How best to encourage fellow runners

I always give a g'morning/af'noon/evening when seeing other runners.  I don't mind overtaking or being overtaken as I don't know what kind of run they are on (recovery/tempo etc) so I don't see it as a reflection of me being faster/slower a runner than them.

Again, its just a simple nod or smile for me. To anyone and everyone out there. From the 20 stone guy who is his first day in his running shoes to the seasoned athlete who can out run me any day.

We are all on our own mission, i think when you see lone joggers like our selves, and for a simple courtesy nod, i feel anything more is intrusive.

I do most of my short runs in some woods where there are a few runners and a lot of dog walkers. The dog walkers are mostly very sweet but my utter fave is the woman who always says "gosh you're SO fast!".

I am really very very slow, but bless her.

On my first ever 10k race when I was nearly dead there were a bunch of kids (maybe aged 8-12) outside their house, SCREAMING at us as we went past, things like "you are all so cool!" "Even walking is winning!" "Your mum is proud of you!" "You are such a superstar!" "Keep going, you look GREAT!".

Ever since then every time I have run a race which is suggested to have "great crowd support" I have been disappointed. Nothing has ever matched up to that.

I see quite a few people who are clearly doing C25K, and I often want to stop and chat to them and tell them that's how I started and how they'll come to love it. But then I think that might be a bit creepy or patronising so I stick with a smile and nod.

I will nod briefly to give a passing hello to other runners. Unless they're wearing headphones, in which case I assume they're in their own world and just ignore them.

I expect nothing more than the same in return and I'm not bothered if I don't get that. I certainly don't need any support or encouragement. My running time is selfish me time and the less interaction I have with others, the better.