Astonished!: Just jumping on here very briefly... - Couch to 5K

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Astonished!

NettieNoo profile image
NettieNooGraduate
β€’47 Replies

Just jumping on here very briefly to express my astonishment at people's rudeness. Generally when out running, if I've had comments from other people, they've been a cheery "Hi!" or some sort of encouragement; "Well done!" "Keep going!" ... that sort of thing.

Until Saturday afternoon, when I passed two middle aged ladies out walking, one of whom said, "You're a bit old to be doing that, aren't you?"

For reference (not that it makes ANY difference how old you are /what you look like), I'm 58. I have long grey hair. Shock horror.

😑😱😑😱😑😱😑😱😑😱

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NettieNoo profile image
NettieNoo
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47 Replies
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Frenc profile image
FrencGraduate

They were JEALOUS! Next time you see them, shout out β€˜you smell’ and keep running. They won’t be able to catch up 🀣.

Seriously though, some people just have issues, are rude, and don’t realise the harm throwaway comments can cause. You are so much better than them!

NettieNoo profile image
NettieNooGraduateβ€’ in reply toFrenc

This made me laugh out loud! I said nothing because I was so taken aback, but I'll bear it in mind for another time 🀣

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduateβ€’ in reply toFrenc

Haha, luv it 🀣🀣🀣

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate

How rude, I remember running past an old lady with a stick who shouted out come in , faster, you are too slow, I just went further and muttered something rude but she had annoyed me

NettieNoo profile image
NettieNooGraduateβ€’ in reply toSueAppleRun

It's hard to just ignore isn't it?

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduateβ€’ in reply toNettieNoo

Yes very hard

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Oh my! I think I may have called back." I'm 73... I'm running, but you're only walking ...what's your excuse ?" πŸ€£πŸ€£πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ€£πŸ€£

Folk have their own agendas...and sometimes forget to taste the words they spit out..

You carry on..xxx

NettieNoo profile image
NettieNooGraduateβ€’ in reply toOldfloss

Considering how over sensitive I'm able to be sometimes, I actually didn't really register this properly until afterwards. Too busy running. People who can't say something nice just need to be ignored, I think. (Except the young boy, maybe 11 or 12 who once muttered "wa**er" under his breath as I passed. That made me laugh 🀣)

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduateβ€’ in reply toNettieNoo

Aghhh! You missed out!When kiddo said "W--k-r"

the perfect redponse would have been,

"Oh hi! - and my name is NettieNoo"

πŸ˜‚

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate

I actually daren't type here what my response would have been !(I would probably get reported) 🀣

NettieNoo profile image
NettieNooGraduateβ€’ in reply toInstructor57

Not worth wasting precious breath on, I think, although running slower means I now have plenty of breath available to yell abuse if I need to 🀣

XenaZelda profile image
XenaZeldaGraduate

how utterly rude! makes you feel like pushing them over as you run past them, i think i am old enough to just laugh at them as i don't care what people think anymore, i'm sure i have had people look at me and think the same thing but not said it out loud to me, maybe its the way i dress (as generally all in black), i sometimes have had women walking towards me and changed their bag to the opposite shoulder or crossed the road and one even got her keys ready in her pocket which did make me laugh as i must look like some sort of criminal, when i got back from that run i bumped into my neighbour when i got home and told her what happened and i said to her "do i look that scarey to you" and she said "well yes you do" i was flabbergasted, but it did make me laugh.................so the moral of the storey is......dress really scarey like your a criminal all in black and they will leave you alone 🀣

NettieNoo profile image
NettieNooGraduateβ€’ in reply toXenaZelda

I WAS all in black! It was gutting because, despite grey hair (which actually I love) I don't think I look too dusty for 58. I shall rise above 😁

XenaZelda profile image
XenaZeldaGraduateβ€’ in reply toNettieNoo

I have grey hair too, as i'm growing my colour out, i must look aggressive or something then 🀣 because some people are definately thinking i might mug them or something

BahamaMama1 profile image
BahamaMama1Graduateβ€’ in reply toXenaZelda

Because you can run away :-)

XenaZelda profile image
XenaZeldaGraduateβ€’ in reply toBahamaMama1

haha, yes i can now, i couldn't when i first started 🀣

Roxdog profile image
RoxdogGraduateβ€’ in reply toNettieNoo

All in black, long grey hair - sounds like you look awesome! At 63 I feel like I'm putting on my armour when I go out to run - also with grey hair. Not sure what I would have said to these women, but it's a shame they revert to stereotypes of what older women should and shouldn't do. Poor them to be stuck in these ways of thinking.

MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministratorOn a breakGraduate

That’s a rotten thing to hear and total nonsense. I’d try and write it off as someone having a bad day and don’t give it another thought. Sometimes headphones are a blessing!!

OldManRunning profile image
OldManRunningGraduate

I was only playing golf on Saturday and played a bad shot which never went near the 4 players in front and at the most could of come into their sight as it ended up between them and the green one of them was playing a shot into. My friends told me afterwards that one of them made reference to me as the "Richard head (paraphrased) who shanked the ball." Obviously I never heard it myself as I would have said something. The worst thing was the culprit was playing with his father who saw fit to ignore his sons rudeness. I can handle banter and fun but this was just plain rude.

NettieNoo profile image
NettieNooGraduateβ€’ in reply toOldManRunning

No! So rude!

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate

pffft, I have white hair too, I've had it for many years - people are just ignorant sometimes

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduateβ€’ in reply tobackintime

My hair started going white when I was 17 - genetic trait in my family. Two huge benifits though - I got to date older ladies, much more sane than teenage/early twenties imho - and none who have the "snowball gene" ever go bald :)

Dunno about over there, but here white hair is getting so fashionable people in their 20s and 30s are getting it dyed white πŸ™‚

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduateβ€’ in reply toIrish-John

Mine is genetic too, started going white at 16 and was white all over pretty early. Interestingly enough, some colour is now coming back, who'd a thunk it!

