So I did the Elmbridge 10K yesterday and was holding a steady pace when I noticed this guy trying to pass me. Only he wasn't/didn't appear to be trying to pass me, he was running very very close to me and seemed to be wanting to knock me into the curb. But he didn't seem to be actually over taking me.
I'm not a fast runner but as he didn't seem to be moving away from me I sped up anyway in the hope he would either leg it and run faster or fall back.
I could still hear him behind me, and there wasn't much I could do, but about 1K later he finally ran past AND then he slipped really close behind the woman in front. If she moved he moved with her. I really hope he wasn't doing this to me, as it looked really sleezy.
Now he was an older guy, late 50s', early 60's - me and this other woman were under 40. So this seemed really creepy to me - or was he doing trying to pace with us? get protected from the wind as we were running into the wind at this point?
I did notice when she stopped for a drink and he ran on, he passed the next bloke, and went straight behind the next woman. Then I lost sight of that pack when we went on the tow path.
I've done about 5 10K runs and have never seen this before, so want to check the etiqeutte on these things... tatics or a sleezy odd ball?
Comments
He might have been trying to get out of the wind, if there was a strong headwind. Not sure about the rules/etiquette on drafting when running in a race though.
Bit odd that he only tailgated the female runners though. Maybe he wanted something pleasant to look at whilst 'drafting'.
Or maybe women provide better cover from the wind?
anyone who runs closely behind me doesn't get shelter from wind, in fact, it's the opposite
I'll get me coat......
Would it have been ok if he had done the same thing behind men of his own age?
In a race I wouldn`t be thinking about the age / sex etc of the person in front when considering overtaking and I doubt he was either.
thanks guys. He could have done better, I'm only 5'3, the guy he passed was at least 6 foot, I would have gone for the bigger person to get out the wind - so I guess he also wanted more plesant sights whilst 'drafting'
Next time, I might just stop and let them run on then, or wallop them.
I think he was being a perve and deserved a kick in the balls.
I must admit it sounds a bit pervy to me, too.
There's no point hanging off a fit bird if you're perving. You need to be at least 10m away for a proper view.
hmm the bloke was going faster than me and the other woman he drafted and not much slower than the 3rd woman he went for.
Maybe he didn't go for the bloke as the bloke may have been more liable to hit him?
hmm quite interesting topic!
Have you spotted the comon theme yet?
The ladies think he was perving, the blokes don't...
As Intermanaut says, if you are right behind someone then you don't have a good view!
Perhaps he likes the smell of sweaty women
so what's his crime? Running at roughly your pace and not being able to get past you? Letting you tow him along for a bit while he rests? Or, god forbid, being fifty or sixty?
do men now have to observe an exclusion zone around women in races or vice versa?
Perhaps the guy he ran passed smelt nasty!!
The thing is that all the blokes on here are probably pretty decent types who don't get off on trying to intimidate women, so they haven't experienced this from either side. I'm sure plenty of people of both sexes do a bit of discreet perving of the 'observe from 10 metres away' type, and that doesn't really bother anyone. But there are some blokes who will enjoy making women feel uncomfortable, e.g. by pressing their sweaty bodies as close as possible, and also enjoy knowing you probably won't say or do anything because you know most people won't notice or believe anything untoward is going on.
Like the pathetic little men who expose themselves to you on public transport.
So have you experienced that then?
No-one's ever exposed themselves to me on public transport.
I have the perfect line ready for when it does: "Ooh - that looks just like a penis, only smaller!"
Nb I posted that before you edited
I expect most women probably have.
Wilkie - try the Paris metro.
I asked whether you had though, because in all the races I've do
I don't know about 'most women' - I haven't, and a quick poll in my office shows no-one here has.
I have had my hand stroked by a stranger on the Paris metro though.
I don't mean men getting too close in races, I mean (some, a small minority of) men trying to intimidate women in minor ways in public places. I haven't personally had a problem in races, no. But it sounds pretty plausible to me that the OP was not just imagining things.
Ha! I can imagine it now...."Right girls, quick question for you all...how many of you have had a todger thrust at you by a pervy old bloke in a mac?"
And that's normal office banter at your workplace is it?!
I phrased it a little more, um, politely?
I did get "why do you ask", but I said I just wondered how often it happened.
Just wondered?
Like it was a random thought that floated into your head?
Brilliant!
I didn't mean flashers on public transport, I meant pervy men trying to intimidate lone women!
But now I am tempted to do similar survey at my office. Everyone there's been to Paris so I'll probably get a much better hit rate.
Thank goodness it was just your hand!
Screamy - yeah, but what did he stroke it with...?