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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect not to be taunted by neighbours when I run up the street

141 replies

Babieseverywhere · 28/10/2012 21:16

I'm fat and I run.

I run for my health and because I enjoy it.

I am over 13 stone and a size 16 (down from 18 stone and size 24).

I now can run continuously for 2 hours covering 8.5 miles and I am proud of this and enjoy running :)

But I get a lot of negative comments from strangers, normally from young males who wind their windows down to shout comments at me as they drive past. Luckily I am hard of hearing so I miss the actual words screamed at me but it is clear from facial expressions and tones that the comments are negative...I ignore and keep on running.

A few weeks ago, new neighbours have taken on a house which needs a lot of building work done on it and hence are frequently outside the building and their young son has taken to pointing laughing and making various remarks about running and my weight, to and at me, which I ignore as he is a young child (around 8yo) and knows no better.

Then I 'met' his father, who joined in with his son and shouted so loudly across the road that I heard him clearly, despite my deafness/hard of hearing issues. He pretended to speak in the affections of a person with special needs and screamed 'Run Forest, Run' at me.

I crossed the road and asked him not to call me names in the street. He sneered and said he was only singing as I ran past and didn't get 'my fucking problem'. When I explained that I received enough comments from strangers and expected my new neighbours to be more courteous. His wife screamed from an upper store window, that I was 'fucking over reacting' and that I should 'expect comments when I run outside'.

Should I AIBU to expect neighbours to be polite to each other, not to mock them ?

I accept strangers might be nasty but is it acceptable to be pointed at, laughed at and name called on my door step....as I am fat and I run outside.

I may be old fashioned but I operate on the 'if you can't say anything nice, say nothing' policy and would never shout at strangers on the street.

Sigh, this won't stop me running but it just makes it harder for me to get out there. Why be nasty for no reason ?

OP posts:
herethereandeverywhere · 28/10/2012 21:51

I'm filled with admiration at your ability to run! Unfortunately life's full of people ready to make stupid comments to make themselves feel good at the expense of someone else. If it's not you running it's someone else doing something else - empty vessels make the most sound and all that. DO NOT let it stop you, you sound amazing.

I couldn't run for 2 minutes straight, let alone 2 hours! Am thinking of doing couch to 5k but I'm far lazier than you.

More power to you and your amazing size 16 body, topped with an amazingly strong mind! Keep on keeping on (and no YANBU, but you knew that already, right? Wink)

Iggly · 28/10/2012 21:48

YANBU

Yes please get a t shirt printed. Rude fuckers. Where do you live?!!

BattlingFanjos · 28/10/2012 21:47

I can't believe the nerve, cheek and down right rudeness of your neighbours is beyond belief! Talk about shitting on your own doorstep! I am seriously in awe that you still go out and run :D cannot tell you how amazing that is! I started running a few years back, I put on a lot of weight after my son was born and decided to crack on with exercising. I went out the first night and got some god awful things shouted at me and I didn't go back out :( I ran in the house on the spot/up and down the stairs. I got to 4 hours constant on the spot running and lost 3.5 stone. But I should have fronted it out, really wish I had! Well done to you, so much! You really are amazing and an inspiration!!!

hatesponge · 28/10/2012 21:43

I think running for that long is amazing honestly.

I lost a similar amount of weight last year although I have now put half of it back on Blush but even then couldnt have run for more than about 10 mins without stopping.

Please ignore these complete twats.

I have been heckled by blokes while just walking along, calling me fat etc - ine evening last year (post weight loss, I was feeling quite good about myself, just in casual clothes, not dressed up) some guy yelled out of a van that I was an 'ugly fat cunt'. I have no idea who he was, nor why he thought I deserved that. I was so stunned I didn't even know what to say in reply.

Shaky · 28/10/2012 21:43

Well done you!

You are probably much fitter than me (my running consists of chasing a 2 yr old round)

Ghoulelocks · 28/10/2012 21:43

Oh and to back up montysma, I'm (normally) a trim size 10 with average breasts yet when I run I also get comments. Mainly pervy about my breasts 'swinging' (they don't...they are a b-cup in a sports bra) but the odd piss-take about me being red/ sweaty and 'unfit'.

Alisvolatpropiis · 28/10/2012 21:42

YANBU. What horrid people!

