Abuse & Assault of Runners

Running is often celebrated as a simple, empowering way to boost health and wellbeing. But for many people, the act of lacing up trainers and heading out for a jog is shadowed by a persistent, often unspoken fear: the risk of abuse and harassment in public spaces. 

As someone who was sexually assaulted while out running – this is a subject very dear to my heart.


What does the research say?

A new study by researchers at the University of Manchester shines a stark light on this reality. Analysing police data, survey responses from over 550 women runners, and audio diaries, the study uncovers the scale and impact of abuse faced by women who run. The findings are sobering: 68% of women surveyed reported experiencing some form of abuse while running. This abuse ranged from verbal harassment (the most common), to being followed, flashed at, physically assaulted, or even sexually assaulted. The risk was highest among younger women, but no age group was immune.

Despite the frequency and seriousness of these incidents, only 5% of women who experienced abuse reported it to the police. Many cited barriers such as not being able to identify the perpetrator, believing the incident wasn’t serious enough, or lacking confidence that the police would take action. For some, the sheer normalisation of abuse—viewing it as “just part of being a woman runner”—meant they didn’t even consider reporting it.

Work in Worcestershire

This finding has been confirmed by our own recent work in Worcestershire. The research led by the University of Worcester includes the “The Running Free, Running Safe Survey” which heard from 101 people; 61 women and 40 men.  Dr Claire McLoone Richards, who is leading the research said: “There is a tendency for many victims in the survey to minimise their traumatic experiences or to normalise it as part of their experience.”  More than half of the respondents reported experiencing harassment and abuse while out running, and the vast majority of these were females.

The impact of this abuse is profound. Women described feeling anxious, altering their running routes, avoiding certain areas or times of day, and sometimes stopping running outdoors altogether. The study highlights the “safety work” women undertake: carrying phones or alarms, running with others, choosing clothing to avoid attention, and constantly risk-assessing their environment. These invisible strategies, while effective at reducing risk, place the burden of safety squarely on women’s shoulders.

Tackling the root cause

Crucially, the research calls for a shift in focus—from asking what women can do to stay safe, to challenging the attitudes and behaviours that make abuse so common in the first place. The authors advocate for cultural and structural change, including better reporting mechanisms, police awareness, and promotional campaigns aimed at preventing harassment and abuse.

Running should be about freedom, not fear. This study is a powerful reminder that making public spaces safe for everyone requires not just individual vigilance, but collective action and societal change.

References

Miles C, Broad R, Oldham M. The safety work of women who run: negotiating fear, experiences and normalisation of abuse. Br J Criminol. 2025;XX:1–19. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azaf034

Research Sheds Light on Abuse Faced by Runners: University of Worcester
https://www.worcester.ac.uk/about/news/research-sheds-light-on-abuse-faced-by-runners