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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be scared of the man in the woods

198 replies

Catonsie · 12/08/2017 20:27

I've recently discovered a really scenic run through some woodland beside the local river, and it's become my favorite run. Until this week.

I was rounding the corner into a long straight which is overhung by large trees (so less light) when I heard the noise like snapping sticks ahead - like someone walking over lots of dry wood, only the path is quite clear. I saw the dog first and somehow thought it might be chewing a plastic water bottle in its mouth (similar noise) but it didn't.

Then I saw the man. Big fella wearing a hoodie with the hood pulled low. He was walking looking at the ground so I couldn't see his face at all. As I ran towards him I looked down to see what he was walking on. That's when I saw his feet.

He was wearing one black shoe, one white shoe.

At that point I felt like I was in an episode of Release the Hounds. The noise, the hidden face, the odd shoes, dimly lit woods....

The whole thing was unnerving and I felt really on edge as I sprinted past him. Must have done a record run.

Thinking about it after I think he may be the man that lives in a van in the corner of the car park near where I live (he's tall, same colour dog). If it was him (will check out his footwear if I see him) AIBU to tell him that next time he goes walking in the woods & passes a lone woman to take his hood off (and ask wtf the noise was)? Or am I just too easily scared? And should I buy him a new pair of shoes -because odd shoes makes me think of clowns and I'm scared of clowns- ?

Stupidly it's put me off that run.

OP posts:

Escapepeas · 12/08/2017 21:29

FFS at people being too scared to walk alone in the countryside. Today, I walked six miles in a rural and isolated area. I do this a lot as it's my hobby. The only people I ever meet are dog walkers and other hikers. Honestly, people seriously need to get a grip and stop being afraid of everything.

kali110 · 12/08/2017 21:30

AwaywiththePixies27 mine too! When im out im usually wearing huge boots and (right now) bright hair, guessing i donr look like a dog walker!
I did also wear odd boots the other day!
It wasn't intentional though.....

AwaywiththePixies27 · 12/08/2017 21:30

If you feel scared, YANBU to change your route. It's the crossover into telling someone else how to dress that is U.

Agreed.

Monkeyinshoes · 12/08/2017 21:31

YANBU and I agree with Winterview and Aqua You've subconsciously noticed something which made you feel uneasy. Trust your instincts, women are conditioned to be polite and ignore them.

FreudianSlurp · 12/08/2017 21:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 12/08/2017 21:33

Yes. Without going into too much detail. We usually get transport to school now but used to walk it daily. It'd be through an estate and then through the rural bit. Ironically I am never scared going through the rural bit and only had one incident with a dog on the loose.

Any incidents that have occurred have been on the estate and almost stopped me from using the route completely.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 12/08/2017 21:35

FreudianSlurp I did this in a rush one day. Didn't matter I thought. No one will see it until I can find a public toilet to get changed in. Walked out of school gates. School Mum: "Pixies. Sometimes we leave the house in such a rush dont we?" leans in and tells me my top is inside out and the label is showing

Damn it!

TheresTheFlyingFuckIDontGive · 12/08/2017 21:36

I used to run the same route each night and park my car in the same place, on a quiet, dark road. I said to my husband that perhaps I should change my routine a bit, in case someone knew I was going to be doing the same thing each night.

His immediate response was, 'Oh yes, they might break into the car!'

BenLui · 12/08/2017 21:37

If you'd passed him in a populated area he wouldn't have frightened you.

You can't control his behaviour, because he wasn't actually doing anything wrong.

You can only control your behaviour, which means running somewhere else for a while or running with a friend through the woods.

Don't be embarrassed because you were scared. But don't embarrass yourself by confronting and upsetting a man who caused you no harm.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 12/08/2017 21:37

I bet you have fabulous hair kali10. A dogwalker we encounter has what I call unicorn hair (rainbow) so I'll believe you this time.

FreudianSlurp · 12/08/2017 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

abigailgabble · 12/08/2017 21:39

would massively give me the willies but it's my beef not his so I would avoid the area. I'm easily scared these days though

Bluntness100 · 12/08/2017 21:40

It's fine and even to a certain extent understandable you were scared. Hunting him down, telling him how he should dress and buying him shoes and requesting he wear them as his others scare you is what is unreasonable.

Mumof56 · 12/08/2017 21:41

By going for a walk, keeping his head down and minding his own business? Yeah he sounds a right shady fucker

Obviously the woods has a dress code

Marcipex · 12/08/2017 21:42

Trust your gut instinct. Run another route or run with a friend.

(I have blue hair and a three legged dog. I like standing in the rain. I would have said hello though.)

RandomDent · 12/08/2017 21:42

Was it Tammylan?

(Just wondering if anyone else knows who Tammylan is)

youarenotkiddingme · 12/08/2017 21:46

Maybe he was looking at his feet thinking

"Fuck - I've put on odd shoes. If I keep my hood up and face down maybe this woman won't recognise me in future as the twat with odd shoes"

AwaywiththePixies27 · 12/08/2017 21:47

The only dress code needed when wood walking is wellies.

Vebrithien · 12/08/2017 21:47

I know who Tamylan is!!!!

diamond49 · 12/08/2017 21:47

I do! But he lives in a cave not a van

AwaywiththePixies27 · 12/08/2017 21:50

TwitterQueen1 · 12/08/2017 21:59

Usain Bolt always wears shoes that are differently coloured.

GO BOLT (and GB too) - watching now....

kali110 · 12/08/2017 22:05

FreudianSlurp
I've done that too it happens too often..

FreudianSlurp · 12/08/2017 22:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AssignedMentalAtBirth · 12/08/2017 23:05

Fuck off to those who say she is BU

Run with a friend if you can't do it comfortably alone. Or find a safer route. I have been abused but have in the last few years really, really enjoyed the freedom and beauty of running off road. I do have a scarey looking dog though and I wouldn't run off road without her (she's actually an angel but she's a bit 'rough' looking)

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