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AIBU?

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Original poster

Where are all the Christmas Day walkers?

63 replies

antiquecoffeepot · 25/12/2021 21:59

I feel like lots of people say a walk is part of their Christmas Day routine...

But I feel like when DH, kids an I go out for a walk on Christmas Day there is literally no one else out. We went for a walk today after breakfast (10:30am-12pm-ish), saw maybe 4 people. Our route includes walking along fields and through our market town. We're in the south east. And it's pretty much always been like this.

AIBU to think it's all talk and not that many people actually go for a walk on Christmas Day?

OP posts:
Shallwegoforawalk · 25/12/2021 22:37

Nah, here for me Christmas Day is for relaxing with chocolates on the sofa. We usually do our festive walk on Boxing Day.

We have a dog so DH did take him for a couple of walks today, said it was really cold and dog was tugging him home (where the roast potatoes are, clever dog). He had a massive hill walk with DH yesterday so has snoozed a lot today.

onedayoranother · 25/12/2021 22:37

My son took the dogs out at three. He said quite a number of families in the park (SW London), possibly trying to burn off all the excitement (kids) and food (adults).

Chunkymenrock · 25/12/2021 22:39

Yes I read it as wankers too! Grin I cba with walking and it rained all day here.

PrancerandDancer · 25/12/2021 22:40

We went for our walk at 3 and I commented that there were not as many people out walking as normal but the weather was a bit miserable!

I have to have a Christmas day walk to blown off the cobwebs!

ToykotoLosAngeles · 25/12/2021 22:40

We often do but it was raining. We didn't finish opening things until about 11 - if we were going it'd be after about 3pm when dinner was eaten.

LittleRoundRobin · 25/12/2021 22:40

@antiquecoffeepot

I feel like lots of people say a walk is part of their Christmas Day routine...

But I feel like when DH, kids an I go out for a walk on Christmas Day there is literally no one else out. We went for a walk today after breakfast (10:30am-12pm-ish), saw maybe 4 people. Our route includes walking along fields and through our market town. We're in the south east. And it's pretty much always been like this.

AIBU to think it's all talk and not that many people actually go for a walk on Christmas Day?

@antiquecoffeepot

I don't know where you live, but in the majority of the country today, it has been 3-4°C with a wind-chill of minus 3°C. In addition to this, there has been hard driving rain ALL DAY, and wind speeds of 35-40 mph.

Am I fuck going for a walk in this weather.

I also don't know anyone who 'claims' a walk is part of their Christmas day routine. I know a few who go for a Boxing Day walk (or for a walk on the 27th or 28th, or New Year's Day,) if the weather is not dreadful, but it's not a given.

GuyFawkesDay · 25/12/2021 22:43

Me and the dog were out at 9:30am, we met a few other dog walkers out and about. Then when I went out again this afternoon it was much quieter but I expected that, as it was about 3pm and loads of people doing food/queens speech etc

Sparklingbrook · 25/12/2021 22:43

I always think people I see walking on Christmas Day look thoroughly miserable, not really enjoying it but thinking they must.
It's been pouring down all day here.

Xiaoxiong · 25/12/2021 22:43

We walked the dogs in the morning, and after the meal so around 4pm and it was getting dark. The heavens opened as we stepped out the door, we battled it out half heartedly for 15 mins and turned back, and it stopped raining as we got home - typical!

We didn't see a soul but it was raining so hard I'm not that surprised, tbh.

Boxing Day is when people usually do take super long walks. I bet you'll see loads out tomorrow.

Original poster
antiquecoffeepot · 25/12/2021 22:47

@LittleRoundRobin no, not a given but there was a thread on MN the other day where people talked about their Christmas Day plans, a lot said a walk would be part of their day (not a representative of the wider population I know).

It was dry but chilly here (at the time we were walking anyway), we wrapped up warm and walked breakfast off/let the kids burn off the christmas morning excitement.

DH just said it was a shame as he remembered always seeing people he knew (admittedly after church) out walking on Christmas Day. Whereas here (and other places we've lived) every year has been pretty quiet.

OP posts:
LittleBabyCheeses · 25/12/2021 22:48

We normally go for a walk on Christmas Day but we’ve got covid.

foxlover47 · 25/12/2021 22:48

Here ! Out for three walks with the dogs and dd today , only saw two
Others walking their dogs and no families ... tried to pass off the last walk but the dog wouldn't have it lol
Merry Christmas z

TheYearOfSmallThings · 25/12/2021 22:51

The Christmas Day Walk (down Dun Laoghaire pier) takes place between lunch ending at 4pm and the evening shift where yet more relatives arrive. But only in crisp cold or windy weather - today was torrential rain, so we just did the Goal mile in the morning.

NorthernChinchilla · 25/12/2021 22:51

I used to push Mum out in her wheelchair, hip flask full of G&T, for a bit of fresh air in the afternoon then to the local pub to get a quick drink served by the most miserable family ever (the year we had mince pies chucked at us was memorable Xmas Grin )

She died this year, so just me, DH and the kids. Fought to go out yesterday, made it with much upset.
Today, come half 8, they agreed to it. Still recovering from the shock. 45 mins in the dark and with the lights, magical.

Coughee · 25/12/2021 22:53

Why would people be 'all talk' about going for a walk though? It's hardly some massive boast, it's not like anyone is claiming to run a marathon. There were loads at my local park run today though, twice as much as usual. That surprised me.

Whitefire · 25/12/2021 22:55

We went after 3pm. It was mainly a "if ds stays in this house any longer, I'd probably throw myself off the scaffolding outside the house" Didn't see anyone really, and as a bonus the park was empty so DD (9) actually went on the swings, she has hated going to that park pretty much since we moved 3.5 years ago. It wasn't a "happy" walk, a "needs must" walk.

Sparklingbrook · 25/12/2021 22:56

Maybe it's the people that never walk anywhere ever, suddenly declaring that as it's Christmas Day they will be going for a walk. For no reason.

Badgerstmary · 25/12/2021 22:58

I’ve just got back from my walk, put my pj’s on & thought I’d look at mumsnet in bed.

firetruckmum · 25/12/2021 23:04

@AFingerofFudge

I read that as "Christmas Day wankers" and thought I could have offered a few suggestions Grin
GrinGrinGrin
ShanghaiDiva · 25/12/2021 23:05

Poured with rain here today and finally got out for a walk at 6.

FleeceNavidadFromTheSheep · 25/12/2021 23:07

We walked on the beach in the afternoon whilst the turkey was roasting; rather wet but we enjoyed the novelty, having recently moved to the coast. A few other foolhardy souls were out, mainly dog walking.

MorganSeventh · 25/12/2021 23:07

I guess it depends what time and where you go. There were almost 500 people at my local parkrun at 9am this morning, and it's not a particularly big one. Given there's over 600 parkruns in the uk, that's several hundred thousand people out and running 5k, but the events would have been more or less over by 10am.

Almostwelsh · 25/12/2021 23:12

Ever since COVID lockdowns I associate local walking with prison exercise and I detest it. And I can’t drive anywhere after a drink.

WhoUsedMyName · 25/12/2021 23:14

What the hell is a Christmas walk? Do you dress up & take Bells?
What's the difference from a walk on a day that isn't Christmas, I don't get the excitement unless there's drinks & presents like an egg hunt

CynsterBitch · 25/12/2021 23:15

I was out for a walk and a swim at 8am, lots of people walking by the lake at that point