Is it okay to run in a cemetery?

One dark night I walked through a cemetery, and as luck would have it, I fell into a freshly dug grave and I was knocked out - soft hit. I tried to get out, but it was too wide to wedge across and it was almost 10 feet deep, so I tried again and again to escape - to no avail, so I slumped down and sat on the earth. A bit later a singing drunk came along the same path and fell in. He did what I did, wedging, jumping again and again. Seeing this, I spoke up and said 'you will never get out of here' - he did!

I'll give my autistic and non-autistic view.

Some people could potentially find this offensive. They're unlikely to be offended enough to say anything to you, but never the less may not appreciate their loved-ones place of rest being used as an outside gym. You should find another place to go running. The cemetery is neither the only place to run, nor the most appropriate.

On the other hand, what is and isn't appropriate is entirely subjective. I know I'd be happy for someone to run by my grave, and ideally I think cemeteries should be beautiful enough that people want to go to them for reasons other than to morn. They should be happy places. Not sad. If someone disagrees, that is ultimately their problem. So long as you're not doing anything otherwise objectionable while running (you're sticking to paths, not littering, etc) you should continue to run in the cemetery.

That depends, or depended. According to something I read years ago, the Army does not want you to run in Arlington Cemetery. The Archdiocese of Washington had no objection to runners in the cemeteries that it owns.

The whole planet is a cemetery if you really think about it.

Only if it's OK to run UNDER a cemetery. Case in point: King's Chapel Burying Ground in Boston. Subway runs under it.

https://charliehalloween.zenfolio.com/img/s/v-3/p1283445150-...

That said, too small to run.

I used to routinely take late night strolls through a large cemetery near my apartment in grad school. I was never once chased by a zombie, skeleton, vampire, or lich; but it turns out the local police took a dim view of someone "wandering" the cemetery late at night.

If something is chasing you, sure.

There is an awesome cemetery in Sydney on the ocean adjacent walking/running/biking trail (so it is overlooking the ocean). I guess you can't run in it, but run by it sure.

This is an interesting question. It begs for an essay on the topic of respect: when, why, where and how. Thanks for the writing prompt.

My local cemetery encourages it. Whether that makes it right is another story.

Most people in the cemetery are too dead to care.

Only if you're being chased by the living...

Jogging, sure.

Only if a ghost is chasing you.

Why not? If it's profitable, go for it.

Is it okay to bury dead people at a park or athletic field? Is it okay for my dog to crap on your lawn? Show some respect.