Cross-posted to the C25K, Bridge to 10K, and Marathon and Events forums.
I've just seen this article in The Guardian: theguardian.com/commentisfr...
Worth a read, regardless of gender. I particularly like that the article includes one of the points that I've previously made myself on the HU running forums: Of course, I know that most of the men reading this aren’t the aggressors and that they would never harass a woman, but the point is that women do not know that.
Run safely, run happy!
Thanks for the link Cmoi - definitely an article to share…
I was only thinking today that with the clocks going back, I will mostly be running in the dark for my weekday runs from now on. My head torch has been charged and I am ready to go! I am lucky enough to live in what I consider to be a pretty safe area but I have still, on occasion, altered my route because I have felt uncomfortable when running on my own.
My husband also runs and of course never feels this way. We have talked about it and I know that he takes care to give lone women runners or walkers space, as suggested in this article.
I absolutely won’t give up my lone runs, so it’s good to see more men acknowledging and understanding how different it feels to be a woman out on her own.
🙂🏃♀️
I walk a lot in quieter places - through the woods and fields, so that's when I am most aware of my own 'fears'. In many ways I am possibly too blase, but once the light begins to fade it's a whole different matter! Keeping a distance or moving away would make a huge difference to how I felt and, as the article says, that really isn't such an onerous thing to do.
I see the same male runner on my country road route fairly frequently now and while he is on the other side running towards me and doesn’t bother me at all, he never acknowledges my greeting or little wave and totally ignores me.
While this has slightly irritated me at times I’m now thinking perhaps he’s read these articles and he just thinks the best way is to ignore all female runners. I know some people would say, “gawd, you can’t win” but I am always a little sad when he doesn’t even say hello as a fellow runner ☹️
he might just be a miserable git 😀
😂 yes I did think that too 🤣
misswobble is probably right 😂!
I guess we have to leave a bit of room for the possibility that he is wrapped up in his own issues and using his run to process them.
If he's read these sorts of articles and thinks that the message is "Ignore all female runners, even if they greet you" then he's missed the point. He might be shy, deaf, concentrating, or yes, a miserable git!
The jury’s out….
break him down IP, with your radiant smile and cheery thumbs up etc 😁
I will keep trying! I’m not changing 😀
As they say in these parts, “you mon’t alter!” 😀👍
I’ve got one of those round here! Almost all the people I meet are lovely and say hi back but there’s this one who just looks stony faced and ignores me. I’m going to keep trying!
I don’t tend to find other people who are obviously runners threatening (unless they’re coming from behind and overtaking so I can’t see to judge their intentions). Your bloke is breaking the runners’ code by not at least smiling and nodding back at you!
I really disagree with this bit:"Never make comments, even if you think it’s a compliment. It’s intimidating to a woman on her own. Stay quiet."
That's just creepy. Far better to greet me in a normal manner; Good morning/ evening in a pleasant tone. Someone who remains silent automatically goes in my "weirdo" file 🤣
I get what you mean GoGo_JoJo , I think it'd have been better to leave out "Stay quiet." When I read that it seemed a bit OTT, though I'd also argue that someone could perfectly well greet you with a smile, a nod of the head or a thumbs-up sign. Though where I live it's absolutely normal, indeed expected, that you say "Bonjour" even to complete strangers, and that goes for kids and adults!
However I've no problem with "Never make comments, even if you think it’s a compliment" - I don't read that as "Never greet someone."
I didn’t read it like that-I wouldn’t count saying good morning/good evening as making a comment. I thought it was more the personal appearance type stuff that gets yelled out as you pass occasionally.
I've never experienced that so I wouldn't think of it. Worst I've had is little kids making fun of me, never adults. 🤷♀️ if I do get a comment rather than a greeting its usually an older person saying "well done, keep going!" 👏🏻
That reminds me of Pygmalion (and My Fair Lady):
HIGGINS: Oh, that'll be all right. I've taught her to speak properly; and she has strict orders as to her behaviour. She's to keep to two subjects: the weather and everybody's health—Fine day and How do you do, you know—and not to let herself go on things in general. That will be safe.
And that tends to be the sort of safe thing to talk about even now.
"Lovely day." "Cold, isn't it?" "I wasn't expecting rain." "It's a bit muddy back there." "Watch out for the geese. They're grumpy today." Things like that.
I agree with the need to be thoughtful and give female runners space in circumstances where they may feel uncomfortable.
My encounters with other runners or walkers I don’t know are mainly brief passing “good mornings”. Usually there is a similar response. If there is no response or eye contact, I just conclude that I am dealing with a person, maybe in their own world, who doesn’t welcome intrusion at that point, or possibly at all, and leave it at that. One of the benefits of running is that it gives us space to process things, so I am relaxed about “no response”. We don’t know what is going on in people’s lives I guess.
A little change on the forums
My light bulb moment 💡.... It's time to stop and smell the roses (or sagebrush), feel the wind and sun on my face, and take in the scenery
Today is a good day 😊🏃♀️