Women runners being spat on by random men

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https://metro.co.uk/2025/05/27/thousands-men-spitting-women-runners-happened-20472756/

The worst I have had is men shouting stupid comments out of cars, no spitting yet thankfully but this is disgusting and scary. Why do they do it!?

Ugh why are men so disgusting

Seriously, I think we have a massive problem in society of men wanting to keep women in “their place” and this is part of it.

I had a MacDonald’s milkshake, still quite full, thrown out of a car and hit me in the face, while running in London.

holy crap @Arquebuse that's awful to hear. I'm so sorry you had to go through that.

I’ve noticed an increase in men doing those horrendous phlegm spits as I walk close to them more than ever recently.

Earlier this month I experienced it 5 times in one week.

I am a runner and if a man did this to me I would probably end up in a police cell.

I had a half empty drink thrown at me from a car window with jeering young men in it a few years back (probably doubly disgusting as I’m not in the first or even second flush of youth)

I think it’s any number of reasons.

Resentment of women for taking up space
Resentment of an athletically fit woman they can’t compete with and can’t possess
Resentment of a woman going about her business and not acknowledging them
Resentment of a woman that is not under his control

That's absolutely appalling. What's wrong with these men?

That's really horrible. Why are there so many pathetic men taking out their own inadequacies on women? In the past there has been catcalling which is unpleasant enough, but spitting?

This is interesting because obviously these things happen, but in 20 years of running, I've never experienced it.

I live in a "rough" town with many social problems, but even for heckling, my experience is that young men/boys will be "funny" when I'm running in a group, but leave me alone when running as a solo woman.

I wonder what it is about here that makes things different?

I agree with all of these. I run. I've never been spat at, thankfully, but I have noticed I get far more sexually harassing comments and general aggression/annoyance/harrassment from men when I am running. I dont even run on the roads, I run around the fields near our house but I get sexual comments, old men trying to start a conversation with me when they can see I am mid run and have headphones on etc etc

There is something about a woman being perceived as fit and capable/strong that seems to enrage men and I am still not quite sure why or what they find so threatening about it.

"random men".
So would it be better if it was men whom we knew?

I’m so sick of anyone that feels the need to pass comment on me running. Even the ‘helpful’ comments. Just leave me alone.

I always report people who make derogatory comments at me while running to their employer if they are working and their contractor is clearly identifiable.

Resentment of women full stop

Ime, men "dislike" the fact that I'm "young" (21), attractive (sorry but I'm seen as such) and "fit", BUT I DON'T WANT THEM!
The thing is they KNOW I won't want them as soon as they see me, which surely tells me more about how they KNOW they're not up to my standard.
(I've been told off be4 for sounding haughty on here - I'm only putting forward an opinion! Anyone can think me old, ugly and unfit itl!)

Where to start?

In north London in my 20-30’s I had lots of shouts/heckles and the odd item thrown towards me from a car.
Always by men.
Running past pubs in the warm weather was always particularly unpleasant with the shouts and jeers that would come.

My theory is that they know you’d
never want them. It’s never the fit or attractive men that come out with this stuff is it?

I always felt that the reason my dad disliked me and my sister so much was that he knew we’d have been the girls at school who wouldn’t have given him a second glance. In fact he used to openly state that he couldn’t stand my confidence. The ghosts of rejection 🙄 hurt feels 🙄🙄 boo fucking hoo lads 🙄🙄🙄

This is why if I run outside I run late at night..dont really see anybody then

It’s assault plain and simple. Try spitting at a police officer and see what happens, your feet won’t touch the floor.

This reminds me, a year ago my Ukrainian friends refugee elderly mom was hit/slapped on the leg while sitting on the bus

many who saw this gasped on the bus

these are just people we hear speak about this, I bet there’s wayyyyy more women who dealt with this or some kind of harassment/assault from men

I’ve been running for years and never experienced this, none of my many female running friends have ever mentioned it. Maybe I live in a more civilized part of the country…..

I wondered that too. The story only mentions London and New York so, (clutching at straws) I wonder if there's a cultural aspect. Who exactly is doing this?

I see people spitting on the ground (yuk) but I don't think I've ever seen someone spit "at" someone.

This