'Safety in numbers' as women join run group in winter
Reigate Ladies JoggersA running club in Surrey has had an "influx" of members in the winter as women look for "safety in numbers" running after dark.
Reigate Ladies Joggers founder Emma Mankelow says "the power of the group" keeps many members running.
Meeting on a wet weekday evening, many told the BBC they had been shouted at from passing cars or even followed while out running.
It comes as new research shows more than half of women in the South East don't feel safe exercising after sundown.
Reigate Ladies JoggersEmma added: "You can feel quite threatened so running in a group gives you that feeling of security and being in a group feels so much safer.
"A lot of women feel fearful at this time of year and therefore stop exercising and that's really sad."
Runner Emily Short said on multiple occasions she had been followed by a van that then slowed down next to her, along with honking and catcalling.
"I think a lot of people think it's banter and that it's funny but actually they don't appreciate how intimidating and frightening it is for women," she said.
Carol Hix said: "Even with the group at night you run past a group of men and they might think they're being friendly and shout 'come on girls, go!'
"Also you see children put the window down and shout out the same sort of thing with their parents in the car."
Reigate Ladies JoggersNew research by Sport England-funded This Girl Can shows more than half of women feel unsafe exercising outdoors, compared to a third of men.
It also shows that more than half of men (55%) recognise they have a role to play in making women feel safer.
Kate Dale, founder of This Girl Can, said: "It becomes a problem for us but it's not our behaviour that is the problem.
"We hear lots of stories around catcalling, feeling followed, women having to change their routes.
"Unless you can run in the day or the morning it can mean that for half of the year you aren't able to go running."
Surrey Police recently launched their Jog On campaign nearby in Reigate, using tactics that have since been rolled out by forces across the country.
It involves female police officers going out jogging in key locations, with support crews nearby to intervene if they are subject to harassment or intimidation.
They've engaged with local run clubs – including Reigate Ladies Joggers – to identify hotspots they can patrol, and challenge unacceptable behaviour.
