Do you all run in public places? Until today I've always got the dog and headed for the field around the corner where I'm very unlikely to be seen! A path has been worn around the edge from all the dog walkers so it's not too bad for running. Today however it was just too darn soggy and I'd have ended up on my bum so it was either miss a run or pluck up the courage to run around the park. :$
I decided on going to the park and luckily for me the rain had kept most people indoors and there were only a hardened few out and about. Although I managed to keep jogging when I needed to I was still hugely embarrassed. I'm rather large and rather unfit and worry what others will think of me. Does anyone else feel like this and how do you overcome it? I loved running in the park but wish I could shut the gates and have it to myself for 30 minutes. :-S
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Kegwills
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I also prefer running in areas with no spectators and other runners (who overtake me constantly). Other people make me self conscious and then I speed up and end up being exhausted and not enjoying the running. But I live in the city, so I have to learn to run with other people around - I can't avoid them completely.
I didn't overcome it yet, but I' thinking that maybe the friendly atmosphere of a parkrun would help both of us?
I'm working up to a park run but as I've only just completed W2 I wouldn't dream of it yet. When I'm more confident and a little less of a puddle after 30 mins then it's definitely on my to do list, they look like great fun.
Go to park run, you don't need to be able to run for 30 minutes, use it as part of the plan, no one will care what you look like, just that you join in if you want to. There will be all sorts of people, some like you, all with a love of running no matter how much or how fast or what they look like. Please go, I'm sure you'll love it 😄 and it will bring your confidence on in leaps and bounds.
Aww kegwills, You've done it! 👏👏👏 Congratulations.. You've crossed the biggest hurdle in my book so a very big well done to you X When I started c25k I only ever ran in the dark, in a field, away from the public eye... Then the clock changed bringing more light and I invested in a peak running cap and ducked my head... I was 3 stone heavier and hadn't exercised regularly for years.
I overcame it by keeping in touch with a running forum, posting what I hoped to achieve before going out and doing it .. hoping that when I got home someone may have messaged me and I could tell them I did it! And feel ridiculously proud😊...and them tell me well done! And I invested in a running cap and a pair of cheapo running glasses from Aldi. It worked . I also tied a top around my waist to hide my bum😊.
And when Laura told me I'd done well or really whenever she spoke to me I'd chat back and agree. Pat myself on my back and come back and post I'd done it!!
2 yrs on I still wear a hat, prefer running in the cool of the evening but am now happy to call a cheery hi to other walkers/ runners if I'm not shattered & like all folk ...some are more social than others depending, like the rest of us, how there day is.
Best wishes on your running journey... Like old floss has recently posted...there's so much more to running than just running !
The trick is to find that elusive ideal pace that allows you to get to the end of the run but keeps you focused on the very basic issue of sheer survival. 😆
Jokes aside, don't worry about what other people think; most of them will simply ignore you, some will politely smile/nod/wave at you and the very few that might be rude... well, they do not even deserve your consideration, do they? 😉
I run in public, but there aren't that many people around. When I run at the weekends when there is more going on I don't really care - and most people really aren't bothered. But there is no "tradition" of heckling over here in Munich, thank goodness.
I ran through two bunches of teenagers last night and believe I must be looking more the part- no sniggers, nudges or random photo/video taking! It's a shame, they could also have just been very pleasant youngsters minding their own business of course!
I know what you mean. I only run on a path where no one can see me. I really don't enjoy seeing anyone yet as I don't feel very confident yet. Just keep going that's what I'm going to do.
Usually try to avoid too many public places but then again I am pretty huge n hard to miss expecially in my sexy Lycra. Tonight after my run was walking home n got beeped by some youth who yelled out his window. I'm sure it was something abusive but my post run euphoria made my brain translated it to something about how great I look lol
I'm totally with you & preferred the winter darkness to hide in. Now I've tried it in daylight it still scares me for about 30 secs then I get lost in my own concentration & music & I just think stuff everyone else...this is my thing & I'm doing the best I can!
I ran my first week of C25K on a treadmill but tried going outside and no-one was interested in me really LOL! I graduated some months ago and all I have had is a friendly "hello"! I tend to run in the countryside too but if the ground is wet and muddy, I will run around town, same, I'm not interesting, people are busy doing their own thing. Just try it, hope you have a good one!
I mostly run on roads and tracks around where I live, Its mostly quiet, and I used to feel self conscious if anyone saw me running, especially as my glowing face means I am not inconspicuous! After a few weeks I stopped caring and actually felt more self conscious if anyone was about when I was on a walk section! Anyway none of us should care (easier said than done sometimes!) as we are out there doing it! I ran tonight in a country park which was really busy due to the unusually great weather we have been having and I truly didn't care about my red face or that I was puffing away at less than walking speed up a hill with runners passing me on their way down! A month ago I wouldn't have liked it and was enjoying running under cover of darkness !
I run at 7am, I'm pretty big myself and was always worried about seeing people. So far if I do happen to see anyone they've always been really nice and I've even had people cheering me on! I have the running bug and there's nowhere nearby that's gonna be quiet so I just think if I wanna run I just gotta go for it, earphones in, hood up and in my own little world.
