This week, London will see it’s final sunset before 5pm for 2026.
It’s a depressing fact, particularly if you’re one of the thousands of women that enjoy running the city’s streets.
I love to run — it’s got me through heartbreaks, lockdowns and particularly ‘meh’ days. But once the nights start drawing in, the opportunities to get out there become limited.
I can’t run before or after work because it’s too dark. Even if you stick to main roads or well-lit streets, it’s a risk.
Research from Sport England shows that every winter, safety fears push women indoors, which ‘forces our worlds to shrink’.
Almost three-quarters (72%) of us change how and when we get active once the clocks go back, with 20% constantly checking over our shoulders.
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These fears aren’t unfounded. A 2025 study found that 67% of women have encountered some form of intimidating behaviour while running, from being followed to physical assault.
Every year, harrowing news reports emerge. November 2025: woman sexually assaulted on a run in Suffolk. February 2024: woman chased and attacked on a run in Cheltenham. December 2022: woman raped on a run in London.
That’s why events like Nike’s After Dark Tour, a ‘women focused’ 10km race, are so needed.
Nike After Dark travels to seven cities around the world, with the sports giant describing it as ‘created for women’ and a ‘celebration of women who run.’ The London leg of the tour took place in East London on Saturday, October 17.
When Metro reached out to Nike Running, they confirmed the event was open to both sexes. A spokesperson told Metro: ‘While the event centred on women and their experiences, participation was open to all and this was clearly communicated in our event terms and conditions.’
When asked to clarify why the race is not only for female participants, Metro did not receive further response.
However, when reading the FAQs it doesn’t take a genius to work out who Nike expect to enter the ticketed event: ‘While all runners are welcome, all participants are encouraged to embrace and celebrate the intent of the race.’
Marketing materials include powerful messaging, such as: ‘We invite women to join us in reclaiming the night’. Security staff are women, there are more ladies’ loos than men’s, and the running bibs are designed with the female body in mind.
Even the finishers’ medal is designed to look like a necklace, with earrings to match.
But the message didn’t quite land with some men. While the 5,000 strong participant base was overwhelming female, there were 14 men that decided to join in the sold-out race.
The figure might be small, but it still stings.
Those 14 men likely signed up for different reasons. Perhaps some wanted to support girlfriends, or show allyship. It’s also entirely plausible to suggest a handful also did it to prove a point.
Their participation also represents 14 tickets that went to men, rather than women.
Content creator, Mara Hafezi, from London, has been running for eight years. She tells Metro she has to make ‘adjustments’ at this time of year, including switching up her routes to busy streets, and ditching her headphones.
Still, despite these changes, Mara’s had some unsettling experiences.
‘I’ve been cat-called and had comments about how I should be running faster, or men trying to interrupt my sessions and run with me.
‘Recently, I was finishing a run, and a man told me I should be getting home, so that I don’t get raped. I’m not sure if he was genuinely trying to help, or not.’
It’s the second year that Mara has competed in the Nike After Dark event. ‘I was drawn to the race because it focuses on performance. It’s about how fast and capable women are. It treats women as athletes, and I love that.’
Both times Mara has competed, she’s noticed men running too. She says: ‘This year, I saw four guys on the course. I was tempted to say something, but instead, I just gave them a dirty look as I ran past them!
‘There’s the argument that they were there to support women, but you can be an ally from the sidelines.
‘And, there were pacers to help runners physically complete the race.’
Mara says she found it ‘frustrating’ to see men take part. ‘It just shows how entitled some men can be,’ she says. ‘Just because you can do something, it doesn’t mean that you should.
‘It just shows that men will always find a way to take up space, even even when it’s spaces that are not designed for them.
‘Maybe we should start doing that too.’
What is reassuring to see, is the men runners online who have firmly not aligned themselves with the male participants.
Runner and content creator Paul Fisher shared a video on TikTok asking for an explanation: ‘Could someone explain to me the mindset of the guys who want to take part?
‘I don’t know if it gives them a sense of: “Look at me, I’m the main man.” Absolutely pointless.
‘There is literally thousands of 10kms, 5kms, half-marathons, marathons all around the world, all around the UK. Why did you have to go to that one?’
While TikToker Sule shared the same sentiment, saying: ‘This whole thing is to help women get comfortable running after dark because of what men do.
‘And then you thought it would be a good idea to sign up to run as a man, with all these women? Bro, you’re a loser.’
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Follow Mara on Instagram @mara.thefitlondoner.
'The definition of female friendship'
Liv Auston, 24, is a runner from London. After taking up running in February, this was her first time competing in Nike After Dark.
She tells Metro: ‘I got into running because I was going through a particularly low patch, and I wanted something to work towards, so I booked a half marathon.
‘I’