Trouble on the Streets?

paulocon

Just back in from a short run in Drogheda - had 30mins to pass while waiting to pick my daughter up from dance classes.

Have been running around town at night for the last 3 months without any hassle but had an incident tonight. Running down one stretch of road that I run often (and is quite busy) when a beamer went by quite quick. Caught something out of the corner of my eye and ducked just in time as something flew by my head and smashed into the wall beside me. I was quite shocked and continued on running. I think the object was either a plastic bottle or a can (going purely on the noise it made).

I'm quite a passive guy and can't understand this behaviour at all and during the rest of the run, I was trying to figure this out in my head. I don't think there is any real lesson to be learmed. Perhaps it's not a good idea to go out running on a Friday evening, perhaps it's best not to go out running on my own but I think that the bottom line is just that there are some complete and utter scumbags out there and they're not going to spoil my enjoyment of running.

Anyways, sorry about the rant and the somewhat long-winded post - just wondering if any of ye have had any hassle running the streets?

TheLargerBowl

Got hit with a piece of ice thrown by a 12 year old about a week and a half ago, but apart from that I haven't had any other harassment apart from the odd silly comment in a very long time.

Probably best to ignore them and just accept that some people are dickheads. Also, the fact that you were running in Drogheda might be part of the problem :pac:

paulocon

TheLargerBowl wrote: »

Got hit with a piece of ice thrown by a 12 year old about a week and a half ago, but apart from that I haven't had any other harassment apart from the odd silly comment in a very long time.

Probably best to ignore them and just accept that some people are dickheads. Also, the fact that you were running in Drogheda might be part of the problem :pac:

I can put up with the silly comments. Was out running a few weeks back and ran by a group of teenagers on the streets. I spied the ring-leader from a good way back and kept an eye on him as I approached and passed by him. You could almost hear the cogs whirring in his head as he thought for something humorous to say. Just as I was out of earshot, he had a burst of inspiration and spurted out 'Keep running Forest'. Nearly burst myself laughing - his timing was off and he got the quote and delivery completely wrong! The Drogheda wit is pure comedy gold!!

louthandproud

paulocon wrote: »

Just back in from a short run in Drogheda - had 30mins to pass while waiting to pick my daughter up from dance classes.

Have been running around town at night for the last 3 months without any hassle but had an incident tonight. Running down one stretch of road that I run often (and is quite busy) when a beamer went by quite quick. Caught something out of the corner of my eye and ducked just in time as something flew by my head and smashed into the wall beside me. I was quite shocked and continued on running. I think the object was either a plastic bottle or a can (going purely on the noise it made).

I'm quite a passive guy and can't understand this behaviour at all and during the rest of the run, I was trying to figure this out in my head. I don't think there is any real lesson to be learmed. Perhaps it's not a good idea to go out running on a Friday evening, perhaps it's best not to go out running on my own but I think that the bottom line is just that there are some complete and utter scumbags out there and they're not going to spoil my enjoyment of running.

Anyways, sorry about the rant and the somewhat long-winded post - just wondering if any of ye have had any hassle running the streets?

Hi Paulocon, where'd it happen? I've been running around the town now for a few years and have had only one incident with a drunk in Marian Park trying to elbow me in the head. Have had a few knackballs shouting and revving cars at lights etc. but nothing to worry about.

Don't suppose you got the number plate?

I did get hit in the head once by a McDonalds soft drink but that wasn't in Drogheda. (Long Mile Road in Dublin for the record)

paulocon

louthandproud wrote: »

Hi Paulocon, where'd it happen? I've been running around the town now for a few years and have had only one incident with a drunk in Marian Park trying to elbow me in the head. Have had a few knackballs shouting and revving cars at lights etc. but nothing to worry about.

Don't suppose you got the number plate?

I did get hit in the head once by a McDonalds soft drink but that wasn't in Drogheda. (Long Mile Road in Dublin for the record)

Hi there LouthandProud.. I was running across crosslanes (just across from the hospital car park). Didn't get the reg to be honest - took me a few seconds to put 2 and 2 together, was shocked that someone would do something so random - and the car was moving pretty fast. If you know where it is, it's a pretty busy stretch as there are always people walking to and from the hospital..

