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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

out for a jog and women yells at me to stop

189 replies

suchclearwater · 12/05/2020 17:04

Really feeling quite confused. I feel like I have done something wrong but I don't think that I have. Or have I? I was out jogging in some fields (a popular area for joggers, dog walkers etc) and came near two women. I was at least 5 metres away from them and keeping that distance as I was passing them when one of the women shouted, Stop!' at me.I stopped and said I am at least 2 metres away from you and she came back with, well I have a chest infection so that isn't good enough. She then went on to say that all us joggers were just panting and spreading our breathe everywhere. I honestly didn't know what to say. In the end I just jogged about another 4 metres away from her and carried on but was left feeling slightly mystified and a bit cross. I don't think I had done anything wrong. Her tone was really aggressive. What do you think? Should I have apologized or something? I don't think I should have but clearly she did.

OP posts:
Puddlesplasher · 12/05/2020 17:06

No, you did nothing wrong. If she is feeling that paranoid she shouldn't be out in public.

Cocolapew · 12/05/2020 17:06

If she has a chest infection she should have stayed in.

Backtoreality1 · 12/05/2020 17:07

If she is unwell she shouldn't be out. You did nothing wrong.

hammeringinmyhead · 12/05/2020 17:11

It's not you. There are posts from people like this all over social media about joggers huffing and puffing. I have running friends who are doing the same routes that they have for years and the brand new "daily exercisers" in these areas are yelling abuse. It's completely ridiculous. Flowers

peperethecat · 12/05/2020 17:15

I'd have flicked Vs at her and kept running.

BlueJava · 12/05/2020 17:15

If she has a chest infection she shouldn't be out. You did nothing wrong, maybe she is just paranoid. Maybe she thinks she may have Covid-19 and went out anyway and wanted to stop you getting closer.

CazzaCat · 12/05/2020 17:15

She sounds nuts. If you were jogging and she was walking you would have only passed her very briefly at that distance anyway so she’s overreacting and has caused more risk by opening her gob to shout at you anyway!

Sirzy · 12/05/2020 17:16

I would have asked her why she was out then!

PickAChew · 12/05/2020 17:17

Stupid woman should have been self isolating.

Minesacider · 12/05/2020 17:18

She shouldn't have been out walking, her health is her own responsibility. YANBU.

Ethelfleda · 12/05/2020 17:18

She is mental. You did nothing wrong OP!

ShirleyPhallus · 12/05/2020 17:19

You didn’t do anything wrong, but it is rather frustrating that loads of people seem to have taken up jogging as their new sport and are unable to maintain social distancing. I am going for walks and physically unable to move further away (ie, walking along next to a brick wall) and joggers will come around the corner at full pelt, not moving or giving me time to move across their path and to the road. Or, running past me from behind.

You obviously didn’t do any of those things but perhaps people are just feeling a bit fed up of joggers in general, similarly to not how every cyclist is thoughtless but all get tarred with the same brush.

ProseccoBubbleFantasies · 12/05/2020 17:19

There are a few people who exercise in the same locations I do who seem to spend their time shouting at others for exercising "wrong". None of them look at their own behaviour or actions. (Eg, that they could move off the path onto the grass if they want more space).

I put it down to their anxiety.

Original poster
suchclearwater · 12/05/2020 17:19

Thank you! That makes me feel a bit better. But am now thinking of all sorts of comebacks I should have said (slightly childishly)Wink

OP posts:
workshy44 · 12/05/2020 17:20

I personally cannot stand joggers coming right up along side me sweating and heavy breathing/panting all over me. its totally different to a walker.
it has been proven that the 2 metres isn't sufficient with joggers and it needs to be far more based on how the breath while jogging
Not saying you are op but so may are just beyond selfish and inconsiderate.
I have no problem going into the middle of the road to get out of their flight path but when they fly up behind you I don't have time to move out of their way

BackseatCookers · 12/05/2020 17:21

She was a dick and if she has a chest infection she is also very foolish for going out and about, especially in a field as that's unlikely to be a necessary excursion for her. Sounds like you were plenty far enough away, sorry she had a go at you - I don't think you did anything wrong.

Glitterbubbles · 12/05/2020 17:22

As PP have said if she has symptoms she should be self isolating. Don’t worry OP, you did nothing wrong and shouldn’t have to apologise Flowers

Original poster
suchclearwater · 12/05/2020 17:23

Yes @workshy44 I have had the same thing with joggers passing by me whilst I am jogging!

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 12/05/2020 17:24

So it's okay for her to be out in public but no one else.

GemmeFatale · 12/05/2020 17:27

@workshy44 have you gotta source you can link to that backs up that statement about joggers needing to distance further?

PineappleDanish · 12/05/2020 17:28

She's what is popularly known as a dementor. Sole purpose to suck the joy out of life and police the lockdown in the way they see fit, irrespective of the actual rules.

Isawamagpie · 12/05/2020 17:28

Lol, if she's vulnerable with a chest infection, wtf is so doing out?
Nope, op, nothing wrong. This virus is bringing all kinds of crazy out.

JasonPollack · 12/05/2020 17:29

Were you as far away as possible? I would always for courtesy's sake pass people as far away as possible.

workshy44 · 12/05/2020 17:30

Here you go
www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-and-exercise-two-meters-are-not-enough-says-study/a-53118589

There are tons of them though

Aridane · 12/05/2020 17:31

I don’t like panting, heavy breathing joggers running past me. Their ‘2 metres’ is never x2 metres