Birmingham runner Lucy Canham, 36, from Moseley, has spoken out after being followed by a white van while out for a run near Cannon Hill Park. The founder of Run Of A Kind, a Birmingham-based running group, described the incident as frustrating and anger-inducing.
Harassment on the Run
Canham, who works as a flight attendant and runs her own business, recalled the moment she was targeted. "They were just honking at me repeatedly and making sexual hand gestures," she said. "I didn't actually feel scared - I just felt angry and I shouted at them."
She believes her experience and speed gave her confidence to "run away from things" if needed, but acknowledged that emotions can take over. "Usually I would just ignore it," she added.
Safety Precautions and Frustrations
Canham takes precautions like running in groups, especially in the dark, and removing headphones on isolated trails. She stressed that it's "not fair" that women have to live with such fears. "It would be so nice just to relax and not have to worry about that," she said.
She highlighted the importance of male support in combating harassment. "It really helps when men support women with it. I have seen male run club leaders sharing things like this," she noted.
Education and Community Response
Canham advocates for education from a young age about misogyny and change, which she believes is already happening in schools. She also praised the role of free running clubs in providing safety and community. "They are so great for feeling safe when you're out running," she said.
Her comments come after West Mercia Police launched the "Jog On" scheme to crack down on harassment of female runners in Worcestershire.