A drunk in Marian Park? It's actually a spot I often cut across - been trying to incorporate the 101 steps into my runs recently - great craic!

run_Forrest_run

I've had the Forrest thing too (hence my user name!). Only the other night a car load of little skangers shouted something at me, aren't they brave to do it from a moving car! I was temped to belt after them and meet them at the lights but I was knackered

A friend of mine was running once and some young lads were running alongside him acting stupid and my friend turned to them and said, "Don't ye think ye would be better off running after girls instead of me?"...priceless.

louthandproud

paulocon wrote: »

Hi there LouthandProud.. I was running across crosslanes (just across from the hospital car park). Didn't get the reg to be honest - took me a few seconds to put 2 and 2 together, was shocked that someone would do something so random - and the car was moving pretty fast. If you know where it is, it's a pretty busy stretch as there are always people walking to and from the hospital..

A drunk in Marian Park? It's actually a spot I often cut across - been trying to incorporate the 101 steps into my runs recently - great craic!

Yeah the Marian park one didn't bother me too much, I still run through there a lot, it was a seriously drunk wobbler on either Christmas or New Years eve of last year i.e. '08. He wasn't a real threat to be worried about, might have been different I suppose if he had actually connected.

Where are the 101 steps exactly?

paulocon

louthandproud wrote: »

Yeah the Marian park one didn't bother me too much, I still run through there a lot, it was a seriously drunk wobbler on either Christmas or New Years eve of last year i.e. '08. He wasn't a real threat to be worried about, might have been different I suppose if he had actually connected.

Where are the 101 steps exactly?

Good question!! Only found them recently thanks to a mate!

Was going to try and give directions but an illustration is probably better so..

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=mary+street+drogheda&sll=55.634198,-6.350098&sspn=4.41671,14.27124&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Mary+St,+Drogheda,+County+Louth,+Ireland&ll=53.710863,-6.341214&spn=0.004521,0.013937&t=h&z=17

It's just below the marker. Running down Mary Street, there are a set of steps off to the right close to the bottom. If you go down these steps, it brings you down onto a laneway - swing right up the laneway - it swings round just across from the last house on the lane which is on it's own, you meet this beast..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/genie2020/4276001879/

Great craic running up them - we're using it for getting us ready for a few runs in the Cooley Mountains come summer!

louthandproud

paulocon wrote: »

Good question!! Only found them recently thanks to a mate!

Was going to try and give directions but an illustration is probably better so..

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=mary+street+drogheda&sll=55.634198,-6.350098&sspn=4.41671,14.27124&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Mary+St,+Drogheda,+County+Louth,+Ireland&ll=53.710863,-6.341214&spn=0.004521,0.013937&t=h&z=17

It's just below the marker. Running down Mary Street, there are a set of steps off to the right close to the bottom. If you go down these steps, it brings you down onto a laneway - swing right up the laneway - it swings round just across from the last house on the lane which is on it's own, you meet this beast..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/genie2020/4276001879/

Great craic running up them - we're using it for getting us ready for a few runs in the Cooley Mountains come summer!

Cheers, I live close enough not to have ever actually been down there and know where they are. Might stroll down there tomorrow and work out where to fit them into a run.

paulocon

louthandproud wrote: »

Cheers, I live close enough not to have ever actually been down there and know where they are. Might stroll down there tomorrow and work out where to fit them into a run.

Just reading there that the place around the laneway is called 'The Dale' and is listed as one of Drogheda's hidden treasures (pushing it)!! Cited as being a bit of rural countyside in the town centre - have to say though that it is a really unusual street. If you are running up the steps at night, be careful of the 'triangles of doom' as my mate calls them. For some reason, after each flight of steps there is a large triangular structure coming out from the handrails which I nearly ran into the first night I ran up..

paulocon

louthandproud wrote: »

Cheers, I live close enough not to have ever actually been down there and know where they are. Might stroll down there tomorrow and work out where to fit them into a run.

