Making Running Safer for Women
Welfare Corner – Making Running Safer for Women – Pam Philpott, Female Welfare Officer
At its core, running is about freedom—freedoms to move, breathe, explore, and challenge ourselves. But for many women, running comes with conditions: staying in well-lit areas, avoiding isolated paths, adjusting their routes based on time of day, and carrying personal alarms “just in case.”
As a running organisation, the 100 Marathon Cub is committed to promoting inclusion and wellbeing; we believe it’s time to recognise the barriers female runners face.
The Reality for Women Runners
Multiple studies in the UK and beyond confirm what many women already know: harassment while running is common, and the fear of it changes how, when, and where women feel able to run. Safety is a key issue for female runners 48% of women state they feel unsafe while running, compared to 36% of men.
Recent research reveals:
- 70% of women have experienced an intimidating incident while running, including:
- being stared at (23%)
- being followed (22%)
- being beeped from a car and verbally abused (21%)
- 68% of women runners in Greater Manchester and Merseyside said they’ve been harassed. Only 5% reported these incidents to police.
These are not rare occurrences—they’re widespread, often unreported, and they have a real impact on women’s physical and mental wellbeing.
Figure 1: Breakdown of offences recorded
'We (The University of Manchester) ran an online survey of 498 women, which showed that 68% said that they had experienced abusive behaviour whilst out running, highlighting the level of under-reporting to the police. For these women, the most common type of abuse experienced was verbal abuse (91%), although a substantial number of women also reported being followed (29%), flashed at (10%), and experiencing ‘other’ forms of abuse (20%), the most common being abuse from men in vehicles. 13 women (4%) said they had been physically assaulted and seven women (2%) had been sexually assaulted whilst out running. No women reported theft crimes, which indicate that the motivation was related to gender rather than economic reasons.'
Research in Women’s running safety. University of Manchester 2024 Extra Precautions for Women
The reality of facing these incidents has a knock on effect on the precautions women feel they have to take in order to run safely. 67% say they take care to wear clothes that aren’t too revealing, 61% will only run on well-lit streets and 64% will make sure to tell someone else that they’re going out running. These may seem like small things, but they all contribute to reinforcing the barriers that make running less accessible to women.
Why It Matters to Us
Running should be accessible and enjoyable for everyone. The need for women-only races and run clubs isn’t about exclusion—it’s a response to the genuine safety concerns many women face.
How Men Can Make a Difference
We all share the responsibility of creating a safer running culture. Here are practical ways male runners can support their female counterparts:
✅ Give space
If you're behind a woman while running, don’t follow closely. Cross to the other side of the path if possible, and pass when safe. A polite "Hi, just passing on your right" can go a long way toward easing anxiety.
✅ Be visible
As the evenings get darker, avoid running in head-to-toe black. A sudden presence from behind can be startling—make sure you’re seen and heard.
✅ Read the signs
If a runner speeds up, looks over her shoulder, or reaches for her phone, that’s a sign she may feel uncomfortable. Back off, slow down, or change direction if possible.
✅ Skip the comments
Even well-meant remarks can come off as patronising or invasive. Keep communication polite, brief, and necessary.
✅ Call it out
If friends make inappropriate comments or jokes about female runners, challenge it. Culture changes start with conversations.
✅ Show up
If you have female friends or partners who feel nervous about running alone, offer to accompany them. Not to protect, but to support.
By adopting the above ideas & encouraging women to run is the best way to make sure we don't need our own races.
What We are Doing as an Organisation
Although the 100 Marathon Club is a virtual organisation, and in that respect has its own limitations, there is a commitment to building an inclusive and safe running environment for all our members, regardless of gender. As part of that commitment, we as welfare officers for the 100 Marathon Club have a duty of care to protect and support all our members regardless of gender. We will work with the EA to provide guidance on being an ally to female runners, whilst challenging harmful attitudes and encourage respectful behaviour.
This Isn’t Just a Women’s Issue—It’s a Running Issue
The more we talk about it, the more we learn that nearly every woman who runs has a story. And too often, they’ve accepted it as "just part of the experience."
But it shouldn’t be.
Creating safer spaces isn’t about policing every interaction or placing blame—it’s about listening, adjusting, and supporting one another. If we truly want running to be a sport and community for everyone, then ensuring women feel safe, seen, and respected has to be a priority.
Let’s all do our part to ensure that no one has to choose between their love of running and their sense of safety.
Further Resources
- This Girl Can – Let’s Lift the Curfew
- 261 Fearless – Women’s Running Network
- Women's Running Magazine – Safety Campaigns
- University of Manchester – Research on Women’s Running Safety 2024
There are a number of National initiatives such as:
- Jog On (Surrey Police) – placing undercover female officers on running routes to identify and confront harassment. In the space of one month eighteen arrests and many verbal warnings issued for anti-social behaviour.
- Let’s Lift the Curfew (This Girl Can) supported by England Athletics was set up in Oct 2023 – highlighting how fear keeps women indoors after dark. At least three quarters of women altered their running routes and activities in the winter.
- Own the Night (Welsh Athletics) – focused on safety and visibility during winter months, because everyone deserves to feel safe when running.
- 2023 survey by Adidas - 9,000 female runners across nine countries found over 90% felt concerned about their running, especially at night. The data also showed 46% of women had lost an interest in running.
- Run the World - a women-only running club based in Monton in Greater Manchester.
- 261 Fearless is a non-profit charity with aims to empower women through running
- SHE ULTRA is a non-profit charity. The concept was set up to make people aware of women’s cancer research. Their philosophy is that every woman taking part feels valued. Women only races are becoming more popular because they are needed; women can participate anonymously offering an incognito sign up option.
Contact the 100 Marathon Club Female Welfare office if you have any comments.
Pam Philpot - Femalewelfare@100marathonclub.org.uk
Costas - welfare@100marathonclub.org.uk