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.
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.”
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.”
