Well it happened again, one obnoxious honk during my recent run.
Wednesday’s Workout:
4 Miles
1 Honk
Obnoxious Honk
I set out to enjoy the warmer weather Wednesday with a walk around the neighborhood. I’m about 90% better, but still was not up to running again yet. I bundled up (despite the Indian Winter, it is Cleveland!) with a couple layers and a Bondi Band to cover my ears — which get cold really easily. I walked around a 17:00/mile pace.
Enter the honk.
For lack of a better way to say this: Why do (some) men driving by find it necessary to honk at women who are walking or running down the street? This time it was walking mind you. Bundled up. I am not out there dressed provocative or anything. I am not looking for attention and would prefer not to have it. I am married anyways!
Related blog posts:
• Barre3 Review
• My 8K Training Plan
• Orange Theory Review
• Running on a Treadmill with Vibram FiveFingers
Sadly this is by far not the first time this has ever happened. Actually the first time I remember rather clearly. I was about 12 or 13 and walking to the mailbox on our rather busy street. I received a honk and remembered thinking “What the heck?!” and then also thinking that whoever honked must have thought I was like 20, whereas I was actually in about 6th grade!
Honking is not new. I just don’t understand it.
Trying to garner a male’s perspective I asked the husband.
Me: Why do guys honk at women?
Husband: They think the girl looks pretty hot.
Me: Really? I know not all guys do this. Why do some?
Husband: Why are you asking?
Me: I was honked at during my walk today.
Husband: Did you get the license plate number so I can go beat their $#@?!
Conducting further research, I was not able to find a single journalistic piece online on the matter. Instead I found a number of forums containing females complaining about this epidemic, one site where men claim honking is a “manly thing” to do, a Huffington Post piece where a woman describes being honked at by a male school bus driver while she was bundled up from head to toe; and finally on our own dear Runner’s World where women detail the annoying honking epidemic.
Obnoxious Honk
Regardless of the reasoning behind the honk, my experience is the “attention” is unwanted. I do not personally know of any woman who has expressed wanting to be honked at. Additionally, when it happens to me the first think I think or yell is “creeper” or “freak.” Real attractive guys. Yep.
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What do you think of the honk? Annoying? No big deal?
For the Guys — Have you been honked at?
(I am trying to confirm this doesn’t only happen to women.)
Jeff says
February 2, 2012 at 9:58 AMYou know, consider the male runners out there. I don’t get honks. Or cat calls when I run. But, I did almost get hit by some dude in a pickup who yelled some very nasty slur.
Holly says
February 2, 2012 at 12:55 PMYikes. Yeah getting nearly run over is probably another topic all in itself!
kimi says
February 2, 2012 at 9:30 AMI ran in shorts and a tshirt on Tuesday and got 3 honks. I think people forget was bare limbs look like or something because I know I do not look like a VS model out there. I usually look away and am slightly annoyed. The only time I appreciated a cat call was when I was out with Miles after he was born with the jogging stroller and some teenager yelled ‘MILF’ at me. I was like whew, I still got it.
Holly says
February 2, 2012 at 12:55 PMStill got it. LOVE IT.
Misszippy says
February 2, 2012 at 9:53 AMIt annoys me if it startles me. Otherwise, I guess since I’m in my 40s, I kind of chuckle to myself!
Kali says
February 2, 2012 at 10:13 AMI get honked at and yelled at and waved at all the time. In the summer, I consider it a good day if I can get through a run without anyone yelling out their window at me. And it’s not just because I think I look good, it happens to a lot of runners I know around where I live. Pretty much everyone gets the finger from me lol.
Holly says
February 2, 2012 at 12:56 PMI am tempted to perform an obscene gesture, however, I guess the paranoia in me wonders if the person is a psycho they might then ocme after me or try to follow me.
