Sydney’s streets looked a little different on a recent Saturday night.
They were lit by red strobe lights, filled with music and cheers. Thousands of women took to the streets, running through the night and reclaiming the city with each step.
Last month Sydney hosted the first stop of Nike’s After Dark Tour — a half-marathon for women, held in the evening.
I joined to complete my very first half-marathon. Like many people in their 20s, I turned to running — partly for fitness, partly to meet people. One might call it a classic quarter-life crisis symptom. I’ve joined all-women groups like Femmi Running Community and She Runs, and I’ve been inspired and buoyed by the friendship and solidarity of these communities.
A race for women, held at night, is a powerful thing. Simply existing in public space often feels unsafe as a woman, no matter the time of day. Even in broad daylight. Even in a group. Even on quiet suburban streets. I’ve been jeered at, screamed at, sworn at and harassed by men.
But I won’t be intimidated. I won’t let it stop me from living my life to the fullest. Even when I take every precaution, I know that the risk is still there — and that risk is so much greater not from random men on the street, but from men I know.
As advocate, survivor and powerhouse runner Grace Tame puts it:
“Running is a privilege. Running as a collective of women is an act of defiance and solidarity.”
I knew that this event would be emotional, especially being my first half-marathon — but the tears hit unexpectedly, right before the finish line. I somehow found another gear in the final 2 kilometres. The sidelines were busier and louder, cheers growing from people of all ages and genders. And I felt so incredibly proud of myself. Even before I crossed the finish line, I knew I would. I felt the pride and confidence of having already achieved it.
After the race, I shared hugs, congratulations and proud tears — not only with friends from my running groups, but also with women I’d never even met before.
The shared solidarity and encouragement felt revolutionary. The very fact of all these women coming together — celebrating what our bodies can do, running at night, claiming space — felt revolutionary.
As Laura Frombach, an advocate with Street Smart Safety for Women, says:
“Confidence isn’t just a vibe. It’s a safety strategy.”
This point is especially timely, considering that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Frombach explains that while sexual assault is never the victim-survivor’s fault, research shows that offenders often deliberately target women based on how they walk and carry themselves, preying on those who seem less confident and assertive. “When you feel strong, you look strong,” she says.
Events like the After Dark Tour matter. They are important opportunities for women to reclaim public spaces at night, step (or run) into their physical power and lift each other up in the process.
And that’s about so much more than running.