Also,you can run continuously for 2 hours! WOW! That's amazing. I can run for about 50 yards :(

Ghoulelocks · 28/10/2012 21:40

I'm both impressed that you can run that much and have the balls to confront them.

My guess is they flared up this time but you'll have no bother from them again.

I'm 8 months pregnant and had builders next door nearly wet themselves with laughter watching me with my arse sticking right out try to get 2 yr old DS out of his car seat with a really sore back/ lowish car. Wish I'd had the balls to confront them rather than go red.

HoneyDragon · 28/10/2012 21:39

From now on just refer to them as the Cuntz Family at no. 42

Mr AssHat Cuntz, His wife Gobby Cuntz and dear little CrapBag Cuntz.

Nanny0gg · 28/10/2012 21:37

Blimey! Even in my youth I couldn't run for two hours! Well done!

You know how well you're doing - get yourself an MP3 player, pug yourself in and ignore the idiots.

Kinora · 28/10/2012 21:37

Ignore the fuckers.

Being able to run for 2 hours is seriously impressive and such a great achievement.

Keep it up.

fluffypillow · 28/10/2012 21:36

YANBU..........bloody well done you!!

They are twats, you are fantastic......end of.

Keep on running girl Smile

pictish · 28/10/2012 21:36

Can'tsayanything Grin

montysma1 · 28/10/2012 21:36

Its not that you are fat, its that you are a woman. I run and have done so both when slim( and quite a hottie although I say so myself!) and now, when a bit porky after 3 children.

They heckled when I was thin, with sexual suggestions, they ran along beside me, they hung out of cars........vile. They still shout when I am fattish, perhaps less sexually, but still vile.

It used to infuriate me beyond belief. I took to wearing head phones, to block them all out , not not the safest thing to do.

Its the reason why I exclusively train on treadmills now, and really only run outside if I am doing races

So brace yourself, it wont stop once you get to be a skinny minny. There are just too many inadequate obnoxious men out there who think women are fair game and a woman, shock, RUNNING is positively inviting it. Pathetic. Fucking. Bastards.

MrsCantSayAnything · 28/10/2012 21:35

Yanbu. Run past their house with a handful of eggs next time and when one hits the Dad in the face say "I was only JUGGLING for fucks sake! Don't overreact!"

brighthair · 28/10/2012 21:34

Jealous idiots wih nothing to do in their own lives so they spend their time mocking other people AngryAngry
You are doing amazing, keep going and ignore than

GeordieCherry · 28/10/2012 21:34

You put them up shame & they're embarrassed so being dicks

Get an iPod & just enjoy how amazing running feels

2 hours?? Applause applause Smile

YouSeveredHead · 28/10/2012 21:34

Well done you. I couldn't run for two hours if my life depended on it.

pigletmania · 28/10/2012 21:33

YANBU stupid little idiots. Ts them who make fun f people who are overweight, tey tease you when your trying to loose weight. I ould like to see them run for that length of time, scrotes

EugenesAxe · 28/10/2012 21:31

That's so impressive (your running achievements). I can't fathom people that are like that and I can't say much. Perhaps put 'Instant Karma' on your iPod as your first track and smile knowingly at them when they heckle.

pictish · 28/10/2012 21:29

Fuck them - they are morons of the worst kind. Their kid will grow up to be a moron just like them, and there's nothing you can do.
Arseholes.

Teeb · 28/10/2012 21:29

Yanbu, some people really are just nasty pieces of work with nothing better to do aren't they?

I think it's great that you enjoy the running though, and I hope they won't put you off. Are they next door neighbours or just on the same street? They don't sound like great people to be living around tbh.

crashdoll · 28/10/2012 21:28

They're wankers. Hold your head high and know you are the better person. You are doing amazingly, 2 hours??!! Be proud. Don't let it hold you back. Use it to power you forward.

You have all MN behind you, cheering you on with pom poms!

beancurd · 28/10/2012 21:27

You are fabulous, they are charmless turds whose limitations don't make them any less contemptible.

WofflingOn · 28/10/2012 21:26

You can run for TWO HOURS!
I feel faint just thinking about it. I'm lighter than you, but you are definitely fitter than me. Grin
The arseholes are exactly that, I despise people who are nasty for no reason, there is a special place in the fifth circle of Hell for them. There are a depressing number around too.