While out running today

So, I haven't been exercising like I would like to for the last two months after starting a new job. I haven't gained weight, but haven't lost. Today I went to run at the local YMCA track (cause I hate treadmills), and decided starting while a mile was good. So as I'm rounding the end of my first half mile I notice a group of roughly 12-14 year old kids standing in the middle of the track in a group of 6 or so. As I run past I hear them start yelling nasty things at me. One says "Wow! That girl is fat! Look how fat her *kitten* is! So fat! Better run 7 laps to lose all that weight fat *kitten*!!!"

Now while I'm no skinny-minney, I'm 5'2" roughly 143 lbs. and pretty muscular. I'm not tiny, but I'm not huge either. I guess these KIDS thought I had headphones on, since everyone else running did. But I hate running with music, so I heard every hurtful word they spat at me.

However, instead of stopping and yelling, telling them to get at me when they stopped having mommy wipe their *kitten* for them, I kept running. Harder than ever. By the time I made it back around they walked off across to another area. I finished my run, and went to the car. A bit annoyed, I walked into the YMCA building as I watched the same kids messing with cars, acting like they were going to throw balls and such at their cars. I told the manager "Just letting you know, you have a group of teenagers outside yelling nasty things to runners, and messing with cars". She was pissed and went to get someone.

When my fiance finished running he could see I was irritated. Asked why, and I told him. He walked off saying "No one talks to you like that". Turns out he gave the kids a talking to, and said they better watch it or they're gonna say something to the wrong person one day. They all denied it, while stuttering and looking at the ground. Mind you, while he was looking, he watched one jump in front of a guy running and almost knocking him over. He stopped and went around them, messing up his run. While we were leaving the kids were starting to walk off, but I doubt they left.

It just, wow. I mean, where in the hell are their parents?! Why are these young kids at a running track/gym, yelling things at every single person there and no one is watching them or doing a thing!? Granted they were young, but that still hurt me a little. I'm trying so hard, I already suffer with a terrible self image of myself, and hearing that from anyone is a bit upsetting =/ Sorry if this is offense to anyone, but this is just an upsetting matter to me.

For such young children to already have such a nasty mindset towards others....it's depressing
«1

Replies

  • tennileb
    tennileb Posts: 265 Member
    wow what's their home life like if they feel that picking on others is a good thing to do!

    Makes me sad...and angry.
  • run_way
    run_way Posts: 220
    What hurtful things to say, whether someone can hear them or not. I'm sorry this happened, keep your chin up :flowerforyou:

    Love your ticker by the way!
  • onwarddownward
    onwarddownward Posts: 1,683 Member
    That's horrible! I'm glad you were able to report them. There are enough obstacles to getting strong without that crap! And you know others were getting the same treatment and probably feeling terrible.
  • suv_hater
    suv_hater Posts: 374 Member
    Kids suck. 12-14 is really a bad age for them. Remember the lady who was verbally abused on that upstate NY school bus? Same age group.

    Isn't the Y an all-ages place? I could never do it. One time my gym started doing daycare and I cancelled my membership. Not trying to see or hear no kids while I'm WORKIN.
  • pet1127
    pet1127 Posts: 572 Member
    You have more control than me . I am thinking I would have accidently kicked them in the *kitten* :grumble:

    I have two teen boys and if I ever caught or heard of them talking like that to ANY one they would not see the light of day after school was finished for quite some time.
  • Fithealthyforlife
    Fithealthyforlife Posts: 866 Member
    That's terrible. Were these kids girls? I bet they were boys. Boys at that age have no real appreciation for the athletic female body. I know because I was one 15 years ago. 12-year old boys are usually skinny, and they don't know the difference from fat and muscle on a grown woman. But you can bet one day they will learn to appreciate the finer things in life, like a woman's hips and thighs and *kitten*, lol. I bet you could run circles around those kids.

    btw...I'm a straight guy, but I must say your fiance, assuming that's him in the pic, looks like Josh Groban...a great singer, and one who many ladies consider attractive.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I'm glad your fiance said something to them! I know from my own experience with kids who are doing something completely rude or inappropriate, too many times they do it, and keep doing it boldly, because no one ever stands up to them. All it takes is someone standing their ground and telling the kids what they are doing is NOT acceptable or appropriate (clearly the parents are failing at telling them such things!), and they stammer and stutter and look at the ground.

