Gloucester run club empowering women to run in the dark
As the evenings get darker many women tend to stop running
An all-girls run club in Gloucester say the community they’ve built is keeping women safe, supported and active throughout the winter months.
Many women have reported stopping running during winter or modifying their routines due to the fears that come with running in the darker evenings.
The founder of Some Girls Run, Emma, told Greatest Hits Radio that many members of their club have joined because of those fears of running alone: “We worry about being approached, followed, harassed while running alone, particularly in poorly lit areas or on quieter routes.
“Even something as simple as a car slowing down, people shouting things at us, drivers beeping, it can make women feel vulnerable.
“We always remind our members to keep their music volume low and to always stay aware of their surroundings.”
But with an increase of run clubs and women only spaces popping up across the UK many have questioned why it seems like it’s down to women to create these safe spaces for themselves and what more should be done to help them feel safe by simply going for a run.
Emma said: “There needs to be a cultural shift where women don’t have to modify their routines or feel anxious just to go for a run.
“We shouldn’t have to plan our routes based on safety concerns, we should have the freedom to run wherever and whenever we want.”
She added: “Initiatives like ours are a step in the right direction but the responsibility shouldn’t fall solely on women to keep themselves safe, fit and active.”
Run clubs like Some Girls Run are bridging the gap and creating a safe space for women to keep fit and active during the winter months but their founder Emma says she’d like to see improvements on things such as street lighting, more visible policing and a continued education on respect and safety in public spaces.
On why clubs like Some Girls Run are so important Emma said: “There’s a real sense of empowerment in running together and the relationships we’ve built within the club are something really special.
“It feels like we’re reclaiming the spaces where we might otherwise feel unsafe.
“The energy and encouragement and support from other women is incredible, you run faster, laugh louder and feel braver.”