Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Intimidating experience when out jogging

86 replies

NotSoCoolRunnings · 03/09/2024 13:10

I say jogging...more like shuffling as I'm heavier than I want to be and very unfit at the moment. But doing C25K as a way to try and recapture some of my previous fitness as well as improve my mental health as it's taken a bit of a battering recently.

I was out yesterday at a small local lake that has a great flat path around the perimeter. It's a lovely location, not far from town and various people milling about walking dogs, feeding the ducks etc so I thought I would feel safe.

I was jogging past a couple (30s) holding hands, who were coming the other way. The guy proceeded to mimic me physically by doing a 'comedy' floundering of his arms and legs; a sarcastic "oh look at you running" and laughing manically. I was obviously taken aback so just sighed and said "oh shut up" in a kind of "oh you're so unfunny/unoriginal" kind of way. To which both in the couple started manically laughing. I felt really uncomfortable, embarrassed and intimidated.

I knew I would pass them again if they did another loop, so when I saw them approaching I started filming (it would have looked like I was just looking at my phone). You can see from the video when they flock me they start laughing manically again and you can clearly hear the guy say "ohhhh, here she comes again". The 'lady' then says something I can't quite work out from the video. Again, I felt really intimated and uneasy.

The lady in the couple is clearly identifiable as she wearing the uniform of a local care home. It makes me shudder that people like this are 'caring' for others vulnerable loved ones.

Am I overreacting? Should I contact the care home and let them know what I experienced (yes they were off duty but in my view if you're in uniform you are still representing your employer etc).

I'm still so angry and bothered by it this morning. I'm just a slightly fat and unfit middle-aged woman minding my own business trying to improve myself a little. What is wrong with people 🙁

OP posts:
MiddleAgedDread · 03/09/2024 13:13

People are dicks. Ignore them and carry on with your running. Sadly it won't be the last time something like this happens.

Sethera · 03/09/2024 13:13

No, you're not overreacting, and yes, contact her employer. It might be that nothing will come of it, but at least you'd have done something. You should be free to go about your lawful business without being derided by randomers, and you make a good point that she is bringing her company into disrepute.

CremeEggThief · 03/09/2024 13:16

Sorry they were so mean to you, but you're giving them way too much head space and overreacting now. It also sounds as if the man was worse than her and she was the easily led type who went along with it...

HRCsMumma · 03/09/2024 13:17

MiddleAgedDread · 03/09/2024 13:13

People are dicks. Ignore them and carry on with your running. Sadly it won't be the last time something like this happens.

Why are women always told to 'ignore'? Just to put up with it and stay silent to 'be the bigger person'?

Nah bollocks. I'd say something OP, you absolutely shouldn't have to 'ignore' people who are bullying and berating you.

I'd send it into the care home. Probably won't have anything off the back of it, but it's worth a shot. Especially if you're not comfortable saying anything to them.

Horrible nasty bullies.

HRCsMumma · 03/09/2024 13:18

CremeEggThief · 03/09/2024 13:16

Sorry they were so mean to you, but you're giving them way too much head space and overreacting now. It also sounds as if the man was worse than her and she was the easily led type who went along with it...

No she's not overreacting. At ALL.

Honestly I despair. Women constantly told to ignore and keep quiet, and now OP is 'overreacting' to bullying behaviour.

She's not overreacting at all.

StrongTea · 03/09/2024 13:18

You won’t have been the only person to notice the uniform and if I saw something like that happen I would mention it to others. Think I would email the care home stating the facts.

Plump82 · 03/09/2024 13:19

People act like this because they think (and all too often do) get away with it. Why the fuck people think it's ok to mock someone who's trying to better themself I'll never know
I say contact the care home, even if you don't hear anything back if it makes you feel better then do it!

BlackShuck3 · 03/09/2024 13:20

What's a ridiculous and peurile pair of idiots you had to endure🤬
Well done for running, running is great, keep it up it! Doesn't matter if you run slowly, slow running is good 🤟😇

Motnight · 03/09/2024 13:21

I agree with this, Op.

KohlaParasaurus · 03/09/2024 13:22

I'm sorry you had such an unpleasant experience. People can be shitbags.