    It may not stop them, maybe not right away, but gives them something to think about, and maybe think twice before spouting off and being little twits to anyone and everyone.
  • JoanB5
    JoanB5 Posts: 610 Member
    Definition of Bully. And while you might be able to stomach it as an adult (though it hurt), think of what that does when they are doing it to their adolescent peers, and I'm sure they are. We wonder why kids get into trouble. They can just be so stinkin' mean. They are trying to knock someone else down so that they can feel larger.

    Yet...it's verbal abuse. I do hope the YMCA is bold on their stance. Keep reporting it. You may save a young girl's life.
  • Bekahmardis
    Bekahmardis Posts: 602 Member
    Definition of Bully. <snipped>
    Yet...it's verbal abuse. I do hope the YMCA is bold on their stance. Keep reporting it. You may save a young girl's life.
    Absolutely, it's verbal abuse and the YMCA needs to be fully aware of this. Good on you for reporting it and good on the YMCA lady for being pissed about it, too!!
  • Ender126
    Ender126 Posts: 44
    So, I haven't been exercising like I would like to for the last two months after starting a new job. I haven't gained weight, but haven't lost. Today I went to run at the local YMCA track (cause I hate treadmills), and decided starting while a mile was good. So as I'm rounding the end of my first half mile I notice a group of roughly 12-14 year old kids standing in the middle of the track in a group of 6 or so. As I run past I hear them start yelling nasty things at me. One says "Wow! That girl is fat! Look how fat her *kitten* is! So fat! Better run 7 laps to lose all that weight fat *kitten*!!!"

    Now while I'm no skinny-minney, I'm 5'2" roughly 143 lbs. and pretty muscular. I'm not tiny, but I'm not huge either. I guess these KIDS thought I had headphones on, since everyone else running did. But I hate running with music, so I heard every hurtful word they spat at me.

    However, instead of stopping and yelling, telling them to get at me when they stopped having mommy wipe their *kitten* for them, I kept running. Harder than ever. By the time I made it back around they walked off across to another area. I finished my run, and went to the car. A bit annoyed, I walked into the YMCA building as I watched the same kids messing with cars, acting like they were going to throw balls and such at their cars. I told the manager "Just letting you know, you have a group of teenagers outside yelling nasty things to runners, and messing with cars". She was pissed and went to get someone.

    When my fiance finished running he could see I was irritated. Asked why, and I told him. He walked off saying "No one talks to you like that". Turns out he gave the kids a talking to, and said they better watch it or they're gonna say something to the wrong person one day. They all denied it, while stuttering and looking at the ground. Mind you, while he was looking, he watched one jump in front of a guy running and almost knocking him over. He stopped and went around them, messing up his run. While we were leaving the kids were starting to walk off, but I doubt they left.

    It just, wow. I mean, where in the hell are their parents?! Why are these young kids at a running track/gym, yelling things at every single person there and no one is watching them or doing a thing!? Granted they were young, but that still hurt me a little. I'm trying so hard, I already suffer with a terrible self image of myself, and hearing that from anyone is a bit upsetting =/ Sorry if this is offense to anyone, but this is just an upsetting matter to me.

    For such young children to already have such a nasty mindset towards others....it's depressing

    Bad parents = Bad kids

    It's a sad world we live in nowadays. If I EVER caught one of my kids being that way they wouldn't sit right for a month.
  • Beckboo0912
    Beckboo0912 Posts: 447 Member
    Sorry it happened to you...I've had the same thing happen a few times, so I have been there. I don't say anything either but sometimes I wish I did. Godd for you for saying something to the Y lady and for keeping on what you were doing.
  • aymetcalf
    aymetcalf Posts: 597 Member
    I'm 5'2, 145lbs and size 6 - not tiny not huge - i'm thinking similar to you. And I had a very similar experience with teenagers at a run path near my work. I try to not let it get to me - i mean, we're not in middle school anymore. But it is very discouraging that this is what our "future leaders" feels comfortable yelling at strangers. sad. ::hugs for you::
  • meredith1123
    meredith1123 Posts: 843 Member
    Kids suck. 12-14 is really a bad age for them. Remember the lady who was verbally abused on that upstate NY school bus? Same age group.

