Run Her Way

"I thought I was going to end up like one of those girls you hear about on the news," writes British international distance runner Verity Ockenden in her recent blog for Athletics Weekly. After a frightening attack during a training run in Italy, Verity opens up about the ongoing safety challenges female athletes face. She highlights systemic issues, such as the Italian government’s unfulfilled promise to introduce sex education in schools to tackle gender-based violence at its societal roots. As she writes, "Being well-equipped to respond to an attack does not prevent one from happening [...] and as much as I love running with friends, relying on strength in numbers for one’s safety does not solve the problem at its root, either." Thank you, Verity, for sharing your story and shedding light on these critical issues. https://lnkd.in/e3VnF7b6

We're looking for our very first intern! If you're passionate about running, women’s safety, and community impact, and you have strong research skills and a desire to help us build something new, apply now at info@runherway.org. Know someone who’d be a great fit? Please share!

An important read by Sarah Coffey, Senior Editor at the Foundation for Government Accountability: “It shouldn’t be radical for a woman to go for a run without risking death because a criminal walked free when he shouldn’t have.” Coffey highlights how recent murders of women runners were committed by repeat violent offenders and underscores the urgent need for greater accountability and a tougher stance on crime in the U.S. justice system. https://lnkd.in/e_krUnrx

As we step into 2025, Run Her Way is more committed than ever to redefining the running experience for women and girls. Running should be a source of enjoyment and well-being, not a risk. Yet for millions of women, pervasive harassment, poorly designed public spaces, and fear of violence limit their freedom to run. 👉 Read more below about what it means to run as a woman today, and how we’re working to change it. Our mission and approach are shaped by research from organizations and individuals such as adidas, Runner's World, World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI), Turia Pitt, Newcomb Institute, The University of Manchester Department of Criminology, along with insights from our own surveys. All underscore the widespread nature of the issue and the urgent need for change. We’re excited to get to work making 2025 a milestone year for safety, inclusion, and freedom to run. #runningsafety #2025goals #runherway #womenssafety

New Year's Resolution idea for 2025: Stop telling women runners what they should do to feel safe. Start listening to their concerns and acting with solutions that matter - awareness and education, policy change, better enforcement, smarter infrastructure, and genuine community engagement. #RunningSafety #WomensSafety #RunHerWay #ReclaimTheRun #RunSafe #WomenRunners

We are excited to welcome Paul van der Steen to our Board of Directors as Treasurer! 🎉 Paul brings huge expertise from a long and successful corporate finance career, including over 35 years at Philips where he reported directly to the CEO and Board of Management and held diverse finance leadership positions. He is also a father of three daughters and an enthusiastic runner, who now advises organizations sharing his passion for improving the lives of others and leaving the world a better place for future generations. Paul joins at a pivotal stage for Run Her Way, and will help us develop and scale our approach to championing safer running for women and girls everywhere. We are delighted that Paul and his daughter Emma Van Der Steen will take on the challenge of the Egmond half marathon to raise awareness and funds for our mission. Check out their story and donation link below.⬇️ Welcome Paul and best of luck to you and Emma! 🏃♀️🏃

Not sure what your New Year’s Resolution for 2025 is? Make it to be an ally to women and girls. As part of your allyship, wear your White Ribbon to act as a conversation starter around preventing men’s violence against women and girls, and let other people know that you are working to create a safer world for everyone. Purchase your White Ribbon today: https://lnkd.in/e8c-UE94

We know well that women runners are particularly affected by darkness, especially when the clocks turn back and daylight hours reduce. Installing better lighting has frequently emerged in our own research as foundational to making women feel safer running in public spaces. So it's great to see this initiative of The Gendered City expanding. Their research across five major European cities shows that 82% of women feel unsafe in unlit areas, and 85% avoid parks entirely at night. When darkness restricts access to spaces that are often used for running, it limits women’s right to use public spaces equitably and further deepens the gender gap in physical activity. Structured approaches to better understanding and responding to these concerns will help create safer, more inclusive spaces for all.

More alarming statistics about women's running safety, accompanied by inspiring advocacy - this time from Australia - as featured in a recent episode of Mia Findlay's podcast Pod Like a Girl. Earlier this year, endurance athlete, burns survivor, motivational speaker and author Turia Pitt surveyed over 2,000 women to understand their running experiences, later presenting the results to Parliament. The numbers: - 66% have experienced catcalling, whistling, or being beeped at. - 30% have been stalked or followed. - 18% faced direct intimidation, such as being blocked on their path. - Over 65% sometimes feel their life is in danger while running. - 78.9% change their routine due to concerns. 17.7% feel this way all the time. - The survey report cites no fewer than 16 ways women adapt their behavior to feel safer, with some saying they had stopped running altogether. On the podcast, Turia and Mia discuss potential solutions. The need for men to step up as active allies, for marketing campaigns, law changes, cultural change, and more. “It can be done,” Turia said, “but it just needs money, resources, and some of the best minds out there working on this.” As host Mia Findlay so aptly encapsulated: “Women deserve to be safe going for a run—at any time, in any place, alone. And if we’re not, we must not forget that we have a right to be. These stories and statistics may be common, but they are not normal, and we are not downplaying them anymore.” We’re building tools and programs to drive change on this issue. If you’re interested in collaborating or supporting this work, please get in touch. 📊 Read the full survey results here: https://lnkd.in/eweUTuRq Listen to the podcast ⬇️

There’s a lot to unpack in this insightful new study by Vitality, The Well HQ and Women in Sport, which explores the barriers preventing women from being physically active. Drawing from focus groups and a survey of 6,000 women in the UK, the findings highlight challenges ranging from time constraints to fear of judgment, lack of motivation, and more. While safety in public spaces is just one of many barriers, it remains a critical concern for women of all ages – 42% cited it as a factor. At almost every life stage from their 20s to their 70s, women consistently identified “safer outdoor spaces” as one of the primary factors that would positively impact their activity levels. Women are often encouraged to exercise in groups for safety, but the study shows that most women are independent exercisers – 96% of women do sports alone. For women with busy schedules, we know it’s often easiest to lace up and head outside solo. It's one of the reasons running is so popular and accessible. However, stakeholders involved in the study contend that women’s free time often falls in the evening after work and family responsibilities are complete – a time when safety concerns are heightened, especially in darker months. The barriers to exercise are logistical and psychological. Fear of judgment (68%) and lack of confidence (61%) both play significant roles, emphasizing the importance of the where of exercise, and reinforcing the need for safer, more inclusive environments that empower women to be active. Safer environments is our focus, but it's just one piece of a much larger puzzle in closing the gender gap in physical activity. We encourage you to dive deeper into this important study. #womeninsports #activewomen #womenshealth #runningsafety #runherway #womenssafety