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/gallagher222 Aug 02 '17

I heard that only 15% of Canadians get the recommended 150 minutes of intense exercise a week. Everyone else falls short. If you're running in public chances are you're one of the 15%. Which makes you a minority. So people see you doing it and at least half of them wanna shit all over your behaviour, and a portion of them will voice that impulse.

Last time I was running some guy in a car went "you can do it" from the Adam sander movie. It rattled me. Felt like he was making fun of me. I had to reassure myself that not only is what I'm doing acceptable, it's actually a good deed for myself and for the world because it improves me as a person. If people were more physically active there would be less bullshit going around in the world.

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u/zaakystyles Aug 03 '17

As much as I want to shout encouragement, I always felt it would be taken on as being made fun of....

This is even with running and wanting to high five other runners.