So usually I just express verbal disgust to myself. Or here on the blog. 🙂
Michelle Bouchard says
February 2, 2012 at 12:36 PMIn my 20’s I thought it was because someone thought I looked good. Nowadays, I’m pretty sure they honk because they are annoyed with me for running on ‘their’ road and they have to go around me, or drive slower or not pass someone in the breakdown lane. (I’m way too old to get the pretty girl honk anymore…. lol)
But, yes, it sucks and scares the crap out of me most of the time. Sometimes I’ll wave, sometimes they get the finger.
Holly says
February 2, 2012 at 12:57 PMThanks for the comment Michelle. I agree sometimes I’m scared by the honk and nearly lose my footing.
Morgan says
February 2, 2012 at 2:12 PMAt this point it’s just one of those things that have become something I easily tune out. The only time it really ever freaks me out is if I were to be running in the road, otherwise if it happens and I’m on side walk I just think in my head “idiot” and keep on trucking.
Pengo says
February 2, 2012 at 4:52 PMI do not get honked at. I am a 43 year-old man, and nothing honk-worthy. That is all.
Sarah S. says
February 2, 2012 at 8:20 PMI prefer the honk to yelling, I guess. It makes me nervous, though, because then I feel like someone is paying way too much attention to me and running alone outside in the early AM can already make me feel pretty vulnerable.
Kristy (@KrisRunTri) says
February 2, 2012 at 9:53 PMHa, I actually enjoy the honks and waves… I’m like, ohhh is that someone I know (which sometimes it is)! and if not, I view it as them telling me “way to go” on my run! I find it entertaining and kind of like them cheering me on.
Michelle says
February 3, 2012 at 11:41 PMI take honking as a compliment 🙂
Honestly, I always want to honk at runners when I see them — in a way to go, you are awesome kind of way!
Eyad says
October 23, 2016 at 1:15 PMDid u ever got honked at
Erik the Running Moose says
February 4, 2012 at 1:55 PMI don’t think I’ve ever been honked at in a friendly manner. I’ve never honked at a girl/ women either in all my time driving. I think it’s kinda rude to do!
Julie @ Am I There Yet says
February 5, 2012 at 10:51 PMSometimes the honk startles me. It makes me think I missed something. Or dropped something, or am about to run out in front of a car due to intense focus. So I would have to say I find it annoying. If I’m being honked at because some dude thought I might be some hot chick trotting down the street, when really Im a shuffling sweaty mess with a (not so) sexy hydration belt, I really don’t need the distraction. But if I’m about to step out in front of a car get bit by a dog, by all means, honk away!
Jessica B. says
February 6, 2012 at 3:23 PMI honk at cute guys when I see them running. I honk at old guys too because I think it is so cute that they are out running.
Holly says
February 6, 2012 at 8:32 PMOld guys are hardcore! Must give them props.
lovethehonks says
March 28, 2012 at 3:57 PMI get honked at constantly when I run and have for years. I am not a size 4 (I’m a size 10 petite)but I’m well proportioned and wear a size 9 junior pants.
I would say the honks come from what I wear (runing shorties) that hug my butt. However, even when I lived across country, and wore unsexy outfits, I still got honked at. So to those who say it’s the clothes…. I say, “u uh!”
It’s the confidence you display when you are out there. I am sorry to hear of the horrible stories about the yelling and getting tossed at with things – where do some of you guys run? But overall, I wouldn’t change the honks for anything. And I’m always respectful and stay off the road when a car is coming.
rebecca says
May 18, 2012 at 1:33 AMOh, come on you guys (or girls I mean!) You know you like it! I’m just not buying this “I get so mad.” Read the posts again and notice how they all start out with, “I get honked at all the time”. Read between the lines on those saying that and then saying “and I just hate it!” I am a runner and I dress in what I am most comfie in,which is usually tight fitting, and I get ogled at, whistled at, honked at, you name it, and ya know what? It makes me feel great! They are mostly innocent (except the guy that decided to expose himself to me…yuk!) They are saying “you look good to me and I just want to tell you”. Why get mad at that? Honestly, it puts a skip in my step and I run faster! Enjoy it…one day you will be 80 and wishing just one person would notice you!