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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder what all the walkers would usually be doing

557 replies

CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS · 17/01/2021 02:13

I live in a small village near a lovely green open space for walks. I walk every single day and have done since I moved here many years ago. It's always been very quiet - many, many times I've been the only person out and have walked for an hour+ and not seen a soul.

Since Covid - and particularly since the summer - it's been mobbed! I'm dodging people constantly when out walking and although the size of the space means I can keep 2 metres away, I now often have groups of people behind, in front and to the sides of me which makes me a bit uncomfortable. Most are considerate but some are arseholes that want to brush past you so you have to be aware and it's a lot less relaxing. I'm pretty sure that they are local people as it's not a 'day out' place or anywhere people would know about let alone go to, and it's nice that more local people are out walking but... why have they all just discovered walking? It's not like it was a closely guarded secret before and we are quite rural. What would they normally be doing (for example today on a Saturday afternoon) that they now can't do that leaves walking as their only option??

(Yes I do kind of wish they'd bugger off and yes IABU for that as I don't own this piece of land! But mostly I'm just really perplexed as to why so many people are now out walking!)

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 17/01/2021 19:35

If you genuinely couldn't see why months of locking a country down and telling everyone to stay at home other than for local exercise might mean there's more people going for walks then there is really nothing to say.
🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

ToffeePennie · 17/01/2021 19:37

I would be shopping, going on spa trips, going to the gym, having my children go for sleepovers and have a film night in with my DH.
Typically I would take my kids to softplay, go on holidays, go for days out, visit zoos, museums, aquariums etc.
It SUCKS because there is no alternative to walking/running so I have to get the kids in their wellies and coats and take them for a walk.

Bookworming · 17/01/2021 19:40

@CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS are you really saying, honestly truly saying you didn't know why your coming across more walkers during this pandemic?

Really really really?

sararh · 17/01/2021 19:43

@CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS

I didn’t start the thread to annoy people - I genuinely think it’s weird that SO MANY people are out walking. I am genuinely surprised people are that bored. And I can’t think there are many physical alternatives that people would do on a Saturday afternoon that they now can’t do. I appreciate the comments about getting kids active, people wanting to lose weight and be healthy, mental health etc. And I see now that some people would rather do anything than be at home. I don’t feel that way.

Yes I’d prefer to have fewer people around when I walk (and know that’s unreasonable, as I said in the OP). But genuinely it seems weird to me that so many on here are angrily going for walk after walk (and their kids are crying about going for a walk!) There really are other ways to exercise even right now if it’s that torturous.

OP, I don't get why you're struggling here.

Yes, you're probably right in that not all of the people you are seeing are nuts about walking, but you need to understand that if you want some fresh air, there IS NOTHING ELSE TO DO.

You can't go and amble round the shops, or drive to the Peak District or the coast, or walk to your mates, or go and sit in a beer garden.

The alternative is to either sit indoors all day or go for a walk in your local area.

Which bit is the confusing bit? Genuinely.

ToffeePennie · 17/01/2021 19:44

Also, I am ambivalent towards walking, I can do it for ages, but I’m also not bothered. I do it because it’s an alternative to doing nothing stuck at home or staring into space.

Frozenintime · 17/01/2021 19:45

Probably should be working ! (From home )

MacDuffsMuff · 17/01/2021 19:49

Oh sorry am being hysterical for posting that

@Bookworming Um, yes. 🤣 Get a grip of yourself, you need to unclench ...

Onlyherefortheconspiracies · 17/01/2021 19:50

I sometimes meet a pal for a walk. Is it 1 in 4 people who live alone? Surely it's understandable that no matter how much they like their own company, they might want to see someone in person?!

MrsR87 · 17/01/2021 19:52

People are very very very bored! I found out I was pregnant on the first day of the March lockdown and so was careful, even when the restrictions were lifted!
Pre pandemic,my Saturdays and Sundays would consist of some of the following:
Shopping (for fun)
Visiting parents or MIL
Visiting grandparents
Pub with friends
Meals out
Overnight city breaks
Brewery tours
Games nights at friends’ houses
Escape rooms
Zoos
Museums

I have been unable to do any of these for the best part of ten months! So I walk..and walk...and walk!

DobbinsBobbins · 17/01/2021 19:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pinbinpin · 17/01/2021 19:53

yes that's right, after working all week, 9-5 every day, without a break, then 3 or 4 hours on my laptop every evening, including Saturday night, I should be spending my Sunday afternoon also WFH, instead of having a few hours walk in the countryside with my DH and son, you're right.

Blueroses99 · 17/01/2021 19:58

I don’t hate walking, I quite enjoy it as weekend past time.

However... a normal working day in the office would get me 7,500 steps a day and I’d add in extra walking time to get to 10,000. Working from home has meant I do zero walking as part of my day to day routine. School run is 30 minutes drive, I don’t have a pet that needs walks and I’m avoiding shops. So I have to go for a walk to avoid an entirely sedentary lifestyle.

Have only read OPs posts but imagine that I’m not making any new points here.

Original poster
CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS · 17/01/2021 20:06

Thank you again to all the helpful people. It interesting to see things from other perspectives and I’m grateful to you for sharing them.

I hope the people hating walks find an alternative soon and that those newly finding them enjoyable manage to keep them up. And I obviously hope to an end to all this soon so we can all go back to doing whatever we like best.

