Saskatchewan

'She Runs At Night' group has goal to make nighttime running safer for women in Regina

Saskatchewan winters, with their short days and long nights, can make going for an evening run a dark prospect. A running club in Regina, called She Runs at Night, has the goal to make outdoor running a more welcoming idea for women, even in the winter.

Weekly group brings women runners together

A picture of a few ladies after they went running.
Libby Michalski, right, says she feels safer running in a group. (Submitted by Libby Michalski)

Saskatchewan winters, with their short days and long nights, can make going for an evening run a dark prospect.

Libby Michalski, founder of She Runs at Night running club, wanted to make outdoor running a more welcoming idea, even in the winter.

The group meets every Monday at 6 p.m. outside the Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre in Regina. 

"I saw all these TikToks about how a lot of women felt unsafe running at night due to the sun starting to set earlier," Michalski said. "I was like, OK, I'm not the only one who feels this way."

The running club is tailored for women runners who want to run in a group in order to feel more safe. 

They run four kilometres at a slow pace, suitable for beginners or advanced runners.

A picture of a logo that says "she runs at night, safety in numbers".
The She Runs at Night running club meets on Mondays at 6 p.m. outside the Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre in Regina. (Submitted by Libby Michalski)

Michalski said people can bring their dogs along, and even people who want to walk are welcome to join. She said she has had a few people come out and join her. 

"They said that they saw my post on Facebook and they really liked the idea of it," she said. "They also had the same feelings of feeling uneasy and feeling unsafe running at night alone as a woman." 

She said she enjoys running and wants to continue to enjoy it even if it's dark outside.

"I've honestly, I felt safer than I would have if I was alone because I was in a group," she said. 

Jayden Pederson runs occasionally with the She Runs At Night running club, and said she feels safer running at night now that she can run with a group. 

"I thought it was such a great community because it was all women that are doing it … in the same categories where their lives are really busy during the day and then you meet up at night," she said. "I just thought it was a really good opportunity to meet other women that are enjoying the same activity, and then also you're feeling safe running in a group in the evenings." 

A photo of a woman and her son.
Jayden Pederson, pictured with her son, says the She Runs at Night group is a 'great community' of women. (Submitted by Jayden Pederson )

Some of the women talk the whole time they're running, and she said there is a constant feeling of being safe. 

"The group runs all year round," said Pederson. She invites anyone interested in running to join them.

"I feel like it's really encouraging to get anybody who is even interested in running to take part in and to join." 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darla Ponace is a Saulteaux woman from Zagime Anishinabek First Nations. She started as an associate producer in the Indigenous Pathways program at CBC. She is currently working with CBC Saskatchewan as a reporter. You can email her at darla.ponace@cbc.ca with story ideas.