trail running’s famous community spirit.

Here are a few things you can do to make sure you are a conscientious runner, so you have the best time possible and do not ruin someone else’s day.

Be mindful of your poles