Maisie Markland, a 25-year-old content creator from the Jewellery Quarter, says she experiences harassment while running in Birmingham at least once a week. The incidents, ranging from random shouting to horn honking from cars, leave her feeling anxious and sometimes physically shaking.
Daily Reality of Harassment for Female Runners
Markland has been running three times a week for the past two years. Despite her experience, she still lives with a constant fear of catcallers. 'It gives me a lot of anxiety in my chest,' she said. Growing up in Quinton, she now runs across Birmingham, but the threat of harassment is ever-present.
She recalled a recent run in Edgbaston: 'I stood on the corner of a road with my Google Maps up, and this man honked at me. I was like, thank you for making me feel anxious.' Another incident occurred on Broad Street around 6 am on a Saturday morning. A group of men, presumably still out from the night before, shouted at her from a bus stop. She could barely hear them through her headphones but sensed the hostility.
Impact on Mental and Physical Wellbeing
The harassment often triggers a physical response. 'My heart rate just rises and I feel like sometimes I'm shaking. I have to stop in my tracks, especially when I've been shouted at around the canals, just to calm myself down,' Markland explained. She channels her upset into anger, sometimes shouting back or giving the middle finger. 'It makes me very angry,' she added.
Markland, who has a large TikTok following under @maisie.onthemove, said the summer months are particularly challenging. 'Girls might want to wear a sports bra and shorts. I just know there's a feeling in the back of my head that it might happen.' She questions why such behaviour is acceptable: 'I'm like, why are you upsetting me? Or making any comments?'
Safety Measures Women Shouldn't Have to Take
To cope, Markland uses bone-conduction headphones that allow her to hear her surroundings. She keeps her keys in hand for protection and always informs her boyfriend of her route and whereabouts. When asked if women should need to take such precautions, she replied: 'No. I'd feel so much happier if we didn't. It's just sad to say it's our reality, but it shouldn't be that way.'
Broader Context and Initiatives
The Neighbourhood Alert site offers advice on handling harassment while running. Meanwhile, some UK police forces, including West Mercia Police, have rolled out the JogOn initiative to tackle the harassment female runners face, including catcalling, intimidation, and assaults. Markland hopes for change: 'I hope in 10 years it isn't that way. I hope the men of the next generation grow up and know to be respectful and let women mind their own business.'
