News

30/09/2026 00:00, In Blog /

Running should feel free, safe, and equal but for many women, the reality is very different. Every autumn, as the clocks go back and nights draw in, women across Wales face growing concerns about safety when running in the dark. 

Welsh Athletics is once again launching Own The Night / Ein Nos Ni, a national campaign to confront that truth head-on. 

The campaign aims to: 

• Raise awareness of women’s safety concerns when running at night or early mornings. 

• Empower women to continue running through the winter months with confidence. 

• Educate the wider public on allyship and practical ways to support women. 

• ‘Reclaim the streets’ – encourage groups and clubs across Wales to host a group run on Sunday 25 October, the day the clocks go back. 

Through bold storytelling, practical education, and community activation, Own The Night seeks to unite runners, clubs, and the public in creating a safer, more inclusive environment for women who run. 

In 2025, the campaign brought together runners, clubs, communities, partners and key stakeholders to raise awareness of women’s safety and create meaningful conversations around the barriers women can face when running after dark.  

Across Wales, 60 clubs and groups organised 77 runs, with over 2,000 runners takin part and coming together to reclaim the streets. Beyond the runs themselves, the campaign created opportunities for education and engagements, including 12 in-person police engagement sessions and 3 educations webinars attended by 223 people, while 100 people pledged their support at the Senedd. 

This year, the campaign will strive to improve knowledge in the ally space, encouraging active allies to support women, begin open and honest conversations with peers and to inspire others to do the same.   

Hannah Baulch, Head of Participation at Welsh Athletics shared: 

"Running in Wales is experiencing fantastic growth at the moment, with close to 350,000 adults participating regularly through organised and informal activity. 

"We’re delighted that since 2020, female runners have contributed to more than half of our membership figures, a stat that’s difficult to replicate in other sports. 

However, we are acutely aware female runners face numerous challenges during the winter months. It’s not just about cold weather or slippery roads, it’s about safety. 

Research by This Girl Can shows that almost three-quarters (72%) of women in the UK change their outdoor activity routines during winter, and a recent Our Streets Now survey revealed that 93% of women have experienced public sexual harassment whilst running. This simply isn’t acceptable, and we want your help to make a societal change. 
 
This year we want to continue to raise awareness but we also want communities across Wales to support by being the light for other runners by offering them respect, and by calling out bad behaviour. By strengthening allyship we can better support women to feel more confident and safe to continue being active throughout the winter months. Together, we can make a real difference." 

Cabinet Minister for Sport, Heledd Fychan, said: 

"No woman should have to think twice about going for a run because of the time of day or how dark it is outside. That's why we’re supporting Welsh Athletics' Own The Night / Ein Nos Ni campaign, building on the incredible response last year across clubs and communities in Wales.  

"This year's focus on allyship matters because making our streets safer for women is a responsibility we all share. I'd encourage everyone to think about what they can do to support women in their community, and I'd urge clubs and groups across Wales to get involved on 25 October to help make this the biggest Own The Night yet." 

Professor Leigh Robinson, Chair of Cymru Women’s Sport, said:  

“We are proud to support Welsh Athletics’ ‘Own the Night’ campaign. Every woman should feel confident and safe to be active whenever it suits her. The ability to exercise safely is not simply a matter of health and wellbeing, it is a matter of equity. By working together, we can challenge the barriers that prevent women from participating fully in sport and physical activity, and help create environments where women feel empowered to own their space, own their time, and own the night.” 

For Jack Fry, a runner from Short Strides Run Club, supporting Own The Night as a male ally is really important. 

“Running should be something women can enjoy with confidence, not something they have to second-guess. As a guy who loves running, I want women to be able to enjoy it with the same sense of freedom and community that I do. I know that my experience of running isn’t necessarily the same as a woman’s, and I think it’s important that we listen to those experiences and take them seriously. 

 For me, supporting women’s safety means looking out for each other, listening without judgement and helping create a run club where women feels welcome and supported.” 

As the clocks go back this October, Own The Night / Ein Nos Ni will bring runners together across Wales to stand for one shared belief: that running should feel safe for everyone, no matter the time of day. 

To find out more about the campaign and how to take part, visit: Own The Night | Home Page