Being a naturist I was looking for a way to get fit in a way that is compatible with my lifestyle. Living in the countryside I am able to enjoy both the programme wearing just my trainers and carrying my phone.
I have just completed week 5 and would not have believed that just 5 weeks ago I could have run for 20 minutes.
I have found the few people I have met are more interested in the running programme than my lack of clothes.
Hi, and well done for your progress so far! Have a look at our pinned guide to the Couch to 5K programme healthunlocked.com/couchto5....
Spring is in the air, so my additional piece of advice would be - don't skimp on the sun block!
Best ever post on this forum. 🍆
Good luck for the winter!
My February runs were run in calm conditions when there was frost in the ground. The cold air in one’s body is quite exhilarating and the act of running keeps one quite warm. My fingers got a bit numb holding the phone though but they would do anyway.
I was going to ask where you kept a phone, keys and all the other bits and pieces
Good run for you today Windrunner1, I assume you don't live in the UK.
Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.Take it nice and steady for W6R1........it catches out more people than any other run in the programme.
This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5....
and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.
Enjoy your journey.
Is this even legal????😂
The simple act of nudity is not illegal in the UK indeed the police guidance confirms that this so.
Just unpleasant for onlookers then😂
Where there is no intention to cause harm or distress, for example when someone merely wishes to experience running as a naturist, the police will not consider that any intervention is necessary.
Link to the Crown Prosecution Service guidance on handling cases of naturism: cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/n...
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I bet your glad Springs coming! Well done on the running... Careful of thorns/branches!
Please, everyone, remember to be kind, respectful, and understanding of one another, as per our forum guidelines healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
I am noting this for myself as well! Windrunner1, I apologise for my levity - although my advice was meant seriously too!
Thank you. I had no intention of causing any offence. I would be interested if there are others who have tried running without clothes. I am fortunate in that living in a rural area I am unlikely to come across anyone while I am running.
I start week 6 tomorrow. It’s amazing how one’s stamina builds through the programme. I would not call myself a natural runner but judging by my progress so far and with Jo Whitley’s I think the 5K might be within sight.
Sounds to me like you ARE a natural runner - and in more ways than one 😊 Well done!
I am not aware of anyone ever posting on here before about running without clothes, but let's see...
I don't know if I could run like that!
Just like the ladies prefer to wear sports bras when running, I prefer to have the stuff "down there" held firmly in place by some undershorts.
I haven’t found that to be a problem.
Ah, there are many male runners that also wear a bra. Many have gynecomastia or just issues with fat. Remember, up to a certain point in our development in the womb, we are pretty much identical, and that is why we have nipples. Nipples are attached to breast tissue in both males and females and the action of running can also damage the ligaments in both sexes. Be careful, and chaps, although it is very rare, do check your moobs, you can develop breast cancer. I had testicular cancer and as a result, I have a hormone imbalance - that has caused me to 'grow up top' and running would be problematic for me without support of some sort. My father died of testicular cancer, I found it and was successfully treated and our son is very aware of what to check.
That is interesting. Is there any evidence that running unsupported can induce cancer? I would have thought that running was what we evolved to do. I don't carry a lot of fat.
NO, there isn't any evidence of that to be best of my knowledge. What you can do though is stretch the ligaments and once they are stretched they never return to their original length. It mainly applies to women, but by not wearing a bra/other forms of support, the act of any up/down exercise, like running, causes the weight to pull on those ligaments and they will and do stretch. The same, but generally to a lesser extent [due to smaller size], this will happen to males who have any chest/breast tissue. Many males will benefit from a sports-type bra that supports them very well. I'm sure some may prefer a frilly one, but a sports bra is better.😉
I think it would look a bit odd and surely that would apply to any male runner wearing a sweat shirt too. I prefer to run free of such restrictions.
As we each only pass this way once, there is something to be said for trying anything and everything that isn't illegal, immoral or damaging to the environment at least once. So, maybe I shall find a quiet stretch of high moor and give it a try for a few minutes. I can't guarantee that I will do so, or more than once if I do, but try it I may. May I ask if this is something new to you, or is it a part of your general lifestyle?