Given that this thread has gone off on a tangent as regards Drogheda - had a great run around the 'nature trail' out by curley hole this morning.. highly recommended, plenty of steps and hills (and no-one throwing bottles/cans at you!!)

theduke1

paulocon wrote: »

Given that this thread has gone off on a tangent as regards Drogheda - had a great run around the 'nature trail' out by curley hole this morning.. highly recommended, plenty of steps and hills (and no-one throwing bottles/cans at you!!)

went for a run round drogheda myself this afternoon and got abused running up marley lane by a few out of towners in a lefthand drive beemer

paulocon

theduke1 wrote: »

went for a run round drogheda myself this afternoon and got abused running up marley lane by a few out of towners in a lefthand drive beemer

Possibly the same one..... Was it blue by any chance? think the one I seen had a foreign reg but can't be sure.

Jay Pentatonic

paulocon wrote:

Caught something out of the corner of my eye and ducked just in time as something flew by my head and smashed into the wall beside me.

I've never had anything nasty like that done to me, just the odd comment like "you've lovely legs"...although never the "keep running forest" thing.

but to be honest, sometimes I'm the one who's the prick, once a car stopped in front of me to let me cross the road, & I gave the driver the finger as I was crossing:o,
don't know why, just did it!!:D

run_Forrest_run wrote:

A friend of mine was running once and some young lads were running alongside him acting stupid and my friend turned to them and said, "Don't ye think ye would be better off running after girls instead of me?"...priceless

& I'm using that!!!:cool:

robinph

Rarely get any trouble or comments during my runs, unless it happens to be chucking out time at the schools as I go past, but they are mostly OK. I do keep meeting daft females walking the opposite direction though, who quite clearly see you coming from a distance off, but rather than moving in behind their friends to leave room to pass, they just carry on walking and blocking the path completely. Then once they finally realise that they should have made room they just come to a halt in front of me and scream.

Young lads may block the path deliberately, but you can spot the ones that are going to do that from even further off, and they do generally still get out of the way at the last moment. Just seems to be the female of the species who have somehow developed a defensive mechanism of standing still and screaming in the path of whatever is coming towards them, where a slight move sideways would be a much more productive use of their energies.

hunnymonster

robinph wrote: »

>>I do keep meeting daft females walking the opposite direction though, who quite clearly see you coming from a distance off, but rather than moving in behind their friends to leave room to pass, they just carry on walking and blocking the path completely. Then once they finally realise that they should have made room they just come to a halt in front of me and scream.

+1 and pensioners and dag walkers do this too.

I don't get called names often but I've been pelted with eggs a couple of times and once got hit by a stone (was on bike that time and it bounced off helmet).

theduke1

paulocon wrote: »

Possibly the same one..... Was it blue by any chance? think the one I seen had a foreign reg but can't be sure.

yeah paul,
a navy one

donothoponpop

robinph wrote: »

Young lads may block the path deliberately, but you can spot the ones that are going to do that from even further off, and they do generally still get out of the way at the last moment.

Once ran towards a line of troglodyte fellas, six abreast and purposely blocking the path. Ran towards the outer guy, who eyeballed me with a puffed-out chest, daring me to flinch first. Since this would have entailed my stepping in front of passing cars, I chose to accept his challenge. When he gets a bit older, he'll have realized that sometimes you must choose your battles, that you can be mannerly and masculine at the same time, and that showing what a hard man you are in front of your mates isn't the be-all and end-all of things.

He'll also understand certain principles of physics, such as a mass twice your size (me), moving with momentum, will have the edge when the battle of the shoulders commences, and the ensuing impact velocity with cause you, with spinning centrifugal force, to careen into your mates and knock them down like a slapstick posse of foul-mouthed skittles:D

SUNGOD

donothoponpop wrote: »

Once ran towards a line of troglodyte fellas, six abreast and purposely blocking the path. Ran towards the outer guy, who eyeballed me with a puffed-out chest, daring me to flinch first. Since this would have entailed my stepping in front of passing cars, I chose to accept his challenge. When he gets a bit older, he'll have realized that sometimes you must choose your battles, that you can be mannerly and masculine at the same time, and that showing what a hard man you are in front of your mates isn't the be-all and end-all of things.

