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Original poster

Going for a run in the car as a child

129 replies

whiteandgreenandgold · 31/08/2025 16:56

Does anyone else remember on a Sunday going as a family for a run in the car? We did this regularly when I was a child, not really sure what the enjoyment was of it but I had totally forgotten we ever did it until today!

OP posts:
tripleginandtonic · 31/08/2025 16:59

We did. And we'd have a quarter of butterscotch or chocolate limes to enjoy during it.

Donewiththisshit · 31/08/2025 17:01

Yes we did it often. How bloody random when you look back!

RosesAndHellebores · 31/08/2025 17:05

We tended to have a run out somewhere to do something. A walk along the coast, to a local lake, to the woods to pick up co keys, pick blackberries or in spring bluebells.

Back in the 60s and 70s everything was closed on Sundays so there wasn't much else to do.

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BabyCatFace · 31/08/2025 17:08

We used to do this when visiting my grandparents. I hated it as I would get car sick in their old car through the windy Northumberland roads. Stop for an ice cream and a walk around some dismal rain swept town and drive home again. Yuk.

RaraRachael · 31/08/2025 17:10

Yes we did ' every Sunday afternoon.
Nowhere was open on Sundays back then so we'd take the tartan flask with us and stop in a layby with the traffic thundering past 😃

SliceofTosst · 31/08/2025 17:14

Yep. Nearly every Sunday.

steelseries · 31/08/2025 17:16

What?! I’m nearly 40 and have never heard of this? So you literally all pile into the car and drive aimlessly? That seems so random! But then I hate driving…

TheSummerof25 · 31/08/2025 17:17

No! Was it because your parents were sick of you and needed to contain you for a bit???

muddyford · 31/08/2025 17:19

Yep. We did it with grandparents too. Roads weren't so busy and petrol was cheaper, compared to now.

PaxAeterna · 31/08/2025 17:20

My grandfather used to love this. Drive to a scenic area - sit in the car with a flask of tea and drive home again!

horseplay12 · 31/08/2025 17:21

This where the term ‘Sunday drivers’ comes from - live in a touristy area and it’s a nightmare trying to get anywhere on a Sunday due to the traffic!!

MiddleAgedDread · 31/08/2025 17:22

No, never!

Needmorelego · 31/08/2025 17:24

I don't drive but my sister does.
When we visit my 17 year old loves just going for a drive in her car.
Usually a big circle route through the countryside.
It's lovely.
(my sister drives.... not my 17 year old)

MemorableTrenchcoat · 31/08/2025 17:25

Yes, we did this a lot. We saw some amazing scenery, but it was mainly boring as hell. My parents were rather insular and didn't have any friends, so they filled their weekends doing this instead.

Growlybear83 · 31/08/2025 17:26

Yes, we did this every Sunday, with the obligatory flask of tea. In spring we often used to go to a bluebell wood; my dad went prepared with a carrier bag and trowel and dug up loads of plants. We had a LOT of bluebells in our garden 😆😆

Comedycook · 31/08/2025 17:28

We didn't do this but I get it. We take for granted having endless entertainment at our fingertips now.

Toddlerteaplease · 31/08/2025 17:30

We did this often as well. Sometimes would go to a canal side pub for a basket of chips.

Redhairandhottubs · 31/08/2025 17:31

Yes, we did this when I was a kid in the early 80’s. I think it was because everything was shut on Sundays back then and my parents would just want to get out of the house! My Dad was a train enthusiast so sometimes we went to stand on a bridge to watch trains, or we would be dragged around some random show homes (my Mum used to just like looking at the decor!) If we were really lucky, we got an ice cream or some sweets 🤣

Morningsleepin · 31/08/2025 17:31

Yeap. Everybody did that when I was growing up, except for us as we didn't have a car. A couple times family invited us
It was so boring

1AnotherOne · 31/08/2025 17:31

Yep. We used to drive round London often on a Sunday. We rarely got out the car!

limescale · 31/08/2025 17:32

We called it “going for a drive”.
I’m mid 50s.
4 or 5 kids poured into the Austin Maxi - seats folded down so we could play.

Toogoodtowaste · 31/08/2025 17:32

👍 we did this!

PosiePetal · 31/08/2025 17:33

We did. My nan used to tell me that they often went for a long run in the car for fun from Hampshire to Bath where they’d stop to eat fish and chips. The days before any heavy traffic.

Needmorelego · 31/08/2025 17:33

@Redhairandhottubs my Dad was a train and plane enthusiast so I spent many many hours being driven around to stand on railway bridges or behind the fences at the bottom of runways !!

spiderlight · 31/08/2025 17:35

Yes - we'd either just sit in the car for a bit looking at the sea or, for a real treat, haul out some deckchairs and have a picnic in a layby. We very rarely got out of the car and actually did anything though, and if we did get out, it was so my mum could find a loo. I despaired of her at the time but I totally get it now!