I’ve just been heckled on my run

[TeddyTed]

I never get any comments when running outside normally, but for the first time (in my relatively sleepy town) I heard a very witty teenager shout to me about my weight as I was on my route. I ignored them of course, and actually it spurred me on to do a longer run than I planned (trying to see the positives), but now I feel a bit low. Can you help me feel a bit better about it at all?

I thought women who said they were afraid to run outside due to heckling and male intimidation were being silly until I ran with a much younger female friend. The comments and the kerb-crawling were horrible. My son used to get aggressive heckling when he ran as a teenager, but it has diminished as he's got older.

Little shits. In a fair world they wouldn't dare.

I've had this. But I've had a lot more random encouragement from strangers, and every time I see a runner I have only respect. Not just for thin, sporty runners, but for all runners.

So much better to be out there than sat on the sofa, even if there's the odd idiot about.

I had 2 vile teenagers laughing at me the other week, which surprised me and if I'm honest hurt, because I never usually receive that kind of thing. I soon got over it although I admit I was glad they weren't there the next day. As my Mum said there will always, always be shit people trying to drag you down. Fuck them x

I always listen to music now, even though I actually prefer not to. Last time I was running without headphones a builder shouted something about my tits. I was running with my primary age son.

I fantasise about writing a sarky message on the back of my vest. Or perhaps just drawing swearing fingers.

Teenagers are children. It's always creepy when they join in upholding the patriarchy. I really, really don't want to be found attractive by them 🤮

Forgot to add, super well done for using it to spur you on OP.

I’m not even sure he was even as old as a teenager - he looked about 12 - but a kid actually tapped me on the butt as I run past and he and his friends made some sort of derogatory comments.

This was a few years ago and I’m still not over the audacity of him. (It was a canal path so not much room - I didn’t choose to run past within arm’s length).

Good on you for the extra mileage!

I was out today attempting couch to 5km again - back to week 1. As n overweight middle aged woman I have had teenagers giggling and being obviously derogatory albeit never quite so blatant.

I hate it. But tell myself that attempting to get fitter is for me and that I am overweight so I will ignore them. But its hard.

I got heckled on my run tonight too, from inside a car, by someone who looked like they would die before they got to 50. Likely they were the ones who'd just chucked the mcdonalds wrapper out of the window, too. I felt smug as I continued to puff my way up the hill. This kind of stuff just cheers me on.

I once got invited to go have a beer and a spliff by 2 guys! I've heard everything tbh.

Either give em the finger or smile snugly knowing you're doing more for your well being by running than they are by being rude to people.

I also once got called a show off by 2 male joggers. I just shouted "sorry can't stop I'm marathon training" as I sped past (I slowed down round the corner ha ha!)

Honestly hold your head up and remember our family motto "people are dicks" (said with a shrug)

Oh gosh I get comments on practically every run I go on!

I opt for yelling back. It's actually great fun.

This happened to me while out running at a time in my life I was smoking hot and definitely not overweight! I was young and knew I was thin but still felt sad. So these comments from men are less about weight and more about trying to put women in their place, in my opinion. They’re probably playing on a perceived insecurity as they assume women only run to lose weight.

Even if you are a little over the ideal BMI, aren’t most of us? you’re in good company and at least you’re strong and powerful and getting fit to boot. Meanwhile, he’s a scummy little lowlife.

I don’t run any more because of knee issues but I had the same thing happen while running around a local lake. A group of teenage boys kept shouting comments and filming me. I’m a fat menopausal woman so it wasn’t anything flattering. It felt threatening, so I reported it to the wardens and posted about it on the local Facebook page. Overwhelmingly, people were really supportive and a number of other women said they had also felt scared running there so they put some additional patrols in and local walkers also started keeping an eye out.

You should have shoved him in.

I dont think this is specifically an issue of men abusing women. i run a lot and i also occasionally get stupid comments from teenagers, and adults come to think of it, or car drivers that feel the need to honk their horns at you and cheer. this is not a male / female thing, this is just degenerates being idiots to both males and females alike. The degenerates in question are almost all male though tobe fair.

I invite all hecklers to run with me. It shuts them right up.

Teens can be little sods. I know, I work with them. I've been called fat at 10.2 - I'm 5 11".

Just ignore. Its them, not you.

I get heckled all the time! So bloody annoying. Once I had run ten miles and stopped to cross a road and got 'Lazy cow' and another time someone shouted 'Slag' at me. I'm a 40 something mum of three! These people really are idiots and I think if it puts us off they have won. Ignore and keep running is my advice

I had an egg thrown at me from a passing car window once whilst I was running. They missed! Honestly it was so surreal and I was so confused but chalked it up to people being idiots. Don't let stupid comments and idiotic teenagers put you off.

That teenager is a real-life troll whose judgment should not be taken seriously. They’re looking for a rise out of you simply because you were in front of them showing genuine effort and hope for yourself, something they’re probably too dimwitted and apathetic to understand. Their insecurities are driving their cruelty.

Let’s hope they mature and feel genuine remorse and motivation to be better people someday because of this painful memory. You, meanwhile, get to have a clean conscience and a higher mileage rate today! Please don’t let their sadism affect you too much.

I expect they are feeling inadequate because they feel out of breath after a minute of slow jogging

Or a gentle wank.

Once a man barked at me like a dog out of his van. Always men isn't it.

I don't run but have had comments aimed at me when walking or cycling. I remember riding past a beer garden on a sunny day and though I had my earphones in I knew things were being shouted at me. I just steeled myself and went on my way. A few weeks later I see my neighbour in the local park and she took great delight in telling me that she was there and the comments that she heard. It was delivered in a very faux sympathetic manner. I held my palm up to her face and said 'Hang on, I need to stop you there'. She looked at me expectantly and I walked off.
Another time I was shouted at by some guys working on a roof top so I crossed the road and spoke to the owner of the property. I made a big deal of pointing the bullies out to him and explaining why I had knocked on. He clearly thought I was deranged but apologised and said he would speak to the men and boss. I didn't hear another peep from them any other time I walked or rode past.

Jesus, your neighbour is some arsehole @ThatSharonCurleysUpThePole

You know what? I have run regularly for years and years and have never once been heckled by anyone when on my own. It’s like I’m invisible. However, whenever I’ve been for a run with my friend (who is 15 years older than me but about the same size and weight as me - size 10-12), the heckling, wolf whistling and kerb crawling from men is insane. She says she gets it all the time when she runs by herself. It makes me wonder why I don’t. Not that I want it but…what makes men target some women but not others?

OP, ignore the idiot. I’m glad it spurred you on.

Don't run but do use a bike to get around.
Have had a teenager kick my wheel when I was stopped at a red light. Another threw something at the wheel as I went past.
The worst was a man in his twenties leaning out of the passenger side slamming a water balloon into my back as the car overtook me.
Simply taking up space in the world seems to enrage some men.