NC for this as very outing.
So, I was out for a run yesterday morn on one of my usual routes which includes a lap of the perimeter of the town and University playing fields where we live. They're freely open for the public to access.
I noticed there were lots of cars and banners, some saying 'Summer Edu Parking', and families with young kids milling around assumed it was some sort of summer school/camp, it wasn't closed off so continued on my way.
I was head down running when this arm was flung across my path oht of nowhere, I manged to stop but nearly smashed into it, looked up to see what can only be described as a 'men in black' type character blocking my way, who then bore down on me and shouted in my face and demanded 'where do you think you're going' I've never been so taken aback, I just laughed and said well I'm clearly running aren't I and my final destination is home, he then demanded (shouting again) 'well where's home, where do you live' again I was aghast I'm a middle aged woman just clearly out doing some exercise. And I have some stranger shouting at me demanding to know where I live 'I said I'm really sorry I run this route several times a week, this is my home what's the problem?' He then said this area is out of bounds as Dundee United are training here this week and we can't be having them exposed to COVID. It was then I noticed there was event type hording with plastic sheeting covering it so you couldn't actually see into the pitches
I said 'I can assure you I'm not interested in going anywhere near Dundee United I just want to run out of the gate at the bottom there and then home' he then said 'well where's home' WTAF. A Uni janitor type person then appeared who'd clearly heard all this smirking and laughing, telling me you have to go back the way you came. I actually felt very intimidated. Weirdly there again a few families and older teens hanging around in this bit - I was confused as none of them were being balled at or told to go back the way they'd come.
I also could quite easily have crashed into his arm, I was going at a real lick so would have really hurt myself if I hadn't managed to stop.
I had one last try at saying 'look I just want out the gate at the bottom' but they told me it was locked any way - it flaming wasn't as I ran back up thr other side and checked on my way back.
I felt really uneasy about it all day, I was just a woman on my own out for a run and felt like I'd been treated like a criminal and needlessly intimidated, when people who were clearly there to see them and might have bothered them weren't.
Anyway I've since found out it's not Dundee United - I was very surprised they would be so pathetically precious, my DH was actually laughing and saying haven't they all had COVID. It turns out it's actually Man U training there this week!
Am I being unreasonable to think they can F Off and that they need to climb down out of their own backsides and have a bit more respect for the people who actually live in the neighbourhoods where they're training - I could give no more fks about Man U than the moth that's currently buzzing round this room. It was totally disproportionate and unprofessional behaviour and very odd to have signalled me out.
I want to complain but I don't even know who to!