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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My DH thinks I wbu, do you agree? People interrupting me whilst out running...

310 replies

Livingtothefull · 19/04/2015 14:05

I know I am being a bit precious but here goes…

I live in an area which has a fair few tourists, this morning I was out for a run. There is one spot in the middle of the route where I have to run up a hill, I choose it purposely as it is v challenging to do.

I was running up the hill, just looking straight ahead and trying to focus and get up there. Then a couple approached me from the side & tried to ask me the way to somewhere (I think) but I just blanked them as I didn't want to stop and couldn't talk while running, not even to say 'Sorry can't stop'.

I did feel rude but then I thought, why ask a runner for directions when there are plenty of other people to ask? It was not an isolated spot, there were literally dozens of other people walking up & down the street. They did not look distressed, if I had thought there was any kind of emergency I would have stopped & helped….but I heard them giggling in amazement at my rudeness after I blanked them & ran past.

This has happened once before & I did the same thing. I told DH about it and he said they probably asked me because they assumed I was local. He thought I was rude and should have stopped, I said they should have known better than to try to interrupt a runner for a non-emergency. We had a bit of an argument about it & I said that they would never have done it if I had been a man, as they would have then assumed I was a 'serious athlete'.

WIBU? This is a genuine question.

OP posts:
GayByrne · 19/04/2015 14:09

You don't stop a runner in full fucking flow. Idiots. They were probably giggling at what a ridiculous prospect that was...honestly, some people. If they were to stop me, I'd likely vom on them...notanaturalrunner

Sparklingbrook · 19/04/2015 14:09

Why can you not stop if running? I do a lot of walking (in sports gear so obviously exercising IYKWIM) and get stopped a lot for directions, people in cars wind the window down and ask etc. I wouldn't dream of saying 'can't stop'. Confused

Not sure what difference the man thing makes.

Sparklingbrook · 19/04/2015 14:10

I did not know that you could not stop a runner. Shock I will assume this applies to walking and change my ways accordingly....

BunnyLebowski · 19/04/2015 14:11

YANBU.

What would possess someone to stop a runner in the middle of a run?? Confused

Stupidity I can only guess.

OrchardBeginning · 19/04/2015 14:12

Yanbu I race myself on strava from previous runs and unless it was an emergency I wouldn't stop either. If really pushing it I can barely eeek out a "sorry".

I also need to keep my heart rate consistently high and keep my pace. Someone stopping me would seriously put me off!

JeanneDeMontbaston · 19/04/2015 14:12

They were really rude.

Also, it's not impolite to say what you said even if you're not running. I live in tourist central, and if I stopped to help every tourist in my path, the 15 minute walk from my home to my work would take me about three days! So I do a lot of 'sorry, can't stop' replies.

Comingoutofhibernation · 19/04/2015 14:13

YANBU. It would make far more sense to stop someone who was walking, rather than try and interrupt your run. If I was running, I would not want to stop, and if I was after directions I certainly wouldn't stop a runner.

mistybluebellwoods · 19/04/2015 14:13

I think there is a hangover from childhood about approaching a friendly lady if you get lost or similar. I agree men are less likely to be stopped.

I'm not a runner but am surprised anyone would stop someone running.

Mabelface · 19/04/2015 14:13

I think you were rude. Why should they have known better? I wouldn't have done, as I'm not a runner.

Koalafications · 19/04/2015 14:13

Is this the same as when runners don't think to stop when they come to a road and just carry on running assuming that cars will see them and stop?

FabULouse · 19/04/2015 14:13

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WorraLiberty · 19/04/2015 14:13

I'm sure you could have uttered 'sorry'.

Not sure how you've shoehorned sexism into this scenario though? Confused

PolterGoose · 19/04/2015 14:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

overmydeadbody · 19/04/2015 14:14

Sparkling running is very different to walking, and coming to an abrupt stop while running is not nice or very good for your muscles.

I think YANBU OP.

I do sometimes stop quickly when someone pulls up in a car asking for directions, but only if I am running at a slower pace during fartleks or interval training. If I am going for it I will not stop.

This is why earphones are good. People assume you can't hear them then.

TheCowThatLaughs · 19/04/2015 14:15

I wouldn't stop a running runner, but then I run myself so I understand

CheeseandGherkins · 19/04/2015 14:15

YABU. I also think that was rude. Why can't a runner be stopped? Sounds like a bit of a superiority complex with the "can't be stopped" attitude.

RufusTheReindeer · 19/04/2015 14:15

Not a runner here

But YANBU

CMOTDibbler · 19/04/2015 14:15

If they've stopped a couple of people who turned out to be tourists, then I can totally see why they'd try a runner who is v likely to be local or at least have been around the area.

Personally, I don't mind stopping to answer questions about my dogs or whatever

Sparklingbrook · 19/04/2015 14:16

I walk as fast as I can for miles, and like to keep going where possible, I am often quite out of breath and red in the face but would stop if somebody wanted directions.

I am just helpful I guess.

DragonsCanHop · 19/04/2015 14:17

Yanbu I wouldn't think to stop some one who is running.

CheeseandGherkins · 19/04/2015 14:17

Presumably all the runners who "won't stop", manage to do just that when it comes to a car on a road or people in front of them

base9 · 19/04/2015 14:17

Why on earth would you try to stop a runner? You are clearly busy! Ask someone who looks like they have the time to answer you, and who you are not interrupting or inconveniening. They were rude.

Branleuse · 19/04/2015 14:18

when i used to do lots of running, i would often have people try and say something to me, and id stop, and remove my headphones, and it would nearly always be a fucking stupid random comment or something jokey.

It was ALWAYS annoying because I timed my runs, so would have to adjust, plus if i ever needed to rest, id usually slow down and jog and not stop because stopping makes it harder to get back into the run.

If you stop runners and its not an emergency, then you are a really fucking annoying person. No question

Sparklingbrook · 19/04/2015 14:18

I do quite a lot of canal walking, can't wear headphones as I would get mown down from behind by cyclists.

Both runners and cyclists expect me to stop and stand in the long grass with dog poo in it while they sail by without a word.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 19/04/2015 14:18

worra, you misread her - she did say 'sorry can't stop'.

I really fail to see how anyone could interpret that as rude.