'I fear being attacked by a man - not the dark'

Beatrice changes her running route every winter due to fear of being out alone after dark

“I'm scared of being attacked by a man, not the dark," says Beatrice Elizabeth.

The 43-year-old from Cardiff changes her running route every winter due to concerns about being alone after sunset.

She is one of thousands of women across the globe who reported safety concerns while running, according to a survey by Adidas.

"I see lots of male runners out running as normal and I think it's really sad that women don't feel safe to do this," Beatrice said.

She runs three times a week, but recently switched from road to trail running - in other words, mainly in natural environments such as the countryside.

However, Beatrice avoids her new pursuit in winter, opting instead for better lit areas.

She fears she would be blamed if something happened while she was out alone after dark, and now runs with a group once a week to feel safe.

"The dark is actually really nice, I see owls, hedgehogs, toads, the stars," Beatrice said.

"The concern is a tiny minority of men using the dark to commit crimes."

Lucy Lavington, 18, from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, said she was used to receiving unwanted attention from men while out running.

"You literally just want to get home and it puts you off going for a run the next time because it just scares you," Lucy said.

She aims to run at least 6km (3.7 miles) per day, but feels unsafe during winter.

Lucy Lavington, 18, is used to experiencing unwanted attention from men when out running

She said she had twice experienced being followed while running, but was determined not to let that affect how she exercises.

“Running is my thing to get away from everything. It’s my escape from social situations. I just love it,” she said.

An international survey by sports company Adidas of 4,500 women aged 16 to 34 found more than 50% were afraid of being physically attacked while running, compared to 28% of men.

Also, 38% of the women said they had experienced physical or verbal harassment while running.

More than half reported receiving unwanted attention, sexist comments, being beeped at or followed.

Chloe Piggott, 19, from Aberdare, says she always keeps her phone on while running

Chloe Piggott, a 19-year-old student from Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, worries about safety and only runs between 08:00 and 16:00.

“If I am going for a run where I don't typically know the route, I always tell someone where I am and I get them to track me," she said.

“It's a massive thing not to be able to run in certain places just because you're a woman."

Natalie Williams says running in a group helps women feel safer

Growing numbers of women are now opting to join running groups.

The coach and chairwoman of Merthyr Running Club, Natalie Williams, said that could help women to feel more confident.

Natalie, a 44-year-old ultra-runner, said: “There’s always safety in numbers. No-one's ever alone.

“Running clubs are a massive part of a community. It gives women confidence to come out.

"It's not just the physical aspects, but it’s also mentally good for people. I’ve seen people come out of their shells."

Merthyr Running Club chairwoman Natalie Williams says more women join in winter due to safety concerns

Yasmin Khan, the Welsh government’s adviser on violence against women, said the focus should be on perpetrators and making sure they are prosecuted.

“The emphasis has always been on the woman making sure that she has a phone with her, or that she doesn't have headphones in her ears when she's walking, or that she's aware of the predators behind her, but this shouldn’t be the case," she said.

Sport Wales, the official body which advises the Welsh government, said it advised anyone who runs during winter evenings to follow advice from organisations such as Welsh Athletics and the police on how to stay safe.

“Finding and joining a local running club and becoming part of a community of runners that run together as a group is an option that can help people feel safer and more able to keep running through darker months," a spokesperson added.