He'll also understand certain principles of physics, such as a mass twice your size (me), moving with momentum, will have the edge when the battle of the shoulders commences, and the ensuing impact velocity with cause you, with spinning centrifugal force, to careen into your mates and knock them down like a slapstick posse of foul-mouthed skittles:D

ah the sweet smell of justice

paulocon

Short run down and back up Rathmullen road prior to indoor and a longer one afterwards without anyone throwing anything at me... the streets of Drogheda are officially safe again!

az2wp0sye65487

I run mostly around Finglas in Dublin, and mostly at night too.

The worst I've ever had is a few young 'skangers-in-training' shouting "go on mister" or some other stuff - fairly harmless stuff. Although there was also one night, I was passing an elderly couple on a cold night, and as I passed the old man just said to me with a smile "well done". That was nice.

I have had 3 weird ones though:

1: Some bloke pulls up beside me in a car - beeping, lights flashing, trying to get my attention & a little panicked looking. I thought there might be something wrong so I stopped. He then asks: "which way is it to Superquinn?".... Thanks for stopping me buddy

2: Last week I was coming through the village, and a woman in a car stopped at traffic lights did something similar to No. 1 above. Started shouting "Excuse me, Excuse me..." until I stopped. Then I'm asked "where is the swimming pool?"

3: The best one... I was out running with a friend at the weekend; and a skanger-lookin girl was trying to stop us to ask for a light (cigarette in hand)..... Yeah even if I did smoke, I'd hardly have a pack of fags & a lighter with me while out running!
:rolleyes:

louthandproud

paulocon wrote: »

Short run down and back up Rathmullen road prior to indoor and a longer one afterwards without anyone throwing anything at me... the streets of Drogheda are officially safe again!

Not so sure, I had a lit cigarette thrown at me from a 4x4 this evening whilst cycling home from the train station, I know it was deliberate too as they were stuck behind me waiting to get room to pass with oncoming traffic and it was launched in my direction once they were passing.

Jay Pentatonic

Saylor Great Rollerblade wrote: »

3: The best one... I was out running with a friend at the weekend; and a skanger-lookin girl was trying to stop us to ask for a light (cigarette in hand)..... Yeah even if I did smoke, I'd hardly have a pack of fags & a lighter with me while out running!
:rolleyes:

lol

mosesmoses

I just started running again after a very long time away from it. I was running in Longford town and i got the 'run forrest run!' comment from a group of teenagers with acne

the crazy thing is, it totally upset me because it reminded me of being bullied by a group of teenage guys when i was in school. So silly now I am a grown woman!

spaceylou

My pet pev has to be people blocking the footpath - I don't care if I am running, walking, skipping of fecking doing summersaults along the footpath, but if I am on my own and there is a bunch of friends (or whatever) coming in the opposite direction, it is just plain rude not to move in and let me (or anyone else for that matter) pass without having to worry about traffic/stepping in dog poo etc......grrrr :mad: Learn some manners people!!

RubyK

Feck, I've gotten off lightly judging by some of the posts! Throwing stones, drinks, cigarettes at runners? Seriously, what is wrong with these idiots!

I only had one slight incident, where a group of kids were hanging around. One little upstart tried to block me with his bike, but a few *nice words from me got him moving (*f off you little s**t).

I have had the Run Forrest Run comment from a young fella, but I just burst out laughing.

eliwallach

TheLargerBowl wrote: »

just accept that some people are dickheads.

I think The Larger Bowl summed up the problem nicely.

Brianderunner

Was out running in howth one day past the green area near the dart station and a skanger girl blocks my path deliberately shouting obscenities, instead of dodging her i ran straight into her pushing her away from me with a rugby style hand off and she crashed to the ground, she then started roaring, that f*cker hit me. the rest of the run (around howth head) i was expecting her dad or someone to pull up in their car but it never happened. she'll think twice before she does that again.

