Women’s running
Do you feel safe? Ever been wolf-whistled while running? Did it make you feel uncomfortable? Liz Yelling looks into the issue of women’s safety and offers some practical advice to help you enjoy your sport
Women’s running
R
unning is such a fantastic thing to do. It’s time-effective, relatively cheap and a great calorie burner. In recent years there’s been a huge rise in women’s participation rates in running and a corresponding growth in women’s-only events, women’s speciality kit and support for women to get fit and active. With women becoming increasingly aware of the importance of healthy lifestyles, and events that focus on participation rather than performance, more and more ‘everyday’ women have been lured into this brilliant sport. Starting to run can be hard to begin with and, despite all this opportunity, it seems that there are still a few obstacles to overcome. Many new women runners worry about whether they’ll be able to breathe, if they can make the end of the road in one piece, and what they look like and what others think of them. With all these different factors to think about, it isn’t surprising that many women runners feel uncomfortable about the potential for inadvertently finding themselves in a vulnerable situation while out running. It’s crucial to think about the importance of safe running as a woman runner. I certainly don’t believe that we, as women, shouldn’t run on our own, or run where we live in the countryside, towns or cities, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to think about looking out for each other, being aware of the dangers that women runners can encounter, and taking steps to minimise risk. I do a lot of my running alone and, although my husband always makes me tell him where I’m going and when I’ll be back, I kind of take it for granted that I can race quickly away from any dodgy situations.
Urban running Running in towns and cities can provide a degree of safety with fellow runners, lit 46 RUNNING FITNESS AUGUST 2007
pathways, security from having other people around and places you can run to quickly if you feel threatened. However, city running can still present dangers to runners. Drivers and cyclists aren’t always aware of everything going on around them and often don’t expect to see a runner dart across the road; some neighbourhoods can be more threatening than others, and some alleyways and quiet areas can be potential bottlenecks for ‘undesirables’ to pray on solo women runners. The key is to always avoid situations that may present danger or risk. Key urban safety tips • Avoid inappropriately revealing clothing. Some idiots still think skimpy kit is an invitation for their unwanted advances. • If you’re running at night, ensure that you are wearing bright or reflective clothing and assume that not all drivers will see you. • Plan your route before you go out of the door. Avoid potentially dangerous areas. Run in busy well-lit areas. Steer clear of notorious black spots or areas with no escape route. • Don’t be predictable. Have a variety of different routes and times at which you run. Try and avoid running in the same place at the same time, all the time. • Develop ‘safe spots’ along your regular running routes. These are escape and refuge points if you feel threatened. For example, friend’s houses, police stations, pubs, populated places. • Ignore verbal harassment. Be aware but keep running. Avoid confrontation in all situations. Stifle your ‘running rage’! Stay cool and calm, remain focused and in charge. • Tell someone where you are going and what time you anticipate you’ll be back. • MP3 players. Great for tunes to keep you company, but you still need to be aware of your surroundings and what’s happening around you. Stay alert. AUGUST 2007 RUNNING FITNESS 47