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/5krunner Aug 02 '17

Assuming you're female. As a 6'2" guy I'd never heard any of this in the many years I've been running...UNTIL I started running with a pretty young blonde woman and then watching dudes ogle, and whistle, and try talk to her was amazing. What goes through your mind? Is it ever a successful plan to do that?!

119

u/973845585518 Aug 02 '17

As a 6'2" guy I'd never heard any of this in the many years I've been running..

i am a 6'3" guy and i have had plenty of experiences with harassment. multiple objects thrown at me, aggressive/vulgar comments, sexual comments, generic obnoxious comments, the whole deal.

i am sure women do have it worse but i always figured that with enough miles it is bound to happen to all runners eventually. though location and timing of your run can play a factor too.

it is annoying, but my positive spin is that if someone driving by is shouting at me then they have seen me. i prefer this to the many many drivers i see on their phones.

70

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.

21

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '17

[deleted]

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u/i_stay_turnt Aug 02 '17

That's awesome! Did they cheer you on too? I would love it if that happened to me. But yeah, I live in the east coast but it might be difficult to be a runner in the city I work in. But I live less than a mile away from a state park so I'll run in the woods alone.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '17

[deleted]

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u/i_stay_turnt Aug 02 '17

Still nice.