Making the care home aware that one of their staff, in uniform, was behaving in an antisocial manner in a public place seems like a good idea. It gives them an opportunity to deliver the message to staff that their organisation doesn't want to be associates with that sort of conduct.

herecomesthesondodedoodoo · 03/09/2024 13:23

Absolutely send the video to the care home and report her. And well done on the running, you're doing great! Don't let these two cunts put you off!

comedycentral · 03/09/2024 13:24

Most companies have policies about how staff should act whilst wearing their uniform. I would absolutely send it to them, be factual, I was out jogging yesterday and this happened. You could have been a vulnerable person or a family member from the care home.

Deathraystare · 03/09/2024 13:25

What is wrong with people? And yes, concerns me that the prat works in a care home. You can just i9magine, can't you what those poor people have to put up with from malicious staff.

CremeEggThief · 03/09/2024 13:29

HRCsMumma · 03/09/2024 13:18

No she's not overreacting. At ALL.

Honestly I despair. Women constantly told to ignore and keep quiet, and now OP is 'overreacting' to bullying behaviour.

She's not overreacting at all.

In my opinion she is and in your opinion she isn't. Do you think I'm going to change mine because you don't agree? Simple as that.

Have a nice day!

graceinspace999 · 03/09/2024 13:30

I agree with sending it to the care home.

However where I am they are so short staffed that they wouldn’t care.

I say this having informed a care home about one of their carers verbally abusing her elderly neighbour.

whosthefoolnow · 03/09/2024 13:30

What a horrible thing for them to do. I hope you're ok. Please don't let it impact on your fitness and self improvement. You're doing so well.
It's bizarre that they would find it all so hilarious. They're obviously not the brightest sparks to be so juvenile in their 30's.

HRCsMumma · 03/09/2024 13:33

@CremeEggThief no, I don't think that you're going to change your mind, and I don't care to try to. My opinion is you must have a very low bar when it comes to how people treat you. And by saying the OP is overreacting, is minimising bullying behaviour. Simples.

Smithhy · 03/09/2024 13:33

Post the video on YouTube with the title “xxx Care Home worker mocks runner”.

Let’s see how they like bringing their employer into disrepute.

Aquamarine1029 · 03/09/2024 13:35

I would 100%, without hesitation, send the footage and a factual explanation of what happened to the care home. Horrible, shit behaviour should have consequences, and a vile bitch like that has earned them. Ignore it? Not a fucking chance. If she's so happy to treat someone like this in public, she should be more than happy to have her employers informed about her true character.

I'm sorry this happened, op. It's disgusting.

Toothrush · 03/09/2024 13:36

Whilst wearing the uniform people are whether they like it or not representing their employer, I would just to be petty because honestly she sounds as disgusting as the man (guessing he didn't have any identifiable clothing in order to report).

doneandone · 03/09/2024 13:37

What a nasty thing to do!!
I would definitely send it to the care home.
Don't let them out you off op. Well done you and keep going!!

blahblahblah24 · 03/09/2024 13:40

Smithhy · 03/09/2024 13:33

Post the video on YouTube with the title “xxx Care Home worker mocks runner”.

Let’s see how they like bringing their employer into disrepute.

Yes!

magicmushrooms · 03/09/2024 13:41

Couples can be nasty-they get brave acting together. Once had one couple in a car think it was great fun to tailgate me (literally 2/3 inches) down a B road. I was not going slowly either.

But the woman was wearing her work uniform so yes, her employer would expect her to behave appropriately in it (hopefully). I would absolutely send it to them & ask to explain their employees behaviour on lunch break.

poppymango · 03/09/2024 13:45

Smithhy · 03/09/2024 13:33

Post the video on YouTube with the title “xxx Care Home worker mocks runner”.

Let’s see how they like bringing their employer into disrepute.

Agree with this!! Absolutely appalling that people think they can behave that way to another human being. I can't believe people here think you're overreacting. Ignoring bullies makes them think they can get away with it. Screw that!!

NoTouch · 03/09/2024 13:45

Contact the care home and tell them as she was wearing the uniform and bringing the home into disrepute you are letting them know as a courtesy before you will be posting it on facebook (any carers I know are not allowed to wear their uniform off premises for this reason).

Then put it on your local facebook with how you are trying your best to improve your health, know you have a lot of work to do, how it impacted you and how no one should be attacked for trying to better themselves. Shame the bastards.