    Isn't the Y an all-ages place? I could never do it. One time my gym started doing daycare and I cancelled my membership. Not trying to see or hear no kids while I'm WORKIN.

    ^ the Y is all age bc of the sports and such. Plus Kids working out, i think its super awesome and while most at my Y arent 'working out', they are using the treadmills or ellipticals for extra activity and these days its good to see kids trying to take care of themselves. As long as kids arent treating others badly, i am not at all bothered by them at my Y locations.

    Kids ages 12-14 are rough. I was there once and even though i wasnt mean, there were plenty who were - even back then. My daughter is 12 and I will give her a can of whoop *kitten* if i catch her or ever hear of her treating others in this ill mannered way. It's not hard to teach kids respect, but parents these days dont do it.

    Oh and btw, i bet half of those kids attempting to be cruel cant even jog a mile so be proud. THey are kids, do not let them bug you down!
  • jay10587
    jay10587 Posts: 57 Member
    You should have said "I don't see any of you out here running! Just wait until you're older, and remember this experience when you are 100+lbs overweight and made fun of me, who wasn't even overweight!"

    :flowerforyou: Don't let it get to you! You are doing FAB!
  • 99clmsntgr
    99clmsntgr Posts: 777 Member
    Last time anything close to that happened to me, it was actually in a church parking lot (a group of kids waiting for their moms to come pick them up after whatever activity on a Wednesday night). I stopped and challenged the kid in front of all his friends.

    "If you think you're so much better, shut up and keep up."

    Of course, he had to man up in front of his friends. I didn't run any faster than my easy run training pace (at the time just under 9:00 per mile). He didn't last a 1/4 mile and went slinking back. I've seen him and his friends out since. He hasn't said anything again.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    wow what's their home life like if they feel that picking on others is a good thing to do!

    Makes me sad...and angry.

    Some kids are just spoiled little jerks whose parents don't punish them or hold them accountable for anything. I wouldn't necessarily say it's that they have it bad.
  • hap2010
    hap2010 Posts: 101 Member
    How horrible. It is a accomplishment to get out there and better yourself and to have young punks try and destroy is downright wrong.
  • Pixi_Rex
    Pixi_Rex Posts: 1,676 Member
    Kids are mean, you do not have to be a kid to take the brunt of them being mean.

    Do not let some little sh!theads hurt you. Just remember you may not be in the best shape ever but every run you do, ever work out you log the better you are getting and eventually you will be at the peak and they will still *kitten* in the end.

    Good for you for continuing your run, and also for speaking to the manager at the Y (That is why they are there.)

    As for their parents - kids learn a lot of that stuff from parents so my guess is the parents really wouldn't care.
  • sevsmom
    sevsmom Posts: 1,172 Member
    Oh! Let me catch some little middle school kiddos with that crap. And Lord have mercy if any of mine ever behaved like that. Momma won't tolerate that kinda talk!!! I've been in a similar spot before and I've stopped (running on a sidewalk) and asked the kids if i could help them. They acted all tough, and I would repeat word for word what I heard and I would ask them to clarify. . .which generally got an embarassed mumbling response. I told them that while they certainly are entitled to their opinions, perhaps they could keep their comments to themselves. And, as I ran off, I heard various comments about being a b!tch, old fat @ss, and other lovely things. Problem is, those kids have probably been on the other end of vile comments and they're just spreading the "love" as it were. Sad.
  • elemkc
    elemkc Posts: 43 Member
    I totally agree with you. I'm sorry they were so rude but it's even more depressing that kids at that age are being so blatantly hurtful to someone else. Just keep on running, you are doing your best and a bunch of ignorant preteens mean nothing. Love 99clmsntgr who challenged a rude kid one day. I've done that in my neighborhood too, they weren't rude but liked to watch me run in groups so I did some sprints with them and they never messed with me again. haha
  • ozigal
    ozigal Posts: 173 Member
    Last time anything close to that happened to me, it was actually in a church parking lot (a group of kids waiting for their moms to come pick them up after whatever activity on a Wednesday night). I stopped and challenged the kid in front of all his friends.

