Emily Olle | Women still can’t run outside in the dark without fear of being killed

Most men won’t think twice as the end of daylight saving rolls around – but for women, it’s a reminder we still can’t go outside without fear, writes Emily Olle.

As the end of daylight saving rolls around and we brace for shorter days and darker nights, many Australians also have their eyes on an insane prize: marathon season.

It’s the time of year when the Nikes are laced, the pavement is pounded and tens of thousands prepare to run for finish line glory.

I am hurtling towards 30, so, of course, something has short-circuited in my brain and made me decide it’s finally time to take up running as a hobby.

I’m not alone – running soared in popularity as the pandemic closed regular gyms, and half-marathons and marathons have seen record participation rates across the globe.

For the more neurotic among us (guilty as charged), running allows an opportunity to switch off, breathe in fresh air and focus on a singular goal to slow the mental noise.

Running has soared in popularity – but women still aren’t safe on our streets.

But when the clock winds back an hour on April 7, a niggling doubt sets in.

Most half-marathon training plans require three to four runs per week, at least two of which are an hour to two-hour slog on the pavement — meaning an early start or late finish to get the kilometres on the board.

For most men, this means strapping on a head torch and setting off.

For many women, trans and non-binary folk, this means fear. Do I need to change my route? Where will it be best lit? Are there others around? Should I go at all? Will I be killed?

While many men express sympathy over the night-running plight – some have even offered to join in solidarity – there are still a few who will tell you to “grow up”, or tell you the threat isn’t that serious. But this fear is not foolish.

On February 4, 51-year-old mother-of-three Samantha Murphy laced up her sneakers for her daily run in Ballarat. She would never finish her route. Ms Murphy was allegedly murdered by 22-year-old Patrick Stephenson.

Every year, we tell the stories of women who were walking home, exercising, meeting friends or getting fresh air before they were killed by strangers.

When comedian Eurydice Dixon was raped and murdered while walking home from a gig in Melbourne in 2018, Victoria Police Superintendent David Clayton said women needed to have “situational awareness” and be cautious of their surroundings.

Ballarat mother of three Samantha Murphy was allegedly murdered while on her regular run.

But women are already aware. Every woman I know avoids unlit areas, ditches their headphones, wears hi-vis clothing, carries their phone with an emergency contact on speed-dial.

In 2023, a survey conducted by Adidas revealed 92 per cent of women felt concerned for their safety while running, while 51 per cent feared being physically attacked.

A similar study by Runner’s World found that 60 per cent of women had been harassed while they ran. Six per cent of those said they had felt threatened by such harassment that they feared for their lives.

A quick Google search for “running at night for women” leads to hundreds of articles sharing safety tips and questions. “Is it safe for a woman to run at night?; Any advice for running in the dark?; 10 women on running in the dark (and how they stay safe)”.

Yes, we could run at the gym. Yes, we could stick only to well-lit public roads and pound the pavement alongside roaring traffic. But we shouldn’t have to.

Women have been changing their behaviour and carrying the blame for men’s actions for as long as history can recall, but nothing we do can guarantee we won’t become another statistic.

In the wake of Adidas’ survey, more than 120,000 users of its app signed a digital pledge to “never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.”

All we want is to strap on a head torch and go – and men are the only ones who can make that happen.

Originally published as Emily Olle | Women still can’t run outside in the dark without fear of being killed