Women and men took part in an event in Griffithstown yesterday as part of a campaign to make running safer for women – particularly during the darker months.
‘Own The Night’ was launched last year by Welsh Athletics
Volunteers from Pont-y-pwl & District Runners led two groups- 57 people in total- on a 3km or 6km circular route starting and finishing at Panteg House. The event was backed by Torfaen Council’s ‘If You Go, I Go‘ project- a women-only health, sport, and fitness initiative.
Sophie James, from Pont-y-pwl & District Runners, said: “We decided that this was a really important event for us. We’ve got a women’s group chat where we often talk about the things that women face when they run.
“There’s been times when we’ve been beeped at, there’s been times when we’ve been out on our own, and we’ve noticed someone running behind us a little too close, and that makes you feel uneasy, that feeling of having to check over your shoulder.”
‘Inspired’
She said they were “inspired” by the Welsh Athletics campaign. The club has a “First Steps” beginners running group that meets every Monday and Wednesday and follows a 3km or 5km route.
Sophie said it’s led by “amazing leaders” and added: “People find it difficult to know where to run, and how to run, and how to keep themselves safe.
“We recognise that a club isn’t for everyone. Some people can’t make the 6.30pm training we do, some people don’t want to be involved in a club, but they might want someone to run with and so we thought by bringing these people together we might help them find some connections so they can go out and run on their own.”