‘I ship a photograph earlier than I run so pals know what I’m sporting if something dangerous occurs’

A woman has admitted she shares a photograph of herself before every run so that friends know where she is and what she’s wearing if anything bad was to happen.

Alison from Doncaster said an assault in 2014 brought about newfound fears and changed her relationship with her favourite hobby forever. Recalling the incident, she explained: “I was going for a run at around 7pm before starting my night shift at work.

“The conditions were typical for an evening winter run – wet, dark and cold. I had my reflective gear on and was doing my best to stick to well-lit streets. As I was jogging down the pavement, a car drove past me. I thought nothing of it until the driver rolled down his window and threw something at me. The shock and suddenness of it made me stumble.

“Worse than the act itself was hearing the men inside the car laughing as they sped off. They found it funny, but I was left feeling scared, humiliated, and completely vulnerable.

“I’ve always tried to brush off minor incidents when I’m running. I’ve been catcalled, whistled at and even deliberately drenched by a van driving through a massive puddle.

“But this time, it felt more aggressive, more targeted. For the first time, I felt that if I didn’t report it, I was allowing this problem to perpetuate.”

After some deliberation, Alison decided to report the incident to the police.

“There’s always that nagging doubt where you wonder if anyone will care or if your report will be taken seriously. But in the end, I thought, if I don’t stand up now, nothing will change,” she said.

The incident impacted Alison’s running routine.

“After the incident, I didn’t feel comfortable running alone in the evenings, especially during the winter. I joined local running groups, which have been a lifeline.

“There’s safety in numbers, and it feels empowering to be surrounded by other women who understand what I’ve been through. Many of them have similar stories, and it’s comforting to know I’m not alone, even though it’s sad that we all have to deal with this in the first place.

“It was only when I got a place in the London Marathon that I made the jump to start running on my own again. I’m glad I’ve regained my confidence to run on my own terms but I’m still hyper-vigilant when running in winter.”

With the clocks going back and the nights drawing in, Alison now plans her routes carefully, choosing well-lit streets and avoiding parks or quieter roads.

“I also do something I never thought I’d have to—before each run, I take a photo of myself in my gear and send it to my friends. Not because I want to show off my running outfit, but because if anything were to happen, they’d know what I was wearing and where I’d last been.

“It sounds grim, but that’s the reality of being a woman exercising outdoors in today’s world.”

Alison isn’t alone in taking extra precautions during the winter months. New data from This Girl Can reveals nearly three-quarters (72%) of women change their behaviour when exercising outdoors during winter – a notable 26% rise from a similar study last year.

“What really frustrates me is that none of this should be necessary,” Alison says.

Reflecting on what could be done to make women feel safer exercising outdoors, Alison suggests, “the answer isn’t just about practical measures like better lighting or more police patrols – though those would help. The deeper issue is societal.

“We need to stop normalising the idea that women have to change their behaviour just to feel safe. I shouldn’t have to alter my route, change the time of day I run, or run in groups just to avoid being harassed. None of us should.”

This Girl Can is advocating for systemic change, spotlighted in five action areas including cultural awareness, improved reporting systems and safer public spaces designed with women’s safety in mind – with the ultimate goal of making outdoor activity accessible and inclusive for all.

Alison is supporting This Girl Can’s Let’s Lift the Curfew campaign to raise awareness of the safety issues women face when getting active outdoors, particularly after the clocks go back.

From Southampton to Durham, over 90 runs will symbolise a collective effort to defy the restrictions women feel during the darker months and demand urgent change to tackle women’s safety fears.

Earlier this week, women ran along UV-lit footsteps in Manchester which lit up the ground with words such as “vulnerable,” “anxious,” and “afraid.”

Kate Dale, director of marketing at Sport England and This Girl Can, said: “Women should have the freedom to run, walk, or cycle without the fear of what might happen in the dark. Yet many feel they have no choice but to change their routes, routines, or avoid exercising outdoors completely when the sun goes down. This isn’t just inconvenient – it’s an injustice.

“Violence against women and girls is an epidemic, and our research suggests that women’s safety fears getting active in winter have worsened over the past year. This should be a wake-up call for everyone — women, men, allies, and all sectors — to confront the issue head-on, with urgency and action.

“Let’s Lift the Curfew is demanding lasting change so that every woman can move freely and safely. Women deserve to feel confident, strong, and safe when they’re getting active, day or night, and we won’t stop until that becomes the reality.”

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