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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Exercising outdoors and then driving everywhere?

43 replies

Thegreenery · 07/07/2020 11:27

I live in a small village where there are a lot of running clubs. Forgive me for being judgemental, but I'm getting increasingly annoyed by the degree of runners who do all their exercise outdoors, but then drive anywhere within 1 mile when they could easily walk?
Completely understand people wanting to keep fit, but it makes zero sense to me. Surely, build the exercise into your everyday life and help save the planet at the same time?
I often see groups of runners running by my house in the morning, then see those same mums and dads doing school runs in the car shortly afterwards, driving less than a mile and home again on my walks to and from the school gates.

Am I missing something?

OP posts:
sirfredfredgeorge · 07/07/2020 11:29

You're conflating two entirely different things.

You can complain about the use of the car for short trips that don't require a car, but it's completely irrelevant if the person also runs.

A walk is not in any way a substitute for a run.

Daisydoesnt · 07/07/2020 11:33

Yes you are being totally unreasonable.

Personally I to love to run and I love to walk.

But they aren’t the same thing in terms of fitness; you just can’t get your heart rate up in the same way walking. So you can’t switch your run for a short 1 mile walk, even if you do it several times a day.

Perhaps they are pushed for time, and need to get the school runs down as quickly as possible??

Original poster
Thegreenery · 07/07/2020 11:42

I've too thought that maybe it was a timing issue, but some of the mums who do it are at home during the day time so definitely have the time to walk to and from school. I agree that walking isn't a substitute for running though. It just seems strange that if you were wanting to exercise outdoors, you would take the short walk to and from school also (and help the planet which is my primary bug bear with it.)

OP posts:
sirfredfredgeorge · 07/07/2020 11:43

Just complain about taking the car for journeys that don't need cars, ignore the running, it's irrelevant.

megletthesecond · 07/07/2020 11:45

Yep I see this too.
I'd rather walk a mile to the shops and lug it back than drive and park. But I'm impatient Blush.

DeepfriedPizza · 07/07/2020 11:46

It's not up to you to decide if parents (not just Mums) have time to walk to and from school.
I run but I also drive to school (about 2 miles)
I'll often drive to school then run from there and drive home.

There are many reasons why I drive to school. Rubbish weather, going to shops on way home, after school activities to drive on to.

Marketgarden · 07/07/2020 11:48

OP YANBU. Not just something in a small village. Though many don't do the exercise bit.

Foxinsocks1 · 07/07/2020 11:49

I see this too. One school mum parks up outside school 25 minutes early as it’s on her way home. She could drive home, have 20 minutes there then do the 5 minute walk to get the kids.
I’m lucky to live close to the village amenities and unless we’re getting more than 3/4 bags of shopping we walk everywhere. Cheaper, better for the environment and makes you feel better getting fresh air and exercise

foamrolling · 07/07/2020 11:51

Completely agree with sirfred. Their running has nothing to do with it. People absolutely should drive less and walk more if possible but their hobby is irrelevant.

TooGood2BeTrue · 07/07/2020 11:53

I wonder if some people do this to show off their big 4x4's?!

Marketgarden · 07/07/2020 12:07

TooGood2BeTrue I thought that was only men who are unhappy with a part of their body.

TooGood2BeTrue · 07/07/2020 12:10

Marketgarden Not sure what you mean?

TheOrigBrave · 07/07/2020 12:15

Missing the point, but why does your small village have so many running clubs?

I live in a small village and my nearest running club is in the town.

Anyway, I am a runner and also walk my son to school. My run and the walk to school are indeed both a form of exercise, but I can tell you that my run is in an entirely different league when it comes to what it gives me. The walk to school is just that - a walk to school.

cologne4711 · 07/07/2020 12:16

I do see your point OP - people who use the gym but park as close as they can to the entrance, or as you say, insist on driving their kids to school when they could walk there and back in 10 minutes. Yes sometimes there is a reason to drive, eg going elsewhere afterwards like work or the shops, but so many times people are just lazy. You know they aren't coming from anywhere because they arrive to park near the school at least 45-30 mins before pick-up and sit there with their engines running. Even if they came from work they'd have ample time to drive home and walk.

