I am taunted by neighbours when I run up the street

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  • primalchaos
    primalchaos Posts: 135 Member
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    I'm fat and I run.

    I run for my health and because I enjoy it.

    I am over 13 stone and a size 16 (down from 18 stone and size 24).

    I now can run continuously for 2 hours covering 8.5 miles and I am proud of this and enjoy running :)

    But I get a lot of negative comments from strangers, normally from young males who wind their windows down to shout comments at me as they drive past. Luckily I am hard of hearing so I miss the actual words screamed at me but it is clear from facial expressions and tones that the comments are negative...I ignore and keep on running.

    A few weeks ago, new neighbours have taken on a house which needs a lot of building work done on it and hence are frequently outside the building and their young son has taken to pointing laughing and making various remarks about running and my weight, to and at me, which I ignore as he is a young child (around 8yo) and knows no better.

    Then I 'met' his father, who joined in with his son and shouted so loudly across the road that I heard him clearly, despite my deafness/hard of hearing issues. He pretended to speak in the affections of a person with special needs and screamed 'Run Forest, Run' at me.

    I crossed the road and asked him not to call me names in the street. He sneered and said he was only singing as I ran past and didn't get 'my ****ing problem'. When I explained that I received enough comments from strangers and expected my new neighbours to be more courteous. His wife screamed from an upper store window, that I was '****ing over reacting' and that I should '*expect* comments when I run outside'.

    Am I being unreasonable to expect neighbours to be polite to each other, not to mock them ?

    I accept strangers might be nasty but is it acceptable to be pointed at, laughed at and name called on my door step....as I am *fat* and I run outside.

    I may be old fashioned but I operate on the 'if you can't say anything nice, say nothing' policy and would never shout at strangers on the street.

    Sigh, this won't stop me running but it just makes it harder for me to get out there. Why be nasty for no reason ?

    Headphones... keep at it, you inspire me.
  • hpsNcrvs
    hpsNcrvs Posts: 74
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    Wow..you are awesome!!! Your stamina is something to really be proud of.

    And on another note....people are asshats, and I am proud to be from outer space :-)
  • crimznrose
    crimznrose Posts: 282 Member
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    People mock what they cannot understand and what they cannot have. Many people mock runners because they are jealous. They look down on themselves for not being healthier, not exercising regularly and are jealous that you are out there doing it when they are not. They try to undermine those that remind them of their laziness in an attempt to make themselves feel superior. I should know - I married their king. :grumble:

    That being said, never let their jeers and taunts harass you or bring down your motivation. Instead, pity them that they feel negative cheers are their only source of bringing their own sorry lives joy. You are living and they envy you for that. They will be speechless when they see you still at months down the road - able to outrun all of them combined. :bigsmile:
  • floridagirl7264
    floridagirl7264 Posts: 318 Member
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    I'm with others. Put on your ipod and ignore. Usually when people act like this it is because they are insecure about themselves and by taunting another makes them feel better. You're doing great! Keep up the good work!. :flowerforyou:
  • Kray827
    Kray827 Posts: 10
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    Be confident in who you are and all you have accomplished!

    Some people no matter how good they look on the outside are so UGLY on the inside.

    Your post is encouraging for me to pick back up and try again.
  • Askyewalker
    Askyewalker Posts: 40 Member
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    size is not a measure of health, clearly if you can run that long you are very healthy! Screw them! "The only thing you can tell from looking at an overweight person are your own prejudices against overweight people"

    Walk up to them and say "if you think Im so huge, why dont you race me? 5 miles!" Because you know for SURE you could outrun them anyday!

    Shut them right up....
    [/quote

    ^ Totally agree .
  • happypath101
    happypath101 Posts: 534
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    No. It is not acceptable. No. You are not over-reacting. I'm proud of you for walking over and asking him to stop. That was very cool! If you have any inkling of being a dog-owner, may I suggest getting an intimidating-looking one that likes to run with you? :O)

    Regardless, carry on. Bullies never win. You already have!
  • quellybelly
    quellybelly Posts: 827 Member
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    I can't believe how rude those people were to you! It sucks that you're gonna have to live around them for a while, but you have come so far and you have nothing to be ashamed of! I agree with the rest of the thread, put on your earphones and leave them in your dust ;)
  • LMick1986
    LMick1986 Posts: 431
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    Good for you for ignoring them and, even more difficult, approaching them and asking them to stop. It just proves that you are a bigger person than they are. That was not a fat joke. :( You and I had the same starting points and we have the same present weight. I know how hard it is to ignore comments. I could NEVER approach someone and ask him to respect me. I'm more of a "Run Away and Not Look Back" type.

