The clocks went back a few weeks ago, meaning London won’t have a sunset after 6pm until March 13th 2026. Not to go all ‘Game of Thrones’ on you, but winter is coming. Dark mornings, dark nights - and some gloomy days - are ahead.

As if running wasn’t tough enough as it is, this period of the year poses additional challenges. Of course, a little retail therapy for a jacket (with hi-viz of course), gloves, and even a headtorch can go a long way to getting you out the door and running. But the dark, wet, and cold aren’t just a nuisance to motivation and clothing choices; they are legitimate concerns when it comes to safety. 

With the mornings and evenings both drawing in, there is simply less time to run outside without it being dark, and (as much as we wish it wasn’t the case) it comes with the consequence of heightened safety concerns. From not being seen by cars, bikes or other pedestrians to more sinister things like being approached or surprised by threatening people, these are all very real issues that become more prevalent in the winter.

Nearly 50% of runners have reported feeling generally unsafe when running outside in the dark, and similar figures are reported when considering safety in relation to traffic at night. But it is women who are disproportionately affected when it comes to safety at night.

Kate Seary, co-founder and Director of Kyniska Advocacy, an organisation focused on improving welfare and wellbeing in sport, says:

“Running in the dark shouldn’t be a safety risk, but for many women it's reality. The lack of lighting, empty streets and the fear of harassment can make something as simple as an evening run feel unsafe or inaccessible. Everyone deserves to move freely without calculating routes or carrying extra anxiety just to exercise.”

Sport England’s campaign This Girl Can, set up to promote women’s sport, found that 78% of women will intentionally change their exercise habits with the onset of the winter and the increased hours of darkness. Similarly, Runners World conducted a major survey that revealed 60% of women have been targeted by harassment whilst running and nearly every survey participant takes extra precaution when running at night. There are fewer studies when it comes to communities of colour, but Runners World shared a number of stories that highlight the added threats posed to members of non-white groups. GirlGuiding’s Girls Attitude 2025 report found similar issues being even more prevalent in girls of colour.

One way in which many running groups combat the winter is through the power of the crew. Running with others simply helps through safety in numbers in many ways. Runlimited has, from the start, been built around our motto of Run Together. For fun, yes, but the winter is when running with others goes even further than just the social benefits, and crosses into an additional part of staying safe. Collectively, the group can safely navigate a route, whilst keeping eyes out for things that could compromise safety like traffic or people.

With this in mind, there have been a number of run clubs, crews and collectives that have been founded specifically to provide people with a safe space to run, especially when the darkness sets in. For a list of run clubs, visit our Run Hub and search for your preferred day of the week and location.

Importantly, however, Kate also points to the responsibility we all have in fostering holistic change for all. “When we talk about women’s safety while running in the dark, we’re really talking about inequality in public space. Too often the responsibility for safety is placed on women - 'don’t run alone, wear bright clothing, share your location'. We need to shift that conversation towards creating environments and attitudes that prioritise safety for all runners, rather than placing the burden on individuals.” 

For us, to Run Together also means to promote and create safe spaces in running. Even if you have never personally felt unsafe running in the dark (I’m looking at some of the fellas out there…!), we should be actively pushing to ensure we all can feel safe and empowered to run. 

This means giving people space when you pass them on your night runs, announcing your approach to prevent surprising them. This means calling out behaviour of others, no matter how insignificant you feel it may be: even comments you think are harmless may affect someone’s feeling of safety. This means ensuring you’re not leaving your running buddies behind. This goes beyond running, too.