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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:
NotMeNoNo · 12/05/2020 20:56

There is next to no risk of transmission of the virus outdoors, from passing cyclists or runners or other walkers at normal distance.

Shinyletsbebadguys · 12/05/2020 21:01

See this exercise policing really irritates me. It's amazing isn't it? In an actual crisis we found as a society something else to judge each other on ...honest to God.(disclaimer some people , not all people)

OP you did nothing wrong , its ridiculous that people feel they can behave this way. If I could take anything away positive from this (I am desperately trying sending all day every day talking to care home managers who are in desperate situations I need to find some light at the end of the tunnel) surely people exercising and getting healthier is a good thing. People wingw about "new" exercisers. Before covid the same people would be winging about the obesity crisis.

Some people seen to feel as " real" runners they can look down on new runners, other people feel they can complain that a type of exercise is making people breathe too heavily , and more seem to think because they are moving faster other people should move out of the way? What in actual hell? Why the hell can't we all accept that everyone, everyone in this pandemic has their own crap to deal with. Some more than others, but in christ , is there really anyone singing and dancing and having a grand old time currently ? No.

OP you did nothing wrong, ignore her. Assume I guess, that she is scared and socially inept so bloody hell life must be hard for her. However please don't let it get to you, it's not you.

NotMeNoNo · 12/05/2020 21:01

I should say, based on research by Dr Erin Bromage we have been looking at in context of business planning.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 13/05/2020 12:38

I seem to have been particularly fortunate - if anything I've found people more courteous and considerate since Coronavirus.

Stepping aside on paths, thanking each other for doing so - occasionally a runner will go past too close, but on the whole, most of the people in the areas I frequent have been lovely - and I have been lovely back!

Persiaclementine · 13/05/2020 13:13

She shouldn't have been out if she was worried about joggers panting all over the place stupid woman.

ChanklyBore · 13/05/2020 13:19

Well, you had the perfect opportunity for the last word, as you are fit enough to jog and she had a chest infection, so it’s not like she could have caught you is it?

I am getting fed up with people on my paths (little known paths that I use several times a week for exercise year round and rarely see a soul, suddenly packed with people) but I’m still polite.

Aridane · 13/05/2020 13:28

Here's a comeback:
Point your finger at them..."Expecto Patronum!"
Guarantee that'll leave them speechless.

Eh? - I would just think you were a bit of a Dick

DollyDoneMore · 13/05/2020 13:51

She is nuts. You’ve done nothing wrong.

However...

I am a jogger. I am amazed at the number of other joggers who seem incapable of stopping, slowing or moving away from their designated route.

Being a jogger (or runner or cyclist) doesn’t mean you have to plough on regardless, especially at the moment when there are more people around exercising. If everyone was a bit more thoughtful, we wouldn’t have as many bad-tempered exchanges.

BMW6 · 13/05/2020 14:28

You did nothing wrong OP.

Paulolina · 13/05/2020 14:34

Jog on OP literally jog on

cologne4711 · 13/05/2020 14:47

more seem to think because they are moving faster other people should move out of the way

well the flip side of that is that those who are moving more slowly think everyone else should line up behind them.

I am amazed at the number of other joggers who seem incapable of stopping, slowing or moving away from their designated route

In eight weeks, I have not experienced this once. That said, I tend to react quickly and have moved first on a number of occasions, so maybe if I'd stayed put we would have come close to each other. But I don't know that.

A couple jogging together coming towards me on a farm track. Rather than staying together on one side they split up, one one side and one the other. I had to go in the middle, less than 2m from both of them. They seemed rather huffy at me shaking my head at them

That was a bit daft (of them). But people have no spatial awareness. I also see people walking along their empty side of the road and deciding to cross the road onto my side, so I have to cross over to the side they've just vacated!

midsomermurderess · 13/05/2020 14:52

I was cycling through my local park today and a woman walking her dog told me the paths were for pedestrians and that I should 'get over there', to cycle on the grass. I was going to anyway, briefly, to put space between us but really, the paths are for pedestrians? I just laughed. These sorts of people are everywhere.

R2519 · 13/05/2020 14:57

My response would have been to tell her to f**k off to be honest!

Daphnise · 13/05/2020 14:58

I don't like joggers breathing near me, but to stop this, go well out of the way to avoid them.

As for your complainant- she sounds a bit unhinged, and was probably frightened.

Obviously if her condition were contagious it should have been you shouting at her!

Becstar90 · 13/05/2020 15:01

She shouldn't be out in public if she is sick. You did nothing wrong. If anything she is the one spreading germs around

kmc1111 · 13/05/2020 15:04

You did nothing wrong, and she’s clearly just an idiot who wanted to tell someone off. Even if you were doing something wrong, if she was worried about COVID she should have wanted you to carry on jogging away from her, not stop right near her.

MrsTerryPratchett · 13/05/2020 15:09

The virus is so new it will be years before there is concrete proof of anything but logic would suggest there is more risk from a sweaty person breathing heavily running next to you than a walker.

We've gone from 'studies' to 'common sense'. I will engage my 'common sense' and say I think the risk of transmission with a very brief contact, outdoors in the sun and wind is extremely low, runner or walker. And since I know what a study is, my common sense beats your common sense.

oldshoeuk · 13/05/2020 15:56

Feel sorry for the poor woman, she must be living in hell holding onto that much fear. Of course you didn't do anything wrong.

hardboiledeggs · 13/05/2020 16:16

If shes that worried about it she should be in her house.

Sh05 · 13/05/2020 17:28

You did nothing wrong op. I'm surprised she didn't start recording to post on FB. Loads of people seem to be spoiling for a reason to post on fb

Noextremes2017 · 13/05/2020 17:30

Too many paranoid people around.

I think it is fine for you to jog - I assume you are wearing full PPE/Scrubs?

PatchworkElmer · 13/05/2020 17:38

I get up at 5:30 to go for a run now, purposely to avoid the idiots who don’t understand social distancing. It’s hard to get out of bed OP, but so much nicer to be out there with nobody about.

DanceItOut · 13/05/2020 17:39

If she has a chest infection she should be at home so she is in the wrong by default. I mean giving a bit more than 2m is probably wise for joggers but if you were like 5m away anyway then you weren’t in the wrong. We walk around some fields which are popular for joggers and dog walkers I’ve even attempted a jog around myself a few times though I am extremely unfit. I personally prefer the joggers that call out “excuse me” from a good distance to walkers and then me and the kids just stop and stand in against the hedge to allow the joggers plenty of space to pass and then we carry on our merry way. Literally takes less than a minute and they always say thank you.

ITonyah · 13/05/2020 17:40

There is next to no risk of transmission of the virus outdoors, from passing cyclists or runners or other walkers at normal distance

This. I think it's brilliant that so many people are trying to get fit. We badly need it as a nation.

LovelyIssues · 13/05/2020 17:42

If she has a chest infection she should be at home if she is that concerned Hmm

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