I don't smoke cigarettes and I don't have a problem with most people who do. However, not everyone who smokes has respect for people who don't smoke and don't want to breathe any. My problem is with the people who tend to be of lower socioeconomic levels and generally uneducated, who smoke. These people seem to enjoy blowing smoke in joggers and runners faces on the street. Its happened to me twice in Springfield. The first encounter there were two overweight women, and I was running on the sidewalk with the direction of traffic when I stepped down to the bike lane to run by these two heifers. As I passed by, one of them sucked smoke into her mouth and blew it in my face. The most recent time happened today Saturday night 21 March 2009. An overweight cow was smoking and her bearded ZZ Top boyfriend maybe in his mid to late 20s, dressed like he obtains his clothes from a second hand Hot Topic store dumpster, blew smoke in my face. What is gained from this? I stepped down into the bike lane both times to avoid crossing paths. Has this ever happened to anyone out there? What did you do? Does anyone have a legal way to handle this type of situation? I just want to be able to take care of myself without being disrespected.

duckman, so sorry to hear you have been so disrespected by totally irresponsible individuals. I myself am a smoker, but by no means wish for anyone else to have to breath second hand smoke, I do not smoke near or around anyone else that isn't a smoker,  I have grandchildren and children who are non smokers, before i see any of them, I shower, wash my hair, and put fresh clean clothes on. Not that that makes smoking ok, IT DOESNT! I have tried every stop smoking plan there is including hypnosis, sorry to say i failed at it. when smoking in an open area where there's no one around if i see someone coming near i put it out. people that do the things you discussed have no pride in themselves, and usually an arrogant attitude toward life in general, I wonder how they would react if you sent an odor in their direction that was totally obnoxious. Is pepper spray illegal?  

Ya, I've had similar encounters while running and cycling but just kind of wrote them off.  I felt as if these white-trashians (not all smokers, just these particular individuald) were just staring at me as trashy people tend to do for some odd reason when they see another exercising or even existing for that matter.  Being in close proximity, crossing paths on the sidewalk, they are just closer and when they turn their head in your direction ane exhale smoke it seems as if they are blowing smoke in your face.  They most likely don't realize that they're doing it just as they don't realize or give a damn that it is rude to stare at others.  Just be thankful that you know better than to offend people in the way that they do. 
One option for you would be to eat something that you know gives you gas a couple of hours prior to your run and then rip ass just as you run by them!

Oh my goodness I'm a smoker but try very hard to be respectful of others who are not. Your post is so funny, I Love it. GO FOR IT DUCKMAN, Or how about those nasty smelling very smoky smoke bombs they get during the 4thy of july, those are obnoxious. zjmower that was hilarious