Milton Keynes women's running group founder says worries around safety take away joy of running
This week sees 'Let's Lift the Curfew' events highlighting women's safety exercising outside.
The founder of a Milton Keynes women's run club says even in groups, women aren't safe from harassment when taking part in exercise outside.
With the clocks have gone back many women are having to adjust their physical activities even more, with research showing four in five women across the UK feel unsafe walking alone in parks or open spaces after dark.
The founder of Caffeine and Kilometres running group is Leisha Mulvey. She runs organised running meet ups for women in Milton Keynes as well as Northampton.
Leisha says the safety aspect women have to content with takes away from the job of running:
"We have to already be really selective of exactly the routes we're taking the group as often as possible, so there's nobody like left too far behind. It just adds a about 20 extra layers of like caution, organization, thought process. That kind of carefree nature that you'd like to be able to have to just go for a run in your local park is just no longer carefree."
This week has seen events run by This Girl Can and supported nationally by Good Gym and England Athletics around the 'Let’s Lift the Curfew' campaign.
It's has been running since October 2023, showcasing women’s stories and concerns around getting active outdoors in the darker months and calls on wider society to acknowledge its role in making getting active outdoors safer for women.
Runners aim to 'light up the night' joining in a 30 minute run with reflective running gear, neon and glow sticks.
Many events are being held this week as the nights are darker following the clocks going back.
Leisha says even running as a group isn't always a protection against harassment, having been catcalled and shouted at whilst her group has run, and also during the day.
She still counts herself as lucky though not to have been seriously harassed. And says though men aren't always safe in certain areas exercising as well, she feels it's difficult for men to understand women's fears in these situations:
"I don't think men, even like my partner, who sees the level of organization that has to go in to running outside and I still don't think he can really understand because he's never been shouted at on a run when you've got a headphone in and you're trying to listen to your music.
"So as much as I think they can maybe sympathise with what we say about how we feel about our safety. I don't think they can ever truly empathise."
You can find out more about the events here.