East Yorkshire women's running group say men 'intimidating' after dark

Women runners in East Yorkshire say they feel "intimidated" by men while running at night as research highlights a fear of exercising after dark.

Members of Brough Fitmums & Friends said the harassment meant they now ran in groups and used tracking devices.

A survey found 60% of women fear sexual harassment while exercising at night.

One Fitmums & Friends member said: "If you find something you love it should be something you feel free to do whenever you want."

The new poll also found that 48% of women preferred not to be active outside after dark and that 46% changed their outdoor exercise routines during winter to accommodate a perceived "curfew".

The research, part of Sport England's This Girl Can campaign, also found more than a quarter of the 1,000 women surveyed said the limitations left them feeling "sad" or "frustrated".

Brough Fitmums & Friends coordinator Angela Eary told the BBC that even though they ran in groups, the women were still "shouted and beeped at really loudly".

She said: "While we're in a group we can laugh it off, but if I was running on my own I would feel different.

"In other areas in Hull groups of youths in corners harassing us. It's intimidating.

"It's frustrating and annoying and when I'm running alone, I won't go off the beaten track and stay to lit areas."

Ms Eary said Fitmums members also stayed safe by wearing high-visibility clothing, making sure all routes were pre-planned and each member was tracked with a "mumbot" app.

Run leader Sophie Hoggarth said she found the new data "worrying" and advised women to run in groups and have up-to-date technology so they could be tracked.

Kate Dale, Sport England's Director of Marketing, added: "The fact that women can't have access to something that is so important for mental and physical wellbeing for half the year is infuriating.

"We have to change it."

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