‘I don’t feel safe’ - Exeter women open up about running during the winter  

‘Women on the Run’ is a running group in Exeter.  Credit: ITV News

A running group in Exeter has opened up about how they feel running at night.

Female members of 'Women on the Run' in Exeter say it is not safe to run alone and they always stick to well-lit areas. Others say they have been catcalled, had things thrown at them, and been approached by strangers. 

It comes as surveys consistently show nearly half of women feel unsafe running or exercising outdoors at night. 

Almost three-quarters of women change their outdoor activity routines during winter, according to figures by Sport England.

A Runner’s World survey found 60% said they had been harassed while running - but only a few incidents were reported to police.

‘Women on the Run’ is a running group in Exeter. 

Speaking to ITV News West Country, every member had similar experiences. 

Sarah Mackie said she has been catcalled and people have things thrown at her when she has been running alone. As a result, she now runs with a group.

“We're a group that really welcomes beginners," Sarah said. "People shout not so nice things - that’s because we're perhaps not running as fast as they think we should, or various other things. 

“It really puts beginners off and the whole point of this is to get people out running and exercising."

If there is no other option, Sarah says she will run in the dark - but would rather not. 

She said: “It's kind of a necessity if I want to get out for a run some days, but I much prefer to run as a group because you do feel there is safety in numbers, definitely.

“I will do it if I must, but I try not to.”

Almost three-quarters of women change their outdoor activity routines during winter. Credit: ITV News

Ruth Lloyd said December is a time when they receive abuse as a group.

She said: “Generally around Christmas time [we experience abuse], but we all keep together as a group and carry on running and keep away from the harassing people.

“I always avoid running alone, it's just not safe, and we always run as a group.

“Even if some of us are out training on our own, we always get a friend to go with us.”

Sarah Stanbury said it can be “quite intimidating” when people shout abuse. 

Sarah said: “We'll have people shout things at us or they'll try and jog along with us.

“We've even had things thrown at us before, which is obviously really sad when you're trying to just have a bit of fun and have some exercise, so yeah, sadly we have.

“I do run on my own sometimes, but I don't enjoy it, and mainly because I don't feel safe. I would never run on my own in the dark.”

Sarah Mackie said she’s been cat-called and people have thrown things at her. Credit: ITV News

The campaign ‘This Girl Can’ is aiming to make outdoor sport and physical activity safer.

Kate Dale, from Sport England and This Girl Can, said: “We need to raise cultural awareness of the problem. We need everyone to realise that this happens and that it shouldn't happen. 

“We ought to think about how we are planning and designing our public spaces because we can create those to be safer thinking about how they're designed so that a few adult corners, fewer tucked away places."

The Home Office said they support the This Girl Can initiative and they’re working to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

They said the StreetSafe mobile app and website is also available for women and girls to anonymously report areas they feel unsafe in, to the police.