I won't stop running just because you harass me you twit

I enjoy running outdoors. Exercising indoors has its own convenience but there is something about the outdoors that is so liberating and refreshing. Running is normal right? We are just moving one foot infront of the other rather quickly, we do that everyday, we put one foot infront of the other to get from the bedroom to the kitchen. We even speed it up a little when we are about to miss the lift to the twentieth floor but it seems when women do this normal activity a bit faster outdoors, men find this a carte blanche to make all sorts of lewd and demeaning comments. I just googled it, the problem is not unique to Kenya, it seems there is an epidemic of single celled brains out there.

I might sound harsh but think about it, men runners do not have to deal with the same kind of harassment that women do. The day before yesterday, I had to deal with a pick up truck full of young men yelling and screaming at me as they drove past. They did not yell and scream at any other woman. What was my sin to experience this act that is on the spectrum of sexual violence against women? I was running. That's it. I had chosen to exercise outside.

It didn't matter that I was probably more conservatively dressed than a lot of women who were walking the same road, or that I had a sports bra on so my little ladies were not jumping around (and I do mean little, exercise has a way of shrinking those mamas).

Today wasn't any different. There wasn't a pick up full, but men on bicycles, men who were walking, found it fit to disturb my run. One had the gall to block me with his bicycle. My temper did rise a few times, but I kept on running. Why? Because if I reacted, I would have made things worse. I even caught myself thinking, I could probably outrun these brainless twits but I have already done 5k and wouldn't have the acceleration and it's just not worth it. This is the best route for my run. It is a semi busy road that is paved for pedestrians. I would have to run on non-paved surfaces increasing my risk of injury and compromising my safety for they are less travelled if i start flipping them off. So I just ran on.

I decided to write this blog because of one lady who is a new mom like me and has become a cyber friend and motivator. She has a spirit and heart like no other BUT is discouraged by the kind of comments she gets when she decides to run outdoors. My message to her? They are the ones with a problem, not you.

How do these men think our country produces athletes. Do they make such derogatory comments when they watch marathons and proudly say that we are one of the best countries in athletics?

Dr. Google also told me that I need to stop using ear phones while running. That they make me more of a target. That's sad. I was beginning to get used and love running while listening to music. Unfortunately, it makes sense, and I will only use them when on enclosed tracks.

It is sad how ignorance and a lack of social etiquette can make us women fear for our safety and keep us from keeping fit. I wish I could transmit all the mixed feelings and thoughts I have when such comments are made to the perpetrator, and make him feel the scrutiny that female runners have to go through every time they chose to run outdoors.

I will begin running with my pedometer, not because it is an accurate measure of distance, but because it contains an alarm.

Goodnight everyone, and have an active day tomorrow!