    "If you think you're so much better, shut up and keep up."

    Of course, he had to man up in front of his friends. I didn't run any faster than my easy run training pace (at the time just under 9:00 per mile). He didn't last a 1/4 mile and went slinking back. I've seen him and his friends out since. He hasn't said anything again.


    Love it!! Well done! :)
  • katekross
    katekross Posts: 463 Member
    Kids are so mean, no matter where you go. Next time you go out running, I give you permission to jack them in the face. At least you were out running, you very well could be at home doing nothing! You are awesome :)
  • conniemaxwell5
    conniemaxwell5 Posts: 943 Member
    Last time anything close to that happened to me, it was actually in a church parking lot (a group of kids waiting for their moms to come pick them up after whatever activity on a Wednesday night). I stopped and challenged the kid in front of all his friends.

    "If you think you're so much better, shut up and keep up."

    Of course, he had to man up in front of his friends. I didn't run any faster than my easy run training pace (at the time just under 9:00 per mile). He didn't last a 1/4 mile and went slinking back. I've seen him and his friends out since. He hasn't said anything again.

    This is what I would have done too. I'll bet not one of them would have finished. They're just seeking attention because they're not getting it where they should. If we can give them attention that might lead them in a new direction, we're all better for it.
  • Ender126
    Ender126 Posts: 44
    Last time anything close to that happened to me, it was actually in a church parking lot (a group of kids waiting for their moms to come pick them up after whatever activity on a Wednesday night). I stopped and challenged the kid in front of all his friends.

    "If you think you're so much better, shut up and keep up."

    Of course, he had to man up in front of his friends. I didn't run any faster than my easy run training pace (at the time just under 9:00 per mile). He didn't last a 1/4 mile and went slinking back. I've seen him and his friends out since. He hasn't said anything again.

    AWESOME!!!!!
  • perdie7
    perdie7 Posts: 266 Member
    sorry the kids said those things...They were probably there because they have nowhere else to go and no one who cares, that is the way it is at our rec center (at least a majority of the kids)....

    but wow! focus on your hero...way to go for the fiancé charging in there and defending you, gotta love that.

    it makes me glad for who I have around me...my teens tell their friends about me and my weight loss/running/and lifting.....if fact my son calls me buff o mom, cause I lift weights. As far as I know, people who have "watched" me run around town the last 18 months are proud of me, and the weight I've lost, I get lots of comments, still, even tho I haven't lost any weight for the last year.
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    I feel really sad for the kids. I hope mine grow up to be better than that.

    I'm glad you were able to channel your rage and anger into extra awesome running! congrats of kicking butt!
  • MsMargie1116
    MsMargie1116 Posts: 323 Member
    Oh this story sounds oh too familiar... Only I AM what one would consider fat... I've had kids yell out the fat jokes and I usually do ignore them and it's OK. Well one time, they kept it up, and even came up to me, thinking they were going to intimidate me. I just smiled at them and told them, "You think I'm fat now, I used to be much bigger!!! In fact, come see me in two years, you'll change your story!!!" Then got back to walking. ;-)

    I was walking at a track and there were some hurdles in my way, so I moved them. These middle school kids were on the track hanging out, and I asked them if they were using them. They said, "no", so I moved them to the side. Did one lap and th ey were int he exact same place... so what did I do??? Walked throug them... :)

    Kids can just be plain mean... Ignore them as much as possible... :)
  • Madmadz77
    Madmadz77 Posts: 129 Member
    Those kids are just sore that they have no idea who is their father since they are the sons of diseased *kitten*.

    Run and be happy.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I feel sorry for anyone who purposely jumps in front of me while I'm running. I like to hit things, I'm also big and don't slow down very quickly. I'm also not nimble like gazelle, so anyone doing that will get my shoulder put into a soft part of their body, and they will hurt. I will not hurt.

    I was simply defending myself from someone who appeared as if they were attacking me.
  • tamjak
    tamjak Posts: 28
    I would have definitely been reporting them to the YMCA manager. And I would have asked to have them removed from the gym/track for the day. I would have asked that their parents be called. I would have asked that they they repeat to the manager what they told you. There is no excuse for this.