DustyBin

I had an incident with a jeep this morning that frightened the bejaysus out of me.
Running along about a mile from home on a sizeable country road with me on the right hand side. Several cars had passed me from behind previously no bother. Suddenly this d***head in a jeep coming from behind swerved across the road trying to see how close he could get his wingmirror to my shoulder!! I leapt out of my skin and frantically searched around for something to throw at the [EMAIL="*#@~%$"]*#@~%$[/EMAIL] [insert expletive here], but he was gone.
Might just have to carry a stone with me tomorrow and hope he comes back ...

Nidot

Haven't had anything happen to me as such, but I knoe waht people say when they go on about groups of women walking abreast. Where I run the footpath can only hold two people side by side, so this of course means that they never move into indian file when I come towards them. I mean come on if you were in my position you'd expect me to give way a bit, it'd be saving people alot of worry when they have to look over their shoulder to check which car is gona almost hit them.

RoyNeary

Was running along the canal minding my own business and a group of teenagers drinking and making a lot of noise started shouting some abuse which included the something about lycra, gave a reply and a wave and next thing I knew one of them gave chase. Asked what I said and I replied, jaysus man you're a good runner, do you train? he said eh used to play some football. His guard was dropped so I challenged him to a race, we ran to the next tree and he just barely bet me so we ran again with me winning. We then did a best of 3 and when he won (surprise, surprise) he was close to a mile away from his mates. I then told him what I'd said and he walked back silently

az2wp0sye65487

RoyNeary wrote: »

Was running along the canal minding my own business and a group of teenagers drinking and making a lot of noise started shouting some abuse which included the something about lycra, gave a reply and a wave and next thing I knew one of them gave chase. Asked what I said and I replied, jaysus man you're a good runner, do you train? he said eh used to play some football. His guard was dropped so I challenged him to a race, we ran to the next tree and he just barely bet me so we ran again with me winning. We then did a best of 3 and when he won (surprise, surprise) he was close to a mile away from his mates. I then told him what I'd said and he walked back silently

Love it! Some good strategic quick-thinking there!

az2wp0sye65487

Just had to add to this. I know I posted back in January saying how I'd never had any hassle......

Well there have been a few 'incidents' since then! one that I was talking about over in Ranting & Raving. But last night was the worst by far.

I spotted a gang of maybe 10 - 12 young lads, about 16/17 yr olds up ahead. They were standing on a green drinking. I knew by the look of them that they were going to do something. I kept running, but crossed to the other side of the street before getting near where they were. Next thing a stone comes flying across the road in my direction.

Now normally I'd have said/done something. But I was on my own, and there was a good few of them. Not worth it... then a football was booted across the road towards me. Fcuking scumbags have nothing better to do than hassle ordinary decent people minding their own business.

The route I was running last night takes me past the local Garda station, so I reported the incident. Don't know if anything will be done though.

tunguska

Saylor Great Rollerblade wrote: »

Just had to add to this. I know I posted back in January saying how I'd never had any hassle......

Well there have been a few 'incidents' since then! one that I was talking about over in Ranting & Raving. But last night was the worst by far.

I spotted a gang of maybe 10 - 12 young lads, about 16/17 yr olds up ahead. They were standing on a green drinking. I knew by the look of them that they were going to do something. I kept running, but crossed to the other side of the street before getting near where they were. Next thing a stone comes flying across the road in my direction.

Now normally I'd have said/done something. But I was on my own, and there was a good few of them. Not worth it... then a football was booted across the road towards me. Fcuking scumbags have nothing better to do than hassle ordinary decent people minding their own business.

The route I was running last night takes me past the local Garda station, so I reported the incident. Don't know if anything will be done though.

