For some reason, when I started running a few months ago I didn't tell anyone, kept it a secret and just came on this website for help and encouragement (which I got in buckets! Thank you!). I think I was worried I would be bad at it or give up.
But I haven't and now I am thinking about telling people I run but I don't really know how - it all seems even more silly! Any tips?
First person I told - about the closest to me - laughed so hard she got a pain in her side.
When she realised I wasn't kidding she was almost afronted.
"I mean - how ridiculous can life be?!!!"
I do better on my own anyway 🙂
The hubby knows and didn't outright laugh but was a bit like; "okaaaaaaaay, if you say so". No laughter but a bit eye rolly (if that's a thing?)
eye rolly is definitely a thing 
sputtering laughter like a hyena on Crack would be quite another thing though - he is probably a keeper 
My husband still eye rolls and calls me a freak, and it's been 15 months! No-one who's known me for a long time quite believes it (tbf, neither do I) but I love confounding expectations. When the moment arises just tell people. You loving running is your problem- how they respond is theirs. Happy runnings.
Just casually throw it into the conversation. For instance "so Saturday I went to this gorgeous coffee shop after I'd been out running. They serve such a lovely cuppa. We should go there on day".
First rule of Run club is: never talk about running.
Unless it's to other runners. In which case don't talk about anything else.
How do you find out of somebody is a runner????? Don't worry , they will tell you!!
You don't need to tell anybody - just put your running shoes on and go out and run. Word will soon spread !
Announce you're running a 5k or 10k in a few months time and challenge others to join you/sponsor you? Raise money for something worthwhile at the same time. And/Or make new friends at Parkrun?
Thinking of joining Parkrun; also scared about that! Lol!
Parkrun was a lovely experience for me. Just full of nice people all encouraging each other. No pressure
Keep finding reasons not to sign up; I am giving blood tomorrow for example which means Saturday for first public run is a no....
Put in diary for next available sat??
Ask them to join you on a run.
I wouldn't bother 😃 It's not like you need to explain yourself
You don't have to tell anyone do you?
If they see you, find out, ask.. just say, "Yes, I do, why?"
Good point, well made!
For me it just came out naturally e.g. Colleagues ask what you are doing in the evening so I would say run, tea, telly or whatever! Initially though I always said I was "learning to run" or "'on my running programme " as I was embarrassed telling people who run "properly" I was very slow jogging!!
I think dropping it in might be a good start; I still just say "oh, this and that" etc
This made me chuckle because I did the same thing - only my husband knew and that was only because he caught me falling through the front door, all red-faced and out of puff, on week 4!
I 'came out' by sticking a photo of me at the end of the Race for Life on Facebook. For some weird reason, I didn't want to tell anyone before - I didn't want to 'curse' it or feel like I was doing it for anyone other than myself.
Now, of course, it's all I ever talk about...😳😬🙈
Same, terrified of cursing it! Probably just need to keep running and ignore all this nonsense in my head!
After 2.5 years most of my friends still don't know I run I treat it as a need to know thing
Im a bit like Ruth. Tell who you want to, or not! Enjoy 😀🏃🏻♀️
Facebook 
You need to start with those dearest to you, for whom the shock may be greatest. It is an agonising dilemma, but it is only fair to be honest with people. You may be lucky and find that your nearest and dearest are more broad minded and understanding than you anticipate.
The other option is to continue life in the closet, feeling repressed and unable to express yourself fully in society, which is hardly to be recommended.
Maybe the grand gesture is the way forward. Train for a charity 10k and when you are well and truly ready, ask them all to sponsor you.
Maybe I should dare people to sponsor me more if I make a specific time? Or would that be unfair? Rofl
What Ian said!
My husband was the last person I wanted to tell! 😁
He's not been too bad; not an enthusiast and a bit incredulous but not bothered. I think he thinksit will stop again soon which is a bit scary; what if it does?
My boyfriend thought it was another one of my "phases" too
I thought it might be one of my phases too, but 4 years on ....
I started running a few years back, I bought a treadmill off of eBay for £61.11 and loved it, since then I've changed jobs one or twice and didn't keep it up.
The last time I started using it I was talking to another guy at work and he brought up exercise, let me describe myself to you, I'm 6ft and 22 stone, when I said I had a treadmill and I used it his reply was "I suppose you have to put the clothes somewhere to dry."
It didn't phase me that much to be honest but there will always be ignorant people, what you lack in one area you will make up for in another area.
My reply to him (it's a little big headed so I apologise in advance for that): "I may be fat but I have an IQ of 162, I can loose weight but you'll still be stupid."
Long story short, if you tell people and they laugh at you just smile and pity them.
I kept quiet for a long time, not even telling my husband. I've been going for walks at odd times for years, and the gear is pretty much the same, so my husband didn't really notice (plus I walk or run before everybody else is up). He was sceptical at first, but has accepted it now and even plans holidays with running routes for me in mind! A few close colleagues know, but probably don't realize how enthusiastic I am! And most of our friends now know. I want it to be part of me, just something I do, but I am still shy about proclaiming to the world that I am a runner!
I have a natural advantage in these matters - I am 70 years old and I don't give a F***
I'm with Tomas, I'd say something along the lines if, "I saw a lovely bird/tree/view or what ever when I was on my run this morning.
What happens in lycra, stays in lycra
I was about to say that I don't wear lycra and then realised, yeah, I do; I love my running tights - seriously the most comfy clothing i have ever owned. I would totally die if one of my friends saw me wearing them though!
Over the 4 years since I've been "doing it" I've gone down the self-deprecating route:
"I do a bit of running" or "I know I don't look like a runner, but I quite enjoy it" or "I did a 5k charity run at the weekend, I was very slow" etc. My non-running friends are always very impressed. But I do find that some of my friends who DO run will keep telling me about their accomplishments which are always more impressive than mine and which I secretly find very annoying. Actually, thinking about it, there's only 3 that do that (all women). The others are all very supportive. That's why I like this forum! ❤️
I would never admit to the runners that I know that I run!!! Crikey! They all do marathons and triathlons and scary things. I think I am happy with up to 10k but definitely no more and definitely not racing in earnest in public!
i started runnning with my friend and we didn't tell anyone. We didn't know how long we would do it for so was easier not to telll. By mistake i messaged one of our friends instead of my running partner, asking if she was running that day. Well the cat was out of the bag and slowed started telling people. Most of my family didn't know until I graduated and then put it on the family WhatsApp group haha
Who's coming out to play?
Down, but not out!
Thinking about moving on after running 5K...
