Well that was deeply unpleasant

[olivermoss]

There is group that does evening walks aimed at people who like to hike on weekends. It's supposed to be "a gentle trek providing exercise without a fast pace (and those just starting out)".

Tonight, one of the groups was designated as 'extra slow'. Being my first time, I opted for that. One of the girls wanted to go fast, but joined our group anyway. The group leader kept keeping pace with her. We went at between a power walk to a light jog uphill. Then I saw the sign that said 'elevation 500 feet'. We'd started at sea level. I'd just jogged uphill that much elevation change. I stopped and told them I was tapping out. When you are trying to get back into shape pushing your cardio too much can cause your energy level to tank in a way that it can take weeks to claw your way out of. I told the group to go on. I was going to wander around and take pictures.

They wouldn't. The leader insisted on waiting for me. She kept going "Are you ready yet? Okay we'll wait .... ready?" When I did start walking again they kept jogging ahead, stopping and turning to wait for me, and watching me watch up. I told them I was an adult with a fully charged cell phone in the middle of the city I'd lived in for 20 years. They should just leave me.

In retrospect I should have just started walking in another direction. Actually, in retrospect I am kind of pissed. I only stayed with the group all the way back to the meeting point because I was hoping there would be another leader I could talk to. Ask if I should try again another night or nah.

Arg that was a socially awkward and totally unreasonable situation. One that made me push myself harder than I should have. Hopefully I will be alright and wont have a delayed crash. (That's one of the problems with pushing cardio too hard, you feel fine at the time. Often fine that day, but then in a day or two your system does really badly.)

On paper this group is perfect for me, but I don't know if I want to try again. That was just ... not okay. Dammit, I really want ... what this group claimed to be.

Comments

Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

You might point out to them that some people should not or cannot walk fast, and that it would be a very bad thing for the group if someone joined a slow session that turned fast ... and they were recovering from surgery or childbirth or had heart problems or any other condition that limits speed.

>>In retrospect I should have just started walking in another direction. <<

That might well have worked better. Calling a cab is another good way to ditch people, even if you only ride it for a block.

>>Actually, in retrospect I am kind of pissed.<<

You are right to be.

Is there a local service that reviews groups or events? Some towns have one, or have a listing that allows comments. Point out not only what they did wrong but how it can harm people.

Re: Well ...

[olivermoss]

I meant to talk to her afterwards, but she promptly took off. Yeah, especially as this was a thing meant to be okay for first timers, that kind of pressure is far more dangerous than leaving an adult with a fully charge cell phone in a safe part of town.

This walking group is run by a massive local organization. I want to talk to them about the fact that one of their over 45 leaders really mishandled things. But, I need to figure out how to approach it. I loitered at the meetup spot after hoping another group would come in so I could approach them, but after 15 minutes none had.

Re: Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> that kind of pressure is far more dangerous than leaving an adult with a fully charge cell phone in a safe part of town. <<

Now imagine if they'd done that to a stalking survivor or someone with smothering parents. Instant meltdown, just add idiot.

If they think they have a right to trap adults in a group for the entire route (which may not be legal) then they absolutely must warn people of that before beginning. That way, people who aren't certain of their ability to complete the route will know to avoid the group.

>>But, I need to figure out how to approach it.<<

Think about what you want to accomplish and what tone you want to take. If you want to get back at them for shafting you, that's a very different conversation than if you want to find a different walk leader in their organization or if you want to help them avoid harming people and maybe getting sued over it.

[darjeeling]

Oof yeah, what a lousy first experience with the group. :( Sorry you went through that! I would definitely give the leadership a feedback on your experience, but give it another try if you can if you know that there will be a different person leading the group.

[olivermoss]

I can do hikes that are up to 1,000 elevation change and 10 miles long. I am far from a beginner. Me doing the super beginner group should have been me seriously sand bagging. Hopefully they will listen.

[darjeeling]

10 miles, I would absolutely die. You are definitely far from a beginner!

[sperrywink]

Wow! I would have died. That's so sucky for the super slow group.

[olivermoss]

It was sucky, and their instance on not leaving me alone to do my own thing was completely over the top.

[garrideb]

Wow. Yeah, if I joined a group hike that was billed as "extra slow" -- and that's probably the only kind I would join, as I am out of shape and get winded easily -- and much of it was power walking and light jogging!!!, I would send an e-mail or try to talk to an organizer about what words mean.

[olivermoss]

I am going to go early to one in the next week or so and try to talk to someone in person. This group is so established it's possible they are new person friendly on paper only.


I need to get to the point where I can do light jogging sometimes, but I also fundamentally don't understand people whose approach to hiking is 'go fast'.