Though I agree it may have more to do with showing off their expensive SUVs.

UltimateWednesday · 07/07/2020 12:35

Yes, you're absolutely right in theory and I feel guilty about the short trips I make but car but I haven't found a way to make running them practical.

-No shower when I get where I'm going
-Heavy or bulky things to carry
-Work is only a short drive away but I need the car during the working day
-only a short available window to get the trip done. E.g. I can walk to my dentist, it's about 2 miles, so a 30/40 minute walk, but it makes the whole trip about 1.5 hours instead of 30 min.

  • nowhere suitable to lock a bike at the other end

If you have workable solutions I'd love to hear them.

gotothecooler · 07/07/2020 12:43

Am I missing something?

Lots of things. There are multiple reasons people choose to drive rather then walk. These people are allowed to go for a run if they want. I would stop judging others, it will make you happier.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 07/07/2020 12:49

Poor kids, not walking to school! That used to be the best part of the school day, for me: seeing all the things in the area that had happened overnight, and on the way home after school having time with just Mum to talk about things with her if I wanted, or possibly even tell her about my day at school.

gotothecooler · 07/07/2020 13:03

Poor kids, not walking to school! That used to be the best part of the school day, for me:

This is key. For you that was the best part, for you. That won't be the case for everyone. My kids don't need anyone's pity because I drive/drove them to school.

TooGood2BeTrue · 07/07/2020 13:31

Honestly I cannot think of many valid excuses for driving the kids to school if it's within a mile from home (which should be the case for most primary schools) unless you or they have a disability. Not a day goes by without some scary news about global warming. People won't give up their foreign holidays or their consumerism. Walking / Cycling to local destinations is the least we can do. Also think about the example you are setting to your children by making these unnecessary car journeys. They are just going to do the same / walk even less when they are older.

gotothecooler · 07/07/2020 13:43

Honestly I cannot think of many valid excuses for driving the kids to school if it's within a mile from home (which should be the case for most primary schools) unless you or they have a disability.

Well there you go. Boom! So for everyone making the judgements, please stop.

MsPants · 07/07/2020 13:52

I am one of these people. Normally I drop dc at school on the way to work, so take the car. School is only half a mile away, but I cannot walk home to pick up the car and still get to work on time.

Now that I am wfh, and there are no breakfast clubs etc. I have to go out after my work day has started to take dc to school and be back in time for my morning meeting. There isn't time to walk.

I would still like to go for my morning run though, if I might be forgiven that indulgence?

Original poster
Thegreenery · 07/07/2020 13:58

The only time I ever drive to school is on the mornings I have to be at work straight from drop-off and just don't have the time to walk home and collect the car. However, I've been known to walk home to collect the car straight from drop-off to go food shopping or if I have a morning appointment. @TooGood2BeTrue my thoughts are along the same lines as yours.

I guess the reason I mentioned the running is that these people appear to like exercising outdoors, so I don't understand the reluctance to walk to school.
Although perhaps, there wouldn't be the requirement for a gruelling run if people just walked everywhere instead? My friend hates running, forces herself to do it every day to keep herself fit, then drives to school twice a day and drives to the shops and back.
I just think if everyone embraced natural exercise into their day and less car journeys, everyone would feel a bit better, including the planet.

OP posts:
TooGood2BeTrue · 07/07/2020 14:04

If it's half a mile, it probably takes 10 minutes to walk at most and not much less to drive when you factor in getting into the car, strapping your child and yourself on and finding a parking space at the school. I'm not convinced, least because I do walk and I see the people who drive only go past me when I'm almost at home (just over 1km away from the school). So they might as well have walked and got into the car then to drive to work; their kids would have benefited from walking and they wouldn't have contributed to congestion and pollution in their neighbourhood.

equuscaballus · 07/07/2020 14:18

I know a person that drives a ten minute walk to work, drives home and later drives another ten minute walk to the gym! (no health concerns)

Also (pre-lockown) several people that live ten minutes walk away who drive to slimming world.
I'm aware they may have other health reasons to drive short distances etc..

UltimateWednesday · 07/07/2020 14:21

There's lots of judgement there OP but not a single solution for those who have told you what their barriers are.