Embarrassed when running?

I haven't read all the replies but I have a game plan about on-lookers when I exercise. The meat heads at the gym that gawk, the people that turn their head when I'm running.....they are my cheering squad.

I know when I check someone out at the gym - what they are doing - it's always in admiration. Same with running - I check out the rockstar runner with jealous glee because I aspire to be them. I check out the struggling overweight runner and think 'oh my god how awesome is that!!! You go girl' They (and you) are out their gettin' your run on and you need to put out the negative and look at everyone who yells at you, turns their head and checks you out as your cheering squad. It helps me every time I go for a run and every time I walk through the door at the gym.

I've had idiots yell stuff out of cars in the beginning.

One time I ran past a bunch teenagers (middle schoolers) waiting for the bus. I had my ear buds in but didn't have the music loud yet as I was still on the main road, one of them made some remak I heard him , I turned around looked right at them, I said so tell me how far can your Mom's run?

They were like uh uh ........I .smiled turned around and continued my run.

I put my music on and get in to a zone, don't let people looking at you bother you. You should be proud of yourself!

I know what you mean. I just about had a panic attack the first time I ran outside. I cut my Run short and went home. I tried again and got a hat, sunglasses, ponytail and halo headphones. I wore my sons tshirts cause they are long and covered me and i have gone from wearing the 20 yo to the 18yo and now the 15yo shirts. Time i bought my own gear now. I pretend I am invisible and hug my side of the path and a lot of people wouldn't recognise me. I get in my own zone and just enjoy the feeling of being able to run. I researched good form and worked on putting it into practice. I had trouble looking up in the beginning and was always staring at the ground in front of me. When I looked up the pathway I felt like my heart came up into my throat and I would panic. Eventually I started looking up but it took a while. Now I look up when I run and it is amazing.
Don't let fear stop you. Be persistent and stick with it. I ran just under 7.5kms tonight and it feels great.

Thanks for the inspiration. :flowerforyou: I got tingles when I read this.

Don't let them put you off. You are doing the right thing keep it up!!!!

they may have been yelling go go you can do it. I have had a few people yell that at me I love that. I was self conscious when I first started too. Then I read something that said you are out to run for you no one else . I have learned to tune everyone out there out of my mind and just concentrate on my running . I also listen to my ipod to tune things out .

Put the headphones in and disappear into your world. Just make sure to keep your eyes on the road. So many people get this feeling both in the gym and while outside. It's just a matter of you finally realizing that you're doing this for you, and that nothing else matters. It will click. Give it time.

This.

Alternatively yo could take another approach.

Wear a banana suit for a month.

After you're used to that embarrassment, wearing your normal clothes should seem reasonable.

Hello I am a fat guy that runs...

There is no reason to be embarrased running. The real reason to be embarrased would be if you let some jerk intimidate you into stopping. This person likely went home sat on the couch, eating cheetos and Ho-Hos and yelled at his/her TV.

You're doing great. Keep going

Just put some music on and go. Eventually you'll get over it. I use to hate running with my husband. Thought he and everyone else that saw me were judging me. He wasn't, that I know. Its taken time to get over the fear of running out in public. We even bought a treadmil so I wouldn't have to go outside. We sold it a year later cause I hate running indoors. Now when my husband and I run together I don't give a damn if I'm slower or if when I do pass him, that he's staring at me. I think it actually makes me run faster. You're going to have to work past the issues in your head. It will take time. Music helps.

Well about two years ago me and my husband were out for a run and after a mile or so I took a breather and walked a little (i sucked at running). Some guy drove by and yelled "its going to take more then walking fatty!" O man....I can't even explain how much this broke me down inside and how It still hurts to think about that moment. WORST part is, instead of using it as motivation or power, I let it break me down. I just stopped working out, and probably gained another 7 pounds. About a year later I started working out at home, and it took me probably 3 months to start running again in public. 5 months after that I ran my first 5k at the same location for a charity event. It felt amazing and I kinda just wanted to yell suck it as I ran over the finish line.

The thing that gets me the most is I run at this local valley wide area where its mostly kids playing soccer or baseball with their families, so that jack who felt the need to put me down probably had his kid or brother in the car with him, and teaching them that its ok to be an *kitten* to others. Just remember you are doing this for you and no one else and people can think whatever they want to think, but their butts aren't up running so they don't have any right to judge you. I still run a few days a week and sometimes I think of that day and what it did to my self esteem but then I think of how far I come and how in the end I pushed harder and became a runner, which I always struggled with from my asthma. Just run for you and F the rest of the world.

Hi! Here's a little bit about my situation : I love to run. I try to run a few times a week around a lake close by. Whenever I go for a run, I feel like everyone is looking at me, and it makes me not want to go running anymore. The other day I was walking back after a run and people even yelled something at me out of their car window? I don't know what they said.. Anyways, any tips for getting past that embarrassing feeling? I know i'm going to be told to just forget about it and focus on running, but it's hard when you feel like everyone is watching you.

Don't worry about what other people are thinking or saying. For the most part, its only what YOU THINK they are thinking or saying. Being self concious in the beginning is part of it, but you will grow out of it. When I started running I was embarrassed on my lack of endurance and was a bit annoyed by it. My suggestion is to try and run with a group, that way you're not alone and you have a great foundation of support right along your side.

People will yell at anyone and anything on the road and for no reason. Whether it's a jogger, someone walking a dog, a homeless man, etc...idiots will like to yell at other people as they pass in cars because they fell like they can get away with it. I was on my bike, waiting at an intersection and people where yelling at me, making fun of the fact I was on a bike. I didn't care, because I was doing something I liked, being healthy and really I felt pity for them...Stuck in the back of the beat up old Saturn with their Wal-Mart bags filled with liters of Cokes, cheese puffs, chips and the poor life choices they made.

As for running, people stare at me when I do the running club 5k because I'm Asian. Asians don't normally go running. And when they do, it's because Godzilla is following close behind.

So no worries, mild-mannered citizens...there is NO GODZILLA.