5 things people shout when I’m running

Zoe
Zoe
Aug 28, 2017 · 3 min read

I don’t know what it is about the human psyche, but there’s something in it that cannot resist shouting at runners. Whizz past on a bike and no-one bats an eyelid. Jog past minding your own business and people are just compelled to say something, do something or go the whole hog and run alongside you. It’s like some sort of instictive tick.

From the offensive to the sexist to the genuine words of encouragement, here’s the top 5 things people shout at me when I’m running.

1.The enthusiastic spectator who thinks that they are actually watching someone running in the Olympics

I LOVE IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. You’re jogging along, pretending you’re setting a new world record, and someone actually starts to cheer you on. Like the old man outside the betting shop on a recent 10 miler who, donning his cap, shouted “Go on, go onnnnnnnnnn!”. I felt like Paul Radcliffe. I mean he did have a can of Guinness in his other hand, but it STILL COUNTS.

2.The classic sexist

The beeping van. The wolf whistle. The man who asked me if I’d like to go for a drink while I was running up a hill and he was pushing a child down it (errrr, no? Does this really seem like a good time?) It’s boring. Stop it people.

3. The adorable dog/child pacing you

A small child and/or dog runs alongside you in the park on a Sunday morning and you feel like you’re Snow White. Until said child/dog doesn’t let up and their parents/owner are dwindling to dots on the horizon while little Sebastian is overtaking you. Then there’s only one thing to do: take a sharp turn and ditch ‘em.

4. The lost person

It might be something about my face but I pretty regularly get flagged down and asked for directions. It strikes me that the person asking can’t possibly be a runner themselves as if they were, they’d know that runners are the LEAST likely people to know where anything is. Chances are that I’ve just run 6 miles into the horizon having vaguely glanced at a map before leaving home and I have no idea where I am (thank god for maps on bus stops).

5. Runner to runner: game recognises game

Ok so this one isn’t exactly someone saying something. It’s that moment you pass another runner and your eyes meet. Sometimes there’s a smile or even words, more often just a nod. In a sport as lonely as long distance running it’s always reassuring to know there’s others struggling through cold wet Sunday morning runs too.

The best moment of my running life was one of these such moments. In 2014 I used to run home from work along what happened to be part of the London Marathon route. One dreary day I noticed a runner going pretty fast with his cap pulled low. As he got closer I realised it was only MO FARAH (I assume familiarising himself with the route ahead of that Sunday’s race). Our eyes met runner to runner. I played it cool. For that moment we were equals. Just two runners pounding the pavement.

And then he was gone.

I’d like to say that the sighting inspired me to run faster, but instead I abandoned my run choosing to spend the entire journey home calling everyone I’ve ever met to tell them about Mo instead.

Sound familiar? Do people shout at you when you’re out running or exercising?

)
Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade