#LetsLiftTheCurfew
Posted by: Anonymous Squirrel
This week marks the start of a national campaign launched by Thisgirlcan showcasing women's stories and concerns around getting active outdoors in the darker months.
Many women adjust their exercise hours at this time - it's like having a curfew.
It would be great if our runners could include the hashtag #LetsLiftTheCurfew in their social media / Strava posts over the next week.
We know and understand that this is a very important issue for many of our runners who don't feel safe running alone or in the dark. Our groups cater for this, as we run in smaller groups with at least one trained run leader - and usually with an experienced helper. No runner should ever be left alone whilst out running with Squirrels.
England Athletics have also put together a guide for running safely in the dark. Remember:
- Wear high viz and use a torch
- Take extra care when running early morning or straight from work
- Let someone know where you're going and how long you may be out for
- Consider an app such as Life 360 or Help Me Angela
- Plan/adjust your route to stay where there are streetlights
- Run with a group!
According to a UN campaign, Safe Spaces Now, over 70% of women are sexually harassed in public places. The UN has also found that 97% of women in the UK aged 18-24 have been sexually harassed in some way. This problem is caused, in the vast majority, by men's behaviour. Good Gym have produced some excellent free training on male allyship, it's well worth 15 minutes of your time.