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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To talk to this girl

207 replies

Oysterbabe · 06/10/2015 12:09

I’ve been walking the same route to work for about a year and inevitably see a lot of the same people every day. What they may or may not know is that I am secretly racing them. There is one girl in particular who is usually walking up my road as I leave the house. She’s pretty fast and sometimes she overtakes me and sometimes I stay ahead of her. We’ve never made eye contact or spoken but I feel sure that knows that we’re racing and I’m sure she purposely swishes her ponytail at me as she’s overtaking. She wears very cloppy shoes so I can usually hear her approaching from behind even when I have my headphones on.

I’m 23 weeks pregnant now and getting a bit slower as my hip has been giving me a bit of bother. She wins most days and this is just going to get worse. This morning I set off down the road and straightaway could hear clop clop clop so I upped the pace a bit, determined to at least beat her to the traffic lights at the bottom of the hill. It was going pretty well as her clops got a bit faster too but weren’t getting any louder so I thought I was holding her. Upped the pace a bit more to the point where I had a bit of a light sweat on and still no sign of her overtaking. Made it to the lights first (yes!) and risked a glance back over my shoulder and saw that no one was there. Was a bit puzzled by this until I started walking again, heard the clop clop clop and realised that my keys had been knocking against my phone in my bag when I walked and this was what I had been hearing.

While finishing my walk to work at a rather more leisurely pace I started thinking about how I’m probably slightly mad. Do other people secretly race to work? Would it be unreasonable if next time I smiled at my swishy haired opponent and maybe said good morning? Would this be breaking some kind of commuter grand prix rule? To be honest she doesn’t look very friendly but maybe she’s just focused on the race.

OP posts:
PolShelby · 06/10/2015 17:04

DH does this but in the car when we get to a car park and there's a ticket machine/barrier entrance. He'll pull up next to the other car as quickly as possible and try to press the button to get the ticket before they do so he can then drive through the barrier first.

Doesn't matter if the other driver is completely unaware of the race or if it's an OAP who hasn't even wound their window down yet! I think he gives himself bonus points if the other person's finger is about to press the button and he gets there a split second before.

He also does it on the way out of the car park when he puts the ticket back into the machine Hmm

Cocolepew · 06/10/2015 17:14

There was a similar thread years ago. I remember it because Wandering Trolley gave me a medal for jumping over a pensioner who I raced every morning when he dropped his newspaper and it blew over the pavement

I think I was being raced this morning. A woman was gaining on me so I sped up. She then got level with me and we had that embarrassing moment where we were in step and couldn't go any faster and neither of us wanted to slow down.

Cocolepew · 06/10/2015 17:16

Proper loling at Sven Grin

Spartans · 06/10/2015 17:28

Just realised I race people on the treadmill at the gym. They had no idea but I always have to go faster and won't get off until I have done at least 30 seconds before them.

I am sure they know too. This thread made me laugh because it was so odd. Then I realised I do it too! Grin

Crazypetlady · 06/10/2015 18:14

Ah a lovely thread . Hopefully she is playing the same game!

TheReferoo · 06/10/2015 18:36

That's really made me Grin I used to do the exact same when I used to run to work each morning. I'd always see the same girl running and we'd 'race'. One day we finally got chatting, turned out we were both training for the marathon and we ended up training our long boring otherwise solo runs together. So say hi - you never know!!

Grapejuicerocks · 06/10/2015 18:44

The one and only time I did this it ended badly.
A car pulled out of the Tesco car park at the same time as me but got onto the roundabout before me. I sped along the duel carriageway determined it wasn't going to beat me. I got pulled over by the police...

I don't know what it was about that particular car. I'm normally a very sedate driver.

Excited101 · 06/10/2015 18:52

Op, we'd get on... That is all Grin

SunnyL · 06/10/2015 19:20

I did it at the swimming pool tonight. i figured we were even because although he was geriatric, I'm pregnant and wearing a too loose tankini top so couldn't go full speed Hmm

Original poster
Oysterbabe · 06/10/2015 20:29

I might tell my husband about this thread as I've never spoken to him about the racing before. I usually keep my crazy quite hidden though..

OP posts:
LumelaMme · 06/10/2015 20:33

The great thing about MN is finding out that things you do that appear vaguely mad are, in fact, not especially abnormal.