I suffered from a very dry skin condition which gets better when exposed to sunlight so from quite a young age my other encouraged me to expose my skin to the sun. As we had a large secluded garden it didn’t take long for me to realise that my shorts were not necessary either. I didn’t realise that there was a name for what I was doing and later in life I joined British Naturism. As my confidence grew I have been very open with my desire not wear clothes and have explained to all our neighbours that this is what I prefer to do. I have had no objections so gardening and diy at home, walking and now running are much more enjoyable without the restriction of clothes.
Do give naturist running a try. I would be interested to hear how you get on. As your confidence grows you will find most people are quite accepting. It’s a perfectly natural and legal thing to do.
I think I am right in saying that we have a beach not too far away that has a section dedicated to it, so it may be easier there... or maybe on the remote high more before the school break up and it gets busy. When I go to that part of the coast I have my binos and scope with me for the birds - some cracking Great Crested Grebe displays last year, and the Gannets plunge diving in large numbers is breathtaking. Going back to my childhood, we had a girl in our class who said her parents didn't wear clothes - maybe she was right after all. I certainly can't guarantee I will try it, but I may go prepared. IE, a bag and quick on clothes!!
Thanks for this. I was aware that it was a thing, especially with a hormone imbalance. It is, however, rare and not often talked about. I have a doctor friend who calls them sweat glands with delusions of grandeur.
My condition is called Itchthyosis and it made me feel very self conscious. Exposing the skin to the air and sun definitely helps.
I find myself torn over this. I too live in the countryside, run solo, and rarely meet others while out running.
On the one hand, I don't have a problem with naturism, and since you're not intending to offend or distress you wouldn't be breaking the law in England and Wales, and most probably not in Scotland either. I also rather envy your confidence.
On the other, it bothers me that you seem to be saying it's fine for you to run naked because you're in the countryside (so it wouldn't be OK in an urban or suburban environment?) and don't have malign intent. The thing is, people that you meet don't know your intent.
Women, in particular, are likely to be unsettled by your behaviour. There are so many posts on this and related forums from women who are scared to run alone, in quiet or badly-lit places, etc. A survey of women runners found that 31% of them had thought about stopping running because of safety concerns. (See wewillcampaign.com/ and womensrunning.co.uk/news/we...)
While I stress that I'm not accusing you of putting women (or indeed anybody) at risk, I think it's a pity that it doesn't seem to have occurred to you that your freedom to run naked might limit someone else's freedom to enjoy the countryside as they'd like.
Thank you for your comments. I wasn’t quite sure how to respond. I run in the countryside because that is where I live. Whilst I don’t think there is any reason why one could not be in an urban area naked, after all there are numerous World Naked Bike Rides which take place in numerous towns and cities through out the uk, as we are a minority I think it would take a lot more courage than I have to do so.
I think the posts you refer to suggest that women are wary of being alone in certain situations and I think that applies to them coming across men in general whether naked or not. No woman should feel threatened and that is why the legislation and guidance has been worded the way it has. I am unlikely to come across anyone I don’t know, the fields are open and as I run from home all my neighbours know of my preference in running wear.
The C25K programme is a fitness programme for mind and body as many of the posts suggest. As the British Naturism website suggests “When you shed your clothes you also shed just few if the burdens of everyday life”. I have found this to be the case and I would encourage others to try it.
On a different note the weather was glorious this morning and I completed Run 1 of Week 6 just few more sessions to go!
I appreciate your reply Windrunner1 , and parts of it - the fact that people who are likely to see you are your neighbours know you're a naturist and a runner - help me better understand your perspective.
It's not about countryside or urban running though. Naked bike rides, mass skinny dips, naturist beaches, campsites, resorts, etc... anyone who goes to these events or places knows that they'll see naked people, so can make an informed choice. If I accidentally end up on a naturist beach, then I can choose to stay or walk away.
The difference is that if I encounter you when we're both out running, I've not had any information or notice to enable me to choose. And my lived experience is that every single time a male stranger has been naked or has shown me his genitals in a public place it's been without my consent and in order to upset, disturb, harass, shock and threaten me.
