Am I being a good sport?

• Author: Klosterman, Chuck
• Position: THE ETHICIST - Brief article

My high school cross-country team often races through wooded trails. During a race, am I ethically obligated to tell the runners behind me about debris along the trail? If I say something, I run out of breath. If l don't, a potential teammate might get hurt and be out for the season.

William, New Jersey

THE OBJECTIVE OF CROSS-COUNTRY is to move as quickly as possible over natural terrain. There are supposed to be rocks and roots on the trail. That's why it's not called "track." Moreover, you're actively competing against other people (including your teammates) in a sport with defined rules, so some day-to-day social rules don't apply.

Part of competitive running involves an awareness of your surroundings. It's not as if you're consciously leading your opponents or teammates into danger by not pointing out every potential hazard. The only exception would be if you encountered...