Confidence to start running in public?

I am a person, not an object and I deserve respect.

I wish someone would respect my personness by treating me like a sex object.

I actually laugh at the people who are sitting on their butt or driving and staring, I see it as im out here gettin healthy while they do nothin but stare

Absolutely! I was seriously overweight and very unfit. I could barely run 100m when I started!

But now that I'm 125lbs or so and running 10+ miles it's very clear that absolutely no one is watching me. And no one ever has been. And when I see someone just starting out, huffing and puffing, or just plain struggling, I feel such a connection with them and a desire to high-five and tell them what an awesome job they are doing! I am so inspired and impressed. Even now, it pushes me. I see people just starting out and I want to tell them "keep going, work hard, stay focused, and you will reap the rewards!". It always inspires me to stick with it, finish my run, and real strive to reach my potential.

We really have no idea what we're capable of if we give it 110%. You will surprise yourself. And a year from now you won't even be able to believe you were ever embarrassed to run in public! You'll be dying to run, anywhere, and if somebody's watching it'll be in awe and amazement at your dedication to health and fitness.

The parkruns are great. On every week and all shapes sizes,ages and abilities at my local one. It'll get you used to running outdoors in a similar group of folk.
When I ran regularly (just restarting again after a 4 year lay off) I joined a twice weekly jogging network, that was run by our local council, or meet ups run by Jog Scotland (perhaps you have similar in London?) - also loads of different folk, I was usually at the back with one of the organisers! It was a good safe way of being out, and yes, 40 folk running down the road would attract attention and car horns and shouts, but a cheery wave and smile of acknowledgement and we would move on.
I'm not saying its okay for folk to comment on your *kitten*,but as long as you aren't in danger, there isn't much that can be done, there's always gonna be people that think they can comment on anything and what they percieve to be a compliment isn't bugging the person they are directing it towards - if someone shouted 'nice *kitten*' at me, I would immediately think they were making a fool of me:happy:

I was wondering if I would get jeers when I started running but it's more catcalls and flirtatious looks. That's not why I started running but i do get a kick out of it. As long as no one is invasive or harassing or rude in any way it's pretty amusing.

But on your iPod and ignore everything. Just get in your zone

So, you spend all day and all night logging calories, exercising, and trying to look good just to feel embarrassed when somebody compliments you? The side-effect of what you're doing is looking hot, as if you didn't know. Why spend all the time to lose the weight, if looking incredible may draw attention? Because when I see a woman, old or young, wearing something nice, looking good, and in shape, I might be inclined to pay a compliment to some part of her anatomy, especially if she took the time to expound on that particular part of her body more than others. If a simple compliment hurts your feeling, maybe dressing in potato sacks and eating at McDonald's four days out of the week is the solution to your problem. Even so, there are always those guys who like a healthy woman wearing potato sacks.

Well, I'm sorry but it is a sexist derogatory remark and paying compliments is different from shouting across the street at a woman, I have had men say when passing: "You have a nice smile", that is different. THAT is a compliment. Being shouted at across the street is not.

It's as good as shouting: "You're a sex object for me, some stranger on the street, to shout things at!"

I'm not losing weight to look "hot" for creepy perverts to shout sexist things at me. I don't walk around in lingerie, so I don't expect to be treated like some girl at a strip club dancing around for men, when really I'm just someone walking to the supermarket.

I am a person, not an object and I deserve respect.

Okay, I've never wolf-whistled or shouted at a woman in the street, it's not my style. But seriously, get over yourself.

Get over myself? Are you joking?

In this society where women are constantly made to feel afraid of men who might rape them, being wolf-whistled and a guy shouting out his sexual desire to you on the street, is scary. It's not complimentary. Especially in a city and when you're on your own, the danger is heightened and so is your fear. There is nothing you can do except ignore them, if you shout back you are shouted at some more or thought of as 'feisty', yet again something sexual. It ruins your day and your night. The man who has done it has invaded your privacy, they have scared you and degraded you. You feel unsafe and afraid, just walking in the street.

It is degrading and objectifies women. Yeah, I'll get over myself, because being scared that I might be attacked is a stupid thing.

Are YOU joking??? Someone yelling "nice *kitten*" is not a threat. It's a stupid thing for them to do and has zero track record of success in meeting that particular woman, but it's not a threat. If you are really THAT scared to go out and run, then by all means, stay on the treadmill. Just be careful that it's not one that talks.

As for your original question, I agree with the majority. Who cares what people think/say? Go run, have fun and be healthy. If you are truly worried about your safety, run in public and/or with a buddy.

Are YOU joking??? Someone yelling "nice *kitten*" is not a threat. It's a stupid thing for them to do and has zero track record of success in meeting that particular woman, but it's not a threat. If you are really THAT scared to go out and run, then by all means, stay on the treadmill. Just be careful that it's not one that talks.

As for your original question, I agree with the majority. Who cares what people think/say? Go run, have fun and be healthy. If you are truly worried about your safety, run in public and/or with a buddy.

Good advice. A running buddy is always a good idea!! I will never run in public..not cause I am scared, but because my girls would knock me out and being passed out on a public street is never a good thing. lol