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduateβ€’ in reply tobackintime

That is a surprise! πŸ™‚

chrisl72 profile image
chrisl72Graduate

Imagine having to live with that level of bitterness in your heart... Some folk are their own punishment.

NettieNoo profile image
NettieNooGraduateβ€’ in reply tochrisl72

Brilliant, thank you! x

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduateβ€’ in reply tochrisl72

I tend towards the "Blackadder's Pencil" urge myself πŸ˜‚

Cmoi profile image
CmoiGraduate

Disgracefully rude of them NettieNoo and I'd probably have retorted with something considerably ruder.

Or possibly "And you're old enough to know better, act your age and not your shoe size!"

My hair's uncoloured, long and in a ponytail when I run. A veritable disgrace I am.

NettieNoo profile image
NettieNooGraduateβ€’ in reply toCmoi

Briiliant, I sincerely hope I'm a disgrace too 🀣

Liono profile image
LionoGraduateβ€’ in reply toCmoi

I would have said the exact same Cmoi - they were certainly too old to be making rude comments like that to a stranger! Disgraceful behaviour, most likely down to jealousy NettieNoo!

BlackCountryLee profile image
BlackCountryLeeGraduate

I get the frustration. You have probably thought of a hundred thing you wish you had said back to them since it happened. But I agree with Frenc - it's jealousy and we should be proud to be 50+ and getting out there and doing something to improve our health and ourselves. They probably wish they had the self belief to emulate you. Take no notice, you know you're smashing it and that's all that should matter πŸ˜€πŸ‘

Gojogo72 profile image
Gojogo72

I'm 50, so don't listen to them!You are doing more than them so stick with it.

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

It could have been worse, to be honest I have never had a rude remark shouted at me while running, I remember when running run 2 of week 9 someone shouting at me that. "you are going too fast" but I don't think that was a rude remark, my first complement was when I ran, run 3 of week 5, a man shouted "you're going great, keep going", I was about 15 minutes into that milestone run and it made me feel good, I completed it 5 minutes later.

Bruch1 profile image
Bruch1Graduate

After seeing a photo of me at parkrun the other week my brother in law commented 'all the gear and no idea'. I felt really hurt but have been trying to think well at least I'm making an effort to keep as fit as I can for as long as I can. I'm 69 and proud to be able to do it. I'll remind him of his hurtful comment when I visit him in his nursing home and I'm still running!!! People!!!

chrisl72 profile image
chrisl72Graduateβ€’ in reply toBruch1

Some folk are really damaged aren't they...

Cmoi profile image
CmoiGraduateβ€’ in reply toBruch1

And what's your brother-in-law's running like Bruch1 ? Super-sleek athlete, is he? I'm guessing not.

Bruch1 profile image
Bruch1Graduateβ€’ in reply toCmoi

Definitely not πŸ˜‚

NettieNoo profile image
NettieNooGraduateβ€’ in reply toBruch1

That's so mean, but maybe one of those throwaway remarks he didn't mean to be hurtful ... and evidently you do have an idea 😁 like you I'm taking comfort in the fact I'm staying as fit and healthy as I can. My energy levels, my mobility, my mental health are all better when I'm running.

Cassie_7 profile image
Cassie_7Graduate

How sad is that Nettie, I wonder if they secretly wish they could run like you! I see a fair number of older people here jogging and I think well done! I once heard someone (who drove his car everywhere) say that he couldn't possibly walk for any distance because he was an old age pensioner! It was like he had literally given up.

RubytheGreat profile image
RubytheGreatGraduate

I have come to the conclusion that running is a super power so not everyone has it. I agree with the jealousy comment. And just wait until that rude person needs to run for a bus and you can and they can't.

Jogslow profile image
Jogslow

Hihi they would have a field day with me at 65, who cares.

Frizzbomb67 profile image
Frizzbomb67Graduate

Yep rude! Very rude! Some people are just mean 😑 Their problem not yours. You’re doing great!

Nikeygirl profile image
NikeygirlGraduate

I find most very friendly...other runners smile and say hello..or give a thumbs up. I love running this time of year...its not too hot. In the mornings...and there is something very refreshing running amongst nature...

I wear my ear buds to hear the program so if people do make comments I can't hear ...πŸ˜†

Nanniecal profile image
Nanniecal

I hope your reply was ' your mouth is ugly'

Lokki33 profile image
Lokki33Graduate

Rise above all the hurtful comments and bask in the lovely ones. I’m 70 and β€œrunning”! Great South Run 10 miles target this year!!

Over60sRunner profile image
Over60sRunnerGraduate

I am fast approaching 64, very podgy, and I have salt and pepper dreadlocks down to my knees which are sometimes tied back and other times not. I have lost count of the rude remarks I have heard about a) my age, b) my weight and c) my dreads.

I always remind myself that it is there problem, not mine, and the rudeness says far more about them that it ever does about me.

Do what makes you happy, celebrate the fact that you are doing your best to keep yourself as fit as you can in your after-teen years, and you are sooooo much better than the rude bu**ers you sometime encounter out there. Keep on trucking NettieNoo πŸ˜€πŸ‘πŸ˜€

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduate

If its a male, I flutter my fingers at them and do a "kiss" - that tends to shock them 😁Female - "You can look, but you'll never be able to afford" That tends to bamboozle them πŸ˜‚

Mainly though, I don't say anything because I need all my breath for running, and they are literally just being gobs---tes so let them enjoy their scum-sucking festering tiny lives πŸ˜‰ WE are RUNNERSπŸŽ‰

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