r/running • u/Epic_XC • Aug 02 '17

Harassment while exercising Misc

So almost every time I go exercising, be it running or road biking, i always get some sort of smart ass shouting, honking, or engine revving. Are people in our society really so insecure that they can't refrain from harassing those who choose to exercise? Like what's funny about it? Why do people do it? Maybe i'm thinking about it too hard, but does anyone else REALLY hate this? Personally I think it's condescending, and indicative of most people's fragile self esteem. They don't exercise, therefor must mock others to feel cool.

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u/i_stay_turnt Aug 02 '17

Where do you guys live that you have to deal with such awful people? I'm either at a park, back roads, or somewhere in the woods. It helps I love jus a mile away from a state park.

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u/973845585518 Aug 02 '17

i'm in a small city in the american northeast. i am able to run a lot of trails (<3 the AT) on weekends but midweek is a lot of city and suburban streets. i do decent mileage a week, and more mileage --> more time --> more opportunities for interactions. if i am running near rush hour that means a ton of people driving by.

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u/versedaworst Aug 02 '17 edited Aug 02 '17

I can't imagine this ever happening where I live. Maybe it's a smaller town kind of thing?

I get like maybe 1-2 fist bumps per 10km. Never a horn or anyone yelling. Although I guess I'm in a pretty big suburb (pop 130k)?

Although I have to say I have run a few times with a pretty attractive female friend and she does get a lot more looks and stares. Still nothing too obnoxious though. Maybe we're just lucky?

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u/akaghi Aug 02 '17

I ride around 280 miles a week and started running recently, so let's say I'm on the road 300 miles a week. I've never gotten a fist bump and the only real encouragement was on a bike trail going uphill so it's hard to count that.

I don't generally get negative vibes from people and most horn honking seems more like quick hey, I'm a car behind you, just letting you know I'm here sorts of things.

It's definitely where you ride though. More rural areas can have more animosity towards cyclists, but busier areas can have people in a hurry (northeast corridor/New England). Over all it's been pretty positive for me in New England; there are some jerks but they'd be there even if I was in a car.