To think I should be able to go for a run without being sexually harassed or cat called at by pervy men?

[Runny]

Today I decided to go outside for a run for the first time since about September. Over the winter months Ive been using the treadmill in the gym, but now the weather has started to improve again I was really looking foreward to getting out there again.

I'd been out for about 15 minutes and was she just making my way back home when some twat on a motorbike (with L plates no less, so probably young) comes speeding past me, making hand gestures and shouting obsceneties at me that I couldn't really make out exactly what they were. It had to be aimed at me as I was the only person around. I should add, I was wearing an over sized tatty T-shirt and tatty old running trousers so hardly flashing the flesh (not that it should matter, obviously), but this idiot still thought it was acceptable to hurl sexist abuse at me.

Being in the gym all these months I'd forgotten about this. It's one of the pit falls of being a woman out running. This is not the first time it's happened, Ive had men of all ages slow down their cars and leer at me, shout abuse, laugh etc. God knows how they'd feel if someone did the same to treir wife/mother/daughter/sister.

Honestly what gives them the right to behave like this? It make sure me want to just go back into the gym and stay there.

One thing I hate is that I get plenty of pleasant comments too ('Lovely evening for it!' 'I ought to do what you're doing!') but the unpleasant ones make me jumpy about the others.
I hate the way I brace myself when someone is about to say something to me. Because when you are expecting a nice comment and you get a nasty one you somehow feel twice as upset.

It's horrible. I run three or four times a week, almost always alongside roads and get comments reasonably regularly, usually shouted from cars or if I pass a pub. I just pretend I can't hear and keep going, but I shouldn't have to.

I'm always wary of answering then back or telling them to fuck off because generally these kinds of men don't like women daring to stand up to them. I quite like the idea of filming them though, maybe next time I'll whip out my phone.

I rarely have any comments, one old guy on a mobility scooter once called out "Do a mile for me!', I could hardly take offence at that. I've been running outside regularly for the last 15 years, I will wear lycra and bright colours and whatever I want to, go whenever I want to and wherever I want to. I usually wear either sunglasses and/or a cap, maybe that deters people from commenting.

The only concession I have ever made was to get the best sports bra money could buy. I thank the "soggy tits" commenter for that. And I truly do. It is an awesome piece of engineering.

I had this happen the first time I ran outside about 20 years ago, they actually slowed down to do it, I've ran exclusively in gyms since, it is really horrible, it was like a constant barrage of sexual harassment and I felt really self conscious. I came back in, swore I'd never do it again and I haven't.

Never got catcalled when I walked around in a Los Angeles suburb, now we are in the Bible belt and when DD and I go walking at night we usually get some yahoo honking their horn or yelling at us. It isn't complimentary it's done purely to give us a fright. I found the same when I rode my bike, truck drivers trying to get as close as they could to make my friends and I ride into the ditch at the side of the road (and we were riding single file and as close to the edge as we could before some oh so 'clever' person tries to make out we were riding three abreast across the road and performing circus tricks to distract people).

Where I live is incredibly boring so I'm guessing yelling at walkers is the only excitement they'll get that week.

Also, I'm naturally quite socially anxious and hate being the centre of attention so certainly don't enjoy this kind of thing. But I love the spring and sunny days and being outside in the sunshine, especially after the long winter months and should be able to run outdoors without being subjected to harassment.

(That's for the poster who accused me of boasting btw).

It's why I'd never go running in public unless with someone else. I'm quite self conscious and I am overweight.

Still get the loves and darlings when signing for post / picking up a parcel though. I don't mind from the older gents as they tend to say this to everyone but a 20 something saying it makes me think they are being sarcastic.

Is there anyone you could run with runny? No one should be denied a run on a beautiful day. At the very least it would be someone to help you dispose of the body if things get really out of hand.

That's for the poster who accused me of boasting btw

You shouldn't have to justify legal, healthy actions which do no-one else any harm.

You go gurrrl!

we need a pom pom emoticon, Mumsnet Towers, pretty please