The Hillsborough and Rivelin Run Club, which was formed in 2020, has introduced a new buddies system as a way to track female solo runners and keep them safe when out and about.
The system works by tracking runners on WhatsApp groups – the members get separated into groups of ten, and then enable tracking features on WhatsApp.
They inform the group on when they plan to leave for their run, the route they intend to take, and when their run should end.
If a woman feels vulnerable on their run, they are all instructed to send a gibberish message by smashing the keyboard of their phone, this will alert other members that they are unsafe/feeling vulnerable, and then further help can be contacted if necessary.
Laura Stenton-Slater, 36, and co-captain of the women’s division of HRRC, said “When I go for runs in the early morning, it’s common to feel unsafe and unsettled. My routes change every week to avoid predictability, and my world feels smaller each day.”
“I don’t want to feel unsafe.”
As part of this new network, the committee of the club also funds every woman to have a panic alarm.
These are not compulsory, but every woman is offered one when she joins the club, and they are free to all members – 98% of members opted in to having one on their persons.
The alarms are designed to flash repeatedly and make a loud sound when activated, and are used in the hopes to spook off potentially dangerous people and to draw attention to a situation where they feel unsafe.
Mrs Stenton-Slater is currently working on plans for all runners to learn first aid specific to the activity.
She hopes that this change would further protect women’s and men’s safety on runs, and would create an environment where people feel more prepared on solo-runs.
Everyone involved in the club has been supportive of the changes being proposed, and have said they will support any future proposals.
Mrs Stenton-Slater said: “male members have offered to do anything to help, whether that’s changing paces, leading or tailing the group, or just communicating their running plans to other members.”
She hopes that in the future, there will be more efforts made to help raise awareness on safety for all.