I'm used to being shouted at in my job but getting going I was expecting some rude comments but I think most people are more wrapped up in the own lives to care what anyone else is doing.
I started off taking my dog but he was more of a liability as he wanted to investigate smells and say hello to the other dogs that are about in the mornings. Easier to take him out after my shower and breakfast. I don't have a set route and if I do meet anyone it is usually someone I know from walking the dog and they are always encouraging. Just remember you are doing this for you and everyone else can "go hang" ( I think that's the expression.)
Thank you so much for all of the replies. It's good to know I'm not the only one who has a slight fear of it!! Yesterday was actually the second time I'd been to the park to run but the first time I chickened out as there were just too many people!! I've done it now though and feel fairly confident I'll do it again at some point. I'm enjoying the running too much now to let a muddy field day put me off.
When I met someone I apologised for being so slow and joked they would over take Me when I was walking they replied- your lapping everyone on the couch which I thought was lovely and made me think - yes I am!
I tried to start C25K covertly running along a path that's adjacent to a racetrack but the first day I did it my brother saw me in his car, and the next time another person I know and it turns out my route is a road with 90% of my friends and family driving down it on the way home from work!!
There's a nice canal path by mine and also a loopline cycle path which is generally occupied by cyclists, joggers and dog walkers so I normally do one of the three because it's nice and quiet but as I'm becoming prouder of my running I'm occasionally slipping onto the highstreet...
I like that. You're doing stealth ru ning - in full sight of everyone you know! I ran in the dark in winter for the entire programme. Now I still prefer to run when fewer people are about, less zig zagging for one thing and it just feels more relaxed. I am not too bothered what anyone thinks anymore. Even if they think I look ridiculous, they can also see I am trying to do something about it. I mostly encounter other runners now that I run early in the morning and they either ignore me completely which is stress-free or say hi, which makes my day.
I have to run on the road as there is nowhere to run off-road (it's all peat hills, very uneven and boggy). I also live on a small island where most people know me. It put me off starting for ages as I was worried what I would look like running, especially as I always go beetroot whenever i exercise. But in the end I decided to stop worrying about it and get used to the fact that I'm going to be waving at several people I know driving past every run.
I have only just started and have a park just under 5 minutes walk away from home therefore the ideal warm up for me.
Monday was my W1R1 and at 5am no one was out and about. Left it until last night and have found out that its the junior cricket team practise night with all the parents about as well.
Did the run anyway but did feel a bit embrassed as I huffed and puffed past them, red in the face probably as well, each time, I am not fit or exactly a trim figure. The Week 1 exercise works out to be 5 circuits of the pitch. Also need to be aware of the other kids playing and the cricket balls as well.
Going back to the morning run as I felt more awake when at work a few hours later and I can just concentrate on getting the techniques right.
It was the main reason it took me so long to start! I don't know the key for getting over how we feel about it but I do know I feel better for actually starting at last. I'm not sure I'll make it onto the public highway for a good while yet so I'll either have to go into the field or drive to the park! My advice to you would be to take a deep breath and go for it. You'll be pleased you did.
You'll get used to people over time and come to realise they are far too wrapped up in their own worlds and 'zone out' runners. And other runners are focused on their own runs. By the way, although I never say anything, I am always silently applauding / high fiving people who look like newbies or are on the slow side, for just getting out there and running. That includes the lovely man who has obviously had a stroke but carries on regardless, larger people who are focused on doing something about their health, and a little old lady who runs very slowly, but she runs - I hope I am doing so when I get to her age. Well done and try and ignore everyone else. It will get easier I assure you.
This was one of my major worries when I started a few weeks ago, but I've actually found I don't really care who sees me! I'm a size 20 now having lost 3.5 stones last year, so used to getting heckled just walking out and about I live right opposite a recreational ground so I just run around the football pitches on the grass. I quite like having the lines to run along. I work from home, so go out at lunch time. The only people I've come across are dog walkers who keep to themselves. I did bump into my osteopath yesterday who said hello as I was running past. I've got noise-cancelling headphones that block out most of the sound around me, which I've found helpful so I can't hear if anyone is heckling me (not that I think they are).
I think the key is to just go and out do it without caring what anyone things. You're making a good choice to go out and get some exercise, so who cares what anyone else thinks?!
I used to be pretty paranoid about anyone I don't know. So whenever out and about I would keep my head down and avoid eye contact with anyone. My first runs were at 6am in the winter with a head torch, and I met no one.
When summer came round and I'd finished C25K I began doing a longer run on sunday mornings. What occured to me was that no one seemed to notice me, and any that did just greeted me and smiled in a friendly way.
I now run any time of day, even if there are lots of folks about. in almost 2 years of running I have only met one apparently negative person, and that was someone who sarcastically asked me if it felt good to get up so early in the morning to run. My response was friendly and with a smile I said, yes it feels great.
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Would love to hear some of the ideas to get round it!
Out of my comfort zone & into public. 
Public Health England Issues a Warning
Feel self conscious doing C25K in public?
Publicity and the poll