OP posts:
AmoElCafe · 17/01/2021 20:13

I would normally walk 4 miles a day just getting my children to school and back. Something has to replace it.

Plussizejumpsuit · 17/01/2021 20:23

@CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS

I didn’t start the thread to annoy people - I genuinely think it’s weird that SO MANY people are out walking. I am genuinely surprised people are that bored. And I can’t think there are many physical alternatives that people would do on a Saturday afternoon that they now can’t do. I appreciate the comments about getting kids active, people wanting to lose weight and be healthy, mental health etc. And I see now that some people would rather do anything than be at home. I don’t feel that way.

Yes I’d prefer to have fewer people around when I walk (and know that’s unreasonable, as I said in the OP). But genuinely it seems weird to me that so many on here are angrily going for walk after walk (and their kids are crying about going for a walk!) There really are other ways to exercise even right now if it’s that torturous.

I don't know how not to sound rude. But do you normally have difficulty thinking? As in all honesty if you don't get this I'm a little bit worried. Makes me wonder what else you struggle with. They're literally nothing else to do.

Also lucky you that you have a nice enough home with people you can spend time with to not want to get out. But many people aren't fortunate enough to have this.

In all honesty I think this thread was just an opportunity to be smug about how active you are. I can't imagine what other purpose it would have. As I don't actually belive someone who is intelligent enough to master posting online can't fo abit of thinking about this. Just not swollowing it.

pinbinpin · 17/01/2021 20:27

And what about the people who have always enjoyed going on walks and are just doing them a bit more frequently because there's nothing else to do . Do we have your permission to continue? Or are you the only person allowed to enjoy walking?

Bookworming · 17/01/2021 20:29

@MacDuffsMuff ODFOD! HTH Grin

tangoboxing · 17/01/2021 20:34

well our other physical alternatives are swimming (all closed), gym (all closed), golf (all closed) and watersports (all closed/can't travel to the sea).

Like many people we're a bit busy during the week - dh is working 60+ hours from home, I'm home educating three kids (one very disabled) & juggling the needs of two sets of vulnerable parents & a university aged child having a really hard time. My "free time" is spent running errands & shopping for people. I/we have limited opportunities to time our physical activities and the level of inconvenience that might cause the pyjama-ed classes isn't something we worry about!

I'm with @Plussizejumpsuit ... you are either being dim or disingenuous.

GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom · 17/01/2021 20:39

I think this thread was just an opportunity to be smug about how active you are.

I think it was just to complain about the routes being busier and to imply that the seasoned walkers who were doing it BEFORE it was cool we stopped having other options are somehow superior and have more right to be there.

Obviously you can't actually say this, so you have to veil it as "I just can't understand what else anyone might have been doing. And even though I actively enjoyed the quietness before and sought it out, it never occurred to me that all the people I was avoiding might not be there because they were doing something else."

Sugarandteaandmum · 17/01/2021 20:40

I’m surprised people are using walks to socialise too

You're not OP. You can't possibly, possibly be surprised about that.

And you can't possibly be happy just to stay in your house all the time, as you also said. You like walking, so you have always used that to get fresh air, get out, get exercise. Others have used other things to ring the changes and get out of the house. Now they can't, so they are doing the only one they can.

If there was some pandemic or disaster which involved walking outside in the country being forbidden, you're someone who ONLY likes walking apparently. so would you a) stay in your own house all the time for 9 months or b) go for a walk in an indoor shopping mall, go to cinema, go to a friend's house, things you like less but are available to do?

Just trying to crack this seemingly entire lack of ability to think from someone else's point of view, OP! Ironically, you don't seem able to go for one of your famous walks in someone else's shoes.

Sugarandteaandmum · 17/01/2021 20:40

agreed, @GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom

CountessFrog · 17/01/2021 20:47

Maybe what the OP meant was a bit of what I feel.

I’ve been walking in my local countryside for about 8 years. I do about 50-60km on an average week. I find it really peaceful, but this winter I find so many people out walking that It’s like sharing my space with them. I realise the space belongs to everyone, but until recently, hardly anyone used it.

I’m personally pleased that so many others have discovered the pleasure of walking, but what I’m fed up about is that the paths I’ve been walking for years are now suffering from a huge amount of footfall that they just weren’t built to cope with, and some of them have become impassable. I also live near an ancient woodland that is suffering horrendous erosion from people allowing their kids to cycle through it and down the steep sides.

So I’m feeling slightly worried about very obvious damage and hoping some of it will be repaired when everyone goes back to their usual weekend pursuits.

LolaSmiles · 17/01/2021 20:58

CountessFrog
I think your feelings are very different. You're expressing concern that after lockdown some local routes and environmental won't recover. I walk and run lots in local woodland and can sympathise with you.

The OP is claiming she simply doesn't have a clue why people are walking when we are living through a pandemic, locked down and most places are closed.

Roominmyhouse · 17/01/2021 21:18

You do realise for some people WFH going for a walk is possibly the only time they get outside of their house bar food shopping. Can you really not fathom why people might want to get outside and not be stuck inside the same 4 walls 24/7? I need to walk for my sanity. I walked before covid but not as often or for as long as I had an active social life and plenty else to do. But now I'm bored shitless and a long walk kills time while being good for the body and mind.

CorianderBee · 17/01/2021 21:35

Also my other outdoor exercise (ping pong tables, swimming, basketball courts, tennis courts) have all been roped off.