I'm a racer, and I walk bloody fast so I usually win. And when I see the same person, day in and day out along the same route, I say hello. But I do live in a small town where 'private life' is a concept beyond the comprehension of most of the residents.

MoonlightandMusic · 06/10/2015 21:31

There are definitely several people on my walk in who aren't entirely discreet about their racing tendencies - it is quite funny though when you keep catching them up (there are four main crossings not too far apart on my route to work).

Some days I feel like as they scurry off at speed, only for me to catch up again at the next lights while they are hot and bothered and willing the lights to change. Grin

ScarlettDarling · 06/10/2015 21:38

Funniest thing I've ever read!

Truly made me laugh out loud! Grin

Nominate this for the funniest post of 2015 award (if such an award exists.)

Alanna1 · 06/10/2015 21:39

Say hello! I race when swimming. Keeps my pace up in the pool.

Littledafty · 06/10/2015 21:54

I have this every morning on the way to work. Get off one bus to cross a busy junction and get to next bus stop. Elderly lady is already on the first bus when I get on. We both get off to change buses. She's about a foot shorter than me and she is almost running to get to the crossing. Sometimes she's running so fast she does a little skip mid air. I try and overtake her by taking huge strides in a nonchalant attempt to look like I'm not racing and don't care if she gets to the next bus stop first.
I'm usually sweating a bit by the time we both gallop across the road.

goldglittershitter · 06/10/2015 22:00

Best thread in a long time. I love u a bit, OP.

KiwiJude · 06/10/2015 23:14

I'm loving this thread. Particularly lol'ed at Sven Grin .

SladeGreen · 06/10/2015 23:39

I am a very fast walker too. I see no point in plodding along when I just want to go from A to B, immediately. I can never enjoy a "leisurely stroll," it just bores me rigid, and everytime I get back from the shop I am sweating buckets because I just bloody go for it, pelting it down the road!! (I don't ever run though, that would just be weird) Wink Grin

PagesOfABook · 07/10/2015 00:12

Grin this is really funny

We're all so odd in our own ways

Original poster
Oysterbabe · 07/10/2015 07:16

Might wear my running shoes today Grin

OP posts:
FreshwaterSelkie · 07/10/2015 07:33

Good luck in today's Grand Prix, OP!

Places I race...where to start...

At my old office with the slow lift, I used to race the lift by taking the stairs. I could beat it to the third floor, but only if someone needed to get off on 1 or 2. CRUCIAL POINT - I had to saunter past the doors as they opened, to make it look like I hadn't been racing. If I was out of breath or flustered, it was a loss.

On the treadmill at the gym. By speed, by incline, by duration, I have caned myself into a small sweaty heap at times. I also sing along to my music and conduct a bit with my arms. No-one ever chats me up at the gym. Can't think why?

On my bike. The best way to win is to hammer up behind someone, catch your breath then sail past them with a cheery "LOVELY DAY!!" - again it is crucial not to show them that you are breathing out your arse - you must slide past them like a well-oiled piston.

In the swimming pool. In my imagination I am a barracuda as I flick past the other, lesser mortal fish Grin

A rich inner life is a wonderful thing!

Catzpyjamas · 07/10/2015 07:49

Please please post race results daily to keep me Grin. Say hello to swishy, cloppy girl by all means but do not tell her you race her. She might get a skateboard and then where would you be?

Theydontknow I love the story of you and SvenSmile

I walk DD to and from school and we secretly race the drivers. We always win. We are just a bit smug wet about that.

OolonColluphid · 07/10/2015 08:27

We timed the school run by 'fast man' on a bike, he is full pelt, loud breathing noises serious, but a real mystery as the day I walked further he'd go past me again and the route made no sense. Our theory is he perpetually cycles and can't ever stop.
I also enjoyed scaring the late kids by how far I'd got back towards home again, especially husky voice girl who would visibly startle and start towing her dad.

londonrach · 07/10/2015 08:36

Glad im not the only one. I like to thank my dad for my long legs as it does give me an unfair advantage. Mind you was over taken last week by a lady with high heels. How she do that? Im sure they were motorised...a tiny heel and i fall so forget racing!!

chrome100 · 07/10/2015 09:10

I race people when I'm jogging. They are totally racing me too (honest). I put on a spurt and overtake, only then I don't want to lose face by having them overtake me back, so I often pretend I'm turning into a driveway and hide behind the hedge until they've gone past.