I am taunted by neighbours when I run up the street

I am very proud of you for your dedication and hard work. Ignore your neighbors and keep running. They will shut up soon when they see skinny and health you. You are doing yourself and not for others. The road is as much as yours than anyone else.

I get the same thing, I live in a small town and people roll down their windows...try to get as close as possible with their car without actually hitting me. follow behind me?? I dont understand it. I just hold my head up and think about the end result.

As for the 8 year old, I think that you are wrong he DOES know better. I have an 8 year old and he will be the first one to point out what is wrong with the picture. He is empathetic to individuals that get picked on and will try to include everyone. This poor little boy was taught...it is sad.

Keep going, keep your head up and dont let them ruin your run high, it is so pure and fresh that nothing should touch it.

You should file a harassment complaint against them...

That is cruel! Sad people have to be so mean and hurful!

Be proud of yourself and let NObody make you feel bad!!
Hold your head up and run and focus on you..You are the driver of your own train..Keep moving forward.
H*ll with them!
Your doing great! Be proud!

I didn't read through ALL the comments, because we are now on page 14 (ETA, haha, got to 15 while I was typing)! But I just want to add my two cents.

1. That little turd of a child is certainly old enough to know better!!! The fact that he doesn't isn't his age, but the fact that his parents never taught him. I have an 8 year old daughter and I can honestly say that I've never, ever hit her and I am the farthest thing from a violent person, but if she did something like that I'd knock her to the floor. She'd be bringing you flowers, bought with her own money, and apologizing profusely, after a LOOOOOONG talk about the 26 things wrong with that kind of behavior.

2. I want to second challenging him to a race next time it happens. Lets see him comment after you make him eat your dust! But, lacking that, I'll second the iPod. Oh, and maybe a T-shirt that says something like "Ok, I'm fat, but I'm working on it. You will always be a jerk."

Keep at it and ignore them. there are two reasons why:

1) if you give them no comeback they will soon get bored

2) "Living well is the best revenge" - they will see you getting slimmer and healthier and i bet they will be jealous

:-)

Dumbasses!

I am not really overweight (20lbs to lose so maybe I am still fat hee!) and I still get the run fat girl run comments from teenage dumbwits...oh well it does not stop me...also dumbwits will always be there even when you are fit/slim and run, it does not change...jealous, maybe that you can actually run and they cannot? Hmmm I think so...

:flowerforyou: Wow, so sorry you have to experience that ignorance!!! And as far as the kid goes, there is no excuse, being 8 years old he IS definitely old enough to know better...BUT seeing what you've said about his parents, I feel bad for all of them. I feel bad for the kid and the lack of manners his parents have and the way they are teaching their son. I bet he bullies kids at school too. That's so sad that so many people are so rude while you're out running. I give you tons of props though, because I wear size 16 jeans and can barely run for three minutes!! You're doing an AMAZING job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like someone else said, one day challenge that dad or mom to a race, go a mile or two, or five since you know you can do it and see how long they last. I bet it won't be long. Then again, you don't need to prove a point to anyone! You know you're bettering your life and doing good for yourself. So just keep doing what you're doing!

Your courage should be a lesson to us all.

^this. Definitely this.

I didn't read through all the replies either so I am sure that anything I am about to say has already been said, and probably much more eloquently.

You asked if it is unreasonable to expect respect and common decency from your neighbors. NO! It is absolutely reasonable to expect that from *everyone*... strangers, neighbors, and everyone in between. You have every right to demand it, not just expect it.

I admire you for SO many things... your determination, your fitness (I couldn't run for 20 seconds, let alone 2 hours), your bravery, your grace in forgiving an 8-year old boy who most certainly should know better, and your steely nerve for confronting that boy's ignorant hurtful parents.

I hope and pray that the outpouring of support you have received here re-affirms your faith in humanity and validates your efforts. Please keep running, please keep your head held high, and please know that the whole world is cheering for you. :flowerforyou:

Now... if anyone else who has replied starts a vigilante group to go kick the living $h!t out of everyone within a 2 mile radius of the OP, then sign me up. I'm all in. :mad:

I try to give a big thumbs up to people I see running! I hate it, so I think if you are out there doing it, you deserve a little kudos! It's horrible that they are teaching a small child that bullying is ok if someone is overweight. It's not "overreacting" or unreasonable to ask someone to just hold their tongue instead of bullying you, because that is what it is and it's sickenning to me. You are trying to get healthy which is a lot more than a lot of people can say. You just keep cruising on and being awesome. Because when you get down to the end of the day, that is what you are. YOU = AWESOME and don't let anyone else make you think otherwise!