This Girl Can: help women feel safe exercising in the dark

[Cmoi]

Cross-posted to the C25K, Bridge to 10K, and Marathon and Events forums.

I've just seen this article in The Guardian: theguardian.com/commentisfr...

Worth a read, regardless of gender. I particularly like that the article includes one of the points that I've previously made myself on the HU running forums: Of course, I know that most of the men reading this aren’t the aggressors and that they would never harass a woman, but the point is that women do not know that.

Run safely, run happy!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Something to think about

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Everyone should read this!

[TimeInNature Graduate10]

I thought it was really well written. Thanks for sharing

[CBDB Graduate10]

Great article. Thx for posting. 💪🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏾‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏿‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[dijep Graduate10]

Thanks for the link, interesting article. Sensible advice that hopefully will through to men

[Birdlady64 Graduate10]

Great article penned by Chris Boardman following a conversation with his wife about the barriers preventing her from exercising alone after dark.

The thing is these things just would never eenter most men's heads so the more we talk about it the better.

It would be nice to see more of our male VRBs replying to these posts too

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Thank you for posting. I go out in the dark but it’s the early mornings and keep to well lit areas around my town. , but even then still have to be careful.

[nowster Graduate10]

The only interaction I would ever think of having with someone I didn't already know is a simple greeting (eg. Good Afternoon/Evening or Hi), with possibly a wave or nod if the person is wearing headphones, and then I'd be on my way.

If I'm behind a lady runner, either she's faster than me (which often she is) and the distance between us will naturally increase, or I'm faster than her, in which case I will try to get past and away as swiftly as possible, trying to remove the possibility that I might be a threat. I might even slap my feet more on landing when I'm getting nearer so that my passing them doesn't come as a surprise.

At night I will avoid the less trafficked and unlit paths (eg. canal towpath) more for my own safety than anything else. If I happen to fall there is less likelihood of anyone coming past after dark who might raise the alarm.

And it's not just ladies who can get spooked by someone following, and not just at night. I had someone trailing me and calling (what was called I didn't catch) after I walked past a bus stop on Tuesday lunchtime last week. He was behind me for about half a mile. I suspect he was under the influence of drugs as he was behaving strangely just before I originally passed him.