Obviously naturism isn't the same as indecent exposure, groping or a physical assault. I'm not suggesting it is. I'm trying to explain that I have never, ever had a positive experience of unexpectedly encountering an unknown naked male. That's why I, and I believe the vast majority of women, would feel unsettled and potentially threatened if we encountered you unexpectedly.
As to the posts and links to which I referred, I hope you read them rather than simply making your own assumptions. I say this because In a recent thread on one of the other HU running forums a male runner admitted that it had never occurred to him that merely jogging behind a woman, particularly after dark or for some time, could make her feel threatened, and that crossing to the other side of the road (for example) could help to reassure her. In the light of the exchanges on the thread, he said he'd be more aware and would react differently in future.
I wish you success in completing C25K.
Oh, and if you don't know it already you might like to check out BBC Radio Sheffield's The Naked Podcast (bbc.co.uk/programmes/p063wfw6) of which I am a great fan.
Yep - you are not alone. I run 6k every 2 days and love to run these as you do when the opportunity arises. I shy away from potential confrontation but I am not remotely embarrassed (my 12 years as a working life model have destroyed any remnants of this). As such, I like to run very early and in places that I know very well. I have no interest in upsetting anybody and I keep a keen eye on what / who may be around - I quickly cover up if I see someone out of courtesy - but does this action only potentially strengthen any opinion that what we do is wrong or somehow illegal. Difficult to judge.
I am pleased to hear that. I know what you mean. I tend to run about 9am in the morning I used to cover up if I saw someone but I think trying to get back into a pair of shorts with running shoes on definitely sends out the wrong signal. I decided to see what would happen if I did not cover up and act normally by saying good morning lovely day etc. I have not had any problem. Naturism is becoming more accepted and is not illegal. It’s just that there are not many of us who run this way.
I was wondering about responding, because basically I like to think people should just be able to do their thing, but after Cmoi 'Cmoi's response, may I just add that after having had unsettling experiences myself and as a female runner, I might be quite alarmed if I were to come across a naked man in an out of the way place. I of course support people's decisions about how they live their lives, but unfortunately many women do not always feel safe in this world. Nudity is of course not an expression of intent to do harm, but it would have impact. I might avoid an area where I had seen a man naked to be honest.I hope I am being respectful to all here.
Hi Roxdog
I am sorry you feel this way. I have always been open about being a naturist and those I have spoken to seem quite understanding. Perhaps if it was more common we would not be having these conversations. Studies have suggested that naturism brings positive benefits as does C25K.
Well yes, those you have spoken to have seemed understanding, as am I, about the concept of naturism. The issue however would be that someone you encounter on a run, especially a woman, wouldn't have the benefit of knowing you, or the benefit of a prior discussion about your lifestyle and so would not know you are a naturist. You would be a stranger and therefore as it is still unusual (maybe wrongly) to be naked in such situations, I'm sure you can understand that it could be unsettling.
Anyway, I won't say any more other than that one cannot always assume that reactions of people are misplaced or that women 'should' not feel concerned. Women spend a lot of time hearing how they 'should' react to things.
Good luck with cto5k though.
I think the posts you refer to suggest that women are wary of being alone in certain situations and I think that applies to them coming across men in general whether naked or not.
You’ve said this earlier Windrunner1 and I think it might be helpful to know that a massive proportion of women would feel extremely uncomfortable (at the very least) meeting a naked man out in public. As a lone jogger in a remote area, that could be an absolutely terrifying experience. Being naked really does make a massive difference to how much of a threat you’re perceived as in this situation.
It’s absolutely your decision whether you choose to run with clothes on or not but you should have a realistic view of how you are likely to make any lone female joggers feel.
Good luck with your c25k.
Thanks MissUnderstanding for your well-made points.
It seems that the overwhelming majority of posts do not have a problem with naturism as such it’s the fact that I run as a single male. I wondered if one would get the same reaction if I was to run in a small mixed group with fellow naturists.
Hi Windrunner1 , our respective posts have just crossed!
Fwiw, I personally would not react to a small mixed group of naked runners in the same way as I would if I encountered an unknown naked male runner.
For all the reasons already given, my response to the first would probably be "Oh, that's unexpected, but it must be a bunch of naturists out for a run" whereas to the second it would be "Oh shit, what's he up to? Does he seem a threat? Can I run faster than him to get away if I need to? How can I defend myself if he goes for me? Is my phone handy?"
