Mair Rowlands MS backs Welsh Athletics’ ‘Own the night Campaign’ aimed at making running safer for women in Wales.
The Member of the Senedd for Bangor Conwy Môn recently met with Gwen Owen, founder of Môn Girls Run, to discuss the challenges women face when running during the darker months.
Welsh Athletics has launched its annual campaign to promote women’s safety whilst running in the dark. The ‘Own the Night’ campaign focuses on turning awareness into action and promote women’s safety concerns when running at night or early in the morning.
To mark the beginning of this year’s campaign, Bangor Conwy MS, Mair Rowlands MS, and founder of Môn Girls Run, Gwen Owen, met up to discuss some of those challenges and how to overcome them.
During their conversation, Gwen Owen said:
“Welsh Athletics’ ‘Own the Night’ campaign is incredible. Throughout the month, different clubs around Wales are hosting their own Women’s safety runs, designed to empower women to get out, run safely together, and have a good time.
“During our ‘Own the Night’ event, we were beeped at around eight times; we were whistled at; we were shouted at; and men ran alongside us on separate occasions.
“The best thing you can do is put your shoes on and go for that run. Find a local run club – Môn Girls Run are here on Anglesey, but there are plenty of other groups available for everyone, which is brilliant.”
Following their discussion, Mair Rowlands MS said:
“The benefits of running remain the same throughout the year, but as the days get shorter and the nights get longer, darker mornings and evenings are a barrier to staying active. I’m grateful to Gwen for the discussion, and to running groups across Bangor Conwy Môn for their work in providing a safe and welcoming environment for runners throughout the year.
“We all have a responsibility to heed Welsh Athletics’ call and ‘be the light’ this year. Let’s do all we can to empower women to run, ensure our streets are safe, and call out inappropriate behaviour.”
