A cherished day of the week typically associated with rest and recovery has now been overrun (pun intended) by parkrun and run club dates, with people swapping hangxiety for endorphins, electrolytes and Strava.

With some half decent sneakers and a positive mindset, this weekend pastime is wholesome (cheap) fun for a growing number of young Aussies.

Sounds freeing, right? But as this trend picks up pace, advocacy groups are raising concerns about women’s safety.

Data from World Athletics found that roughly 47% of runners globally are women. Yet, Adidas found that 92% of women feel unsafe while running.

Today, we’re diving into the world of run clubs and women’s safety.

While researching this story, I discovered that in 2025 it was statistically harder to get a ticket to the New York Marathon than to get into Harvard.

Here in Australia, running is now the most popular sport among 15 to 24-year-olds, according to data from the Australian Sports Commission, with three million Aussies running regularly.

But why? Where did this running trend come from?

Many credit it to the romanticisation of running on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Others, like TDA journalist Emily Donohoe, suggest the COVID-19 pandemic drove people out of gyms and into nature. In a cost of living crisis, running also appeals to some as a way to move without paying expensive membership fees.

As a result, run clubs have materialised across the globe, with local Sydney run club ‘Unofficial’ reaching over 65,000 followers on Instagram. They offer people a chance to exercise and connect with like-minded people, a phenomenon that has been dubbed the modern dating app.

NSW Government data found 68% of women who run regularly have been harassed while exercising. However, the scale of this harassment is likely much more widespread, with estimates suggesting only 5% of incidents are formally reported.

TDA spoke with several women about their running habits to find out more.

Many told us they feel they need to alter where and when they run out of fear for their safety. Some choose not to wear headphones or keep the volume low on their music, so they can hear their surroundings. Others share their locations with loved ones, “just in case”.

Most said they’re concerned about running at night. “As a woman, I would definitely make sure there’s some lit environment,” one runner told TDA.

Another said: “I definitely know that I can never run after it's dark or even around sunset time, just so I know I have to be safe. So, if I do have a run that I have to squeeze in the evening, I know that I’ll be going to the gym and doing it on a treadmill, which obviously isn’t as fun but it’s just something you have to think about.”

The ‘Run My Way’ program, launched late last year, is aimed at reducing safety barriers for female and gender-diverse runners in NSW. The initiative is part of a broader State Government campaign to make public areas safe and accessible to women and girls, providing them with an opportunity to design and manage the spaces they live in.

According to Run My Way, “lighting, visibility, sightlines, maintenance, and overall activity in an area strongly influence whether someone feels safe, welcome, and motivated to run.”

Former Olympian and Run My Way consultant Lisa Walton told TDA running “is not equal”.

“Women actually need to have a whole lot of safety behaviours to make sure that they’re safe that men don’t even think about,” she said.

Monash University launched a national project called Your Ground in 2021, in response to the increased number of people exercising outdoors during the pandemic. The crowd-sourced initiative aims to help women and gender-diverse groups find safe space to enjoy leisure and sport.

Your Ground encourages users to share the places where they feel safe being outdoors via an interactive map. “In the context of social changes brought about by COVID-19,” Monash said this research “aims to advance knowledge of safety… through the perceptions and ‘lived experiences’ of women, girls and gender-diverse people.”

Sydney Marathon organisers are also pushing to create safer spaces for runners, hosting a women’s-only evening run club to provide “a dedicated space for women to train, connect and build confidence in a supportive environment.”

Fly smarter, not harder

If you're booking flights, Virgin Australia makes it worth your while. Earn Velocity Points on every eligible flight – redeemable for free flights, upgrades and more – with flexible fare options that mean you only pay for what you actually need. No lock-ins, no faff.

Whether it's a weekend away or a work trip interstate, Virgin Australia has competitive fares and a loyalty program that actually pays off.