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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:
Springforward · 28/10/2012 21:19

YABU at all. I wish I had some advice to offer - hopefully someone more helpful will be along in a minute.

FWIW I would be extremely proud of myself if I could run as far as you can!

Faverolles · 28/10/2012 21:20

YANBU!
They sound horrible, the lot of them.

But, bloody well done you for losing weight and getting out there running, that's really inspirational.
Keep going, for yourself. The twats aren't worth listening to.

OTheEldritchManateesOfMadness · 28/10/2012 21:20

YANBU. Fucking scrotes. Bet they're just embarrassed because you're more active than them Hmm

Sparklingbroomstick · 28/10/2012 21:21

YANBU. You carry on running, and don't you dare let them get you down. You have lost so much weight you should be so proud. Could you wear an Ipod? Be oblivious to it all (but don't get run over).

Just ignore. x

GhostofMammaTJ · 28/10/2012 21:21

Hey, you have done brilliantly!! Well done.

I am slightly more overweight than you when you started out.

I get comments form a neighbour when I walk out in the street (Wobble wobble). I think she would be better off watching her young DDs weight than mine, the poor child can barely walk she is so fat.

I also get the Laurel and Hardy theme tune whistled by another neightbour everytime I appear outside (my DP is skinny). Well I did until I shouted that him doing this said more about him than me, in that if he has to react everytime he sees me he must be obsessed.Wink

They are clearly people with issues, so just ignore them, remember how well you are doing and get on with your life. Smile sweetly too, cos it really annoys people like this if they cannot make you cry!!

valiumredhead · 28/10/2012 21:22

I'd find a different place to run.

LeChatRouge · 28/10/2012 21:22

People are nasty for no reason because they are thick shits. In front of their own child as well!!!

Hold your head up and keep on running! Do you have a target size and weight? How long did it take you to get to be able to run for this long? You inspire me.

WorraLiberty · 28/10/2012 21:22

YANBU, they're twats.

Congrats on the weight loss! Thanks

If I paypal you some money, do you think you could run a few miles for me?

I need to get fit but I hate exercise Blush

Mind you, I've got a Wii Fit so I could always download some cheats and get fit within minutes....

kissyfur · 28/10/2012 21:22

YANBU! Ignore the horrible gits. Some people are just nasty for the sake of it. Makes me mad! Do unto others and all that..

LibrariansMakeNovelLovers · 28/10/2012 21:23

YANBU - they sound awful. Sounds like you've done brilliantly with weight loss and fitness (2hrs of non-stop running Shock fab I can't do that)

Springforward · 28/10/2012 21:23

So sorry - I meant YANBU!!! Blush

Challenge them to get their running kit on and keep up with you?

FannyFifer · 28/10/2012 21:24

I think I would get a T-shirt with FUCK OFF printed on it.

Icelollycraving · 28/10/2012 21:24

Fucking bastards Angry That has really made me full of rage on your behalf.
Your weight loss is amazing,be proud. You can lose weight (& have),they will always be arseholes.

AuscreemaAscare · 28/10/2012 21:24

I wasn't at all sure what this was about from the title and for some bizarre reason I thought you might have been addicted to knock-down-ginger [hconfused] in which case, unreasonable [hgrin]

But of course YANBU - some people are just vile and yes - jealous.

Bloody well done on your weight loss too!

Piffpaffpoff · 28/10/2012 21:25

(a) I'm fatter than you and I go running so stop putting yourself down Wink
(b) ignore them, they are twats
(c)YA most definitely NBU

Keep on running and be proud of yourself and what you are achieving!

Sparklingbroomstick · 28/10/2012 21:26

Did you follow a diet or just put it down to the running? I walk 3 miles a day, I try and run for short bursts but I can't do it for very long. People stop and ask if I want a lift. Blush

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.

beancurd · 28/10/2012 21:27

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

YouSeveredHead · 28/10/2012 21:34

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

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

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