... to think this might be a know-it-all and slowly back off?

[ravenmum]

I have put in an ad looking for people to go jogging with me, describing myself as a beginner and looking for other beginners, and saying I'm a 49-year-old woman. This is on a site where you can post anonymously and don't have to give out phone no. or anything. Now got three responses, all from 35-year-olds. Two say they are relatively unfit beginners like me, so hopefully won't just sprint off looking all young and fresh. The third responded (short version):

Him: So have you got a basic level of fitness?
Me: I'm not sporty but am slim and do lots of walking without getting out of breath.
Him: Well then, that's actually not a bad basis to start out from. The most important thing when you're running is your heart rate.
Him later: About me: I'm 34 and work in the rescue services.

Am I being paranoid or does he sound patronising? I didn't ask for his advice on my heart rate and specifically said I was looking for beginners. Benefit of the doubt, or claim I just wanted one running partner and have found one?

I can be a bit paranoid so might be overthinking it!

have you tried looking up a local running groups.many places have them now.and they have all sorts of types so there are front runners and those who are slower but its still done together and works for all level of fitness.

Unfortunately no running groups here, people do just put ads on local ebay page. Having tried to organise other social events this way (get new members for a group I'm in for example) I know that you might get six responses but then only one actually turns up, so the more the better. I have now got another answer from a woman my age, though :)

The others have also mentioned what they do or asked me what I do, I guess as a way of working out if you're on roughly the same page socially. But he didn't ask me what I do >narrows eyes

i bet he wants paying

or he is just a fitness nerd

Some people just have a conversation style where they feel the need to give facts. I don’t think you can tell from just that. Maybe just suss him out a little further or give it a go and see. You don’t have to live with him.

Plus don’t forget some men can’t admit to being beginners if it would kill them not to and he might be regurgitating facts from google