Neighbours outraged about woman's early-morning runs

Early risers have long praised the supposed benefits of starting their day with a run, but what happens when your pursuit of fitness triggers a disturbance among your neighbours? A woman’s post on Reddit from a few years ago has re-ignited an online debate about personal routine versus community harmony after her 5 a.m. runs started disturbing residents in her neighbourhood.

“I like to go for a run in the morning before I go to work,” the woman anonymously stated in the post. “I usually set out around 5:00 a.m. so I can make sure to get at least five miles in at a time before having to get ready for work.”

Unfortunately, her route takes her past homes equipped with motion sensors, triggering an unintentional array of lights, accompanied by the barks of agitated dogs, interrupting people’s sleep. According to an article, complaints began pouring into the neighbourhood Facebook group and on the Nextdoor app, a platform that allows neighbours within the same geographical area to share information and communicate.

Acknowledging the issue, the woman took to both groups to apologize. However, her gesture was met with animosity, with suggestions to change her route and look into getting a gym membership. The idea of changing her routine did not sit well, as she explained that running at that time significantly contributed to her daily well-being.

“I love to run in the morning because it makes me feel good throughout the day,” she wrote. “I don’t enjoy running on a treadmill. Never have, never will.”

Although the runner did not disclose their location in the post, she said she is constrained by several factors: “Nearby parks are insufficient, with the closest park being surrounded by houses, which is already part of my route,” she claimed in the post. “There’s also a lack of trail systems in my area, and not having access to a car adds to my limitations.”

Despite the complaints and animosity, many were in support of her story, stating that people should “get better blinds” or “train their dogs” if they really wanted to prevent interruption. One commentator wrote, “Unless you are doing something to set these things off intentionally, you’re fine.”

posted Saturday August 19th
by Running Magazine