    ETA: I'm actually, more of a "Poop on the Hood of Their Car When They're Asleep" kind of person, but I think you get the picture.


    Hahahah!! I dig the last line! If only I could be a vengeful person. To me, it's not acceptable for ANY person (neighbor or complete stranger rolling down your street) to act in that manner. Awful! I don't have any advice, so I'm gonna say, good on you for throwing your earphones back in and keep on keepin' on! You don't need to show/prove anything to them. You're doing it for yourself and that's what matters.
  • KombuchaCat
    KombuchaCat Posts: 834 Member
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    What a pack of idiots! They are just doing it to make themselves forget that they are total ****s! Keep doing what you are doing and F them!
  • tyrantduck
    tyrantduck Posts: 387 Member
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    next time you feel the need to say something to them, you could always say "at least i can change my body. sad though that you can't change your negative attitude" and leave it at that. the human race is disgusting. people who judge others for trying to make themselves healthy should have to pay a tax for their own stupidity.
  • Marc713
    Marc713 Posts: 328 Member
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    As probably already said, the appropriate reply would have been, "I may be over weight, but you are a fu#&ing *kitten*, at least I can lose weight!"
  • Poison5119
    Poison5119 Posts: 1,460 Member
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    Me, I would go out running JUST SO I CAN FLIP 'EM THE BIRD. Specifically for that purpose and that alone. Plus the headphones. You can't respond to what you can't hear, and in this particular case, a good lesson in SIGN LANGUAGE would bring me great satisfaction.
  • 86rollyb
    86rollyb Posts: 72 Member
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    That is awful! Good for you for stickin' up for yourself & for continuing with your running!! I can't imagine what I would do in that situation... Oh wait, ya I do... I'd probably cry! I'm not overweight & I still feel super self conscious running in front of people! You are inspiring!
  • Corama1105
    Corama1105 Posts: 5
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    I am apalled by your neighbors...they are sad sad people and I hope God forgives them for their cruelty. Nobody deserves to be treated that way...EVER!!!!! Unfortunatelly this world is filled with such people and there is nothing we can do but pray that God changes their hearts. I am so sorry you have to be put throught that but just keep doing what you're doing.
  • sclindi
    sclindi Posts: 3
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    AMEN to the challenge suggestion - dare them!
  • paleirishmother
    paleirishmother Posts: 242
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    I had 2 girls taunt me at the gym when I was on the treadmill (I had my earphones in, but they were not on at the time) One girl said to the other "OMG, that's what I look like when I run", the other girl looked at me , hit her friend on the arm and laughed, "No it's not!" they both walked away laughing.

    I haven't went to the gym since that day, I had seen those girls almost every time I went to the gym. I didn't want to see them anymore. I felt like I did in high school all over again. I just feel too bad and embarrassed. I get mad at myself for not getting passed that, especially since my membership expired, and was a waste of money. I work out at home now, and I am proud of my progress. I am not proud that I let 2 20'something girls embarrass me to this level.

    You are very strong and I admire that. Keep up what you're doing.
  • corndog33
    corndog33 Posts: 16
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    size is not a measure of health, clearly if you can run that long you are very healthy! Screw them! "The only thing you can tell from looking at an overweight person are your own prejudices against overweight people"

    Walk up to them and say "if you think Im so huge, why dont you race me? 5 miles!" Because you know for SURE you could outrun them anyday!

    Shut them right up....

    I agree with that chick ^ up there. Also, put on those headphones and keep on going. You are so much better than them. If all else fails, do what that other person said: bait their house so skunks will come to infest them.

    You're amazing!!!! :smile:
  • kathicooks
    kathicooks Posts: 81 Member
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    I like the reply by so many of running with headphones, but I think I'd seriously have to flip them the bird as I go past...
  • DuckieMom
    DuckieMom Posts: 22 Member
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    You are awesome. I would love to run with you! Do you have a buddy to run with?
    You are doing great and in no time you will notice people pointing and talking because of how you have changed your body and how far you have come.
    Way to stand firm, I know you will not let them trip you up or weigh you down with their words. Throw off their ugliness as you are kicking up the dirt behind you. That's where their comments belong.

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