Sorry to hear that Stevie, its very annoying. Gardai are pretty useless when it comes to this sort of thing Im afraid. Now if you lived in France........well first of all it wouldnt happen, but if it did.......lets just say the French police are a little more hands on in their "investigations" than our lot.

ekevosu

There are always going to be people who don't think or put themselves in your situation and block the path / don't give way. Its just part and parcel or running on paths. There are however a lot of good people out there who will move in and give you as much room as possible. Whatever the situation its best to keep a smile on your face and enjoy your run and not let it spoil your it, they'll pick up on it eventually. There are a lot of people off in their own worlds so it can't be helped.

The only real trouble I had was running in phoenix park where a bunch of boy racers pulled up behind me, as I was running up that road by the fort, and blared the horn at me before tearing off in the car. Apart from that I've had a few cars hooting when running at home along the main road in Cork but thats in good nature with people waving and smiling and also a few hoots from someone in Athlone on the opposite side of the road. I know very few people here so not sure who keeps hooting.

Not sure if its been posted before and possibly for another thread but I'd love to hear some of the good stories as well.

looseliver

Was out running in balbriggan last week when I passed a kid who said something but stumbled on his words a little bit, he said “good running. Exercise. Keep going buddy.” Many of you may have heard something similar said in a take the piss fashion, but I’m certain he was genuine because he was only about 7 and as I ran away I could hear him excitedly tell his mum about how he gave me encouragement.
What a legend, why can’t they all be like that.

az2wp0sye65487

I also have a good story from my locality, which can help to balance out the bad one I gave earlier.

It was a couple of months ago - during the 'cold snap' and I was out for a 5 mile run. I was on the second half; on my way home, and really not feeling up to it to be honest.

There was an elderly couple up ahead, walking towards me. They were well wrapped up - hats, scarves, long coats - and I was in shorts and a long-sleeve top. I got a funny look from the woman at first; but then the old man just said to me: "well done son"

Sounds like nothing, but it gave me what I needed to sprint home!

Bloody Nipples

I've been egged and had a few comments thrown my way. The encouragement stands out a lot clearer in my mind than any scumbags trying to be funny though.

And I think there's hardly a runner alive who hasn't had "run forrest run!" called after them by some budding comedian :rolleyes:

Sub430

Sometimes I run laps around a local park, one morning I passed an older gent (mid 70s) I'd say and he was walking as fast as he could, the next lap he was still doing more of a shuffle, by the third lap he was into a sort of jog. Fair play thought I as I ran past until I heard "here, you, come back". Uh oh thought I, what does this fella want.

All he said was "if I was 50 years younger...I still wouldn't catch you", smiled and went back to his walking/shuffle/jog.

Nice to have someone say that instead of "this park is for walking, running is for the athletics track" or words to that effect.

galwayspur

Just before Christmas I was out running around the streets of Tuam. About a mile or so outside the town on a pitch black road I saw a head torch bobbing towards me but across the road. Just as we passed each other we both wished each other an anonymous well done and a merry Christmas!! Felt great afterwards.

az2wp0sye65487

galwayspur wrote: »

Just before Christmas I was out running around the streets of Tuam. About a mile or so outside the town on a pitch black road I saw a head torch bobbing towards me but across the road. Just as we passed each other we both wished each other an anonymous well done and a merry Christmas!! Felt great afterwards.

Fastest town in Ireland...

Jip

Bloody Nipples wrote: »

And I think there's hardly a runner alive who hasn't had "run forrest run!" called after them by some budding comedian :rolleyes:

I never had Might it be because when I'm knackered people aren't sure if I actually am 'special' or just look it due to tiredness and are therefore afraid to say anything just in case.

RubyK

Does the four legged type of bully, count?

Met an aggressive little fecker of a terrier last night, who I barely got away from bite-free! I won't be venturing down that road again.

BeepBeep67

Was down in Rathdrum for a Fit4Life run in Feb and while a few of us headed off on a warm up we passed a group of local lads, one who commented 'whit woo - nice legs' One of the lads in the warm group turned around to us and in a loud voice said 'isn't that refreshing to see they are openly gay in Rathdrum' we and some of lads mates had a good laugh!