Not necessarily fair, but that's my reality.
I totally agree with what Cmoi has said. A group of mixed naturist runners wouldn’t be threatening in the same way as a lone naked male runner would be.
It’s not coming across a single male that I would worry me (generally) because that happens all the time when I’m out and normally we just do that runners’ camaraderie nod and smile thing as you pass each other. An unexpected naked male runner would have me on full alert for getting away if I needed to. This is more than just women being bothered by every male runner that they meet while out alone.
Again, it’s totally your choice what you do and I’m sure you’re not any threat to anyone. This is about how you are likely to be perceived by women who don’t know that you are just a harmless naturist out for some exercise.
Hi Just completed Run 3 of Week 6. A run for 25 minutes seemed impossible just a few weeks ago but now it’s done I feel good about it. I haven’t looked yet but I think Week 7 is when the long runs start in earnest. The weather has been great.
Hi Windrunner1, well done on your progress. It sounds really liberating to run as nature intended, I'm a little envious. While I wouldn't class myself as a naturist, I do enjoy wearing as little as the social norms of the situation will allow. I sometimes work as a life model and one of my most blissful memories is being in warm water on a nudist beach in Hawai'i.
In most situations where I've been around naked men, they seem more vulnerable than threatening. I think there's a big difference between indecent exposure and simply being naked.
Hi Dylan
There is a fundamental difference between Indecent Exposure and being a Naturist. A genuine naturist has no Intention to cause cause any alarm or distress. As the Police Guidelines confirm a naturist who is simply out for walk or run etc is not guilty of an offence.
I think you may be right about vulnerability but if you have experienced life modelling and a naturist beach you would probably enjoy running without the restriction of clothing.
I run my last Week 7 run tomorrow. I am not sure what Week 8 will bring!
Ooh, you've dropped all the interval running then. That was my favourite part of the program. Where you really start to find a steady pace 👍🏼
I am not sure what interval running is. I have kept to the programme of running every other day.
It means varying the effort within a run e.g. walking between bursts of running or running gently and slowly between sprints. As opposed to running at a fairly steady effort.
W9R2 almost there!
Windrunner1 I fully support your choice to run naked!I’m a female runner who enjoys running across the local fields and rarely see other runners on my route. I would have no concern at all about my safety if I saw a naked runner en route. (My husband saw a naked runner on one of his local bike rides last year so I’ve already considered this as a likely event.) I am much more nervous when I see a group of 2 or 3 fully clothed males mooching around.
There is a MASSIVE difference between a runner going purposefully from A to B who just happens to be doing it naked and a naked man who is perhaps aiming for women or chopping and changing pace to get a reaction or look in at something that is private.
Seeing a naked runner would bring a smile to my face that they are obviously enjoying the weather. 😁 Plus it’s hard to feel threatened when surrounded by thorns and nettles and they’ve exposed all their physical vulnerabilities!
I hope you can continue to run naked for as long as possible.
Thank you for your comments and support. Its a great way to run and I think its coming more popular.
There is a MASSIVE difference between a runner going purposefully from A to B who just happens to be doing it naked and a naked man who is perhaps aiming for women or chopping and changing pace to get a reaction or look in at something that is private.
The trouble is, if you’re out on your own and a naked man is running towards you, how are you supposed to know which category they fall into? Harmless or out for a reaction? It’s great that you wouldn’t feel threatened but many women (and I’m including myself here) would.
I think one is more at risk from a clothed runner. A runner running naked is by his/her choice of running attire likely to feel more vulnerable. That said I haven’t had a problem from others on my route a cheery good morning is usually reciprocated.
Lots of women have said that they would feel more threatened by a lone male naked runner than a lone male runner wearing clothes.
Just as I won’t know which naked runners are out for a run and which are out for trouble just by looking, it’s going to be hard for you to tell which women are fine and which are feeling scared or vulnerable when they meet you.
Nobody is suggesting that you have any bad intentions or that you’re doing anything illegal but you should be aware of that.
Best wishes with your running journey.
END OF WEEEK 5, WONDERING ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS.
Running much more - week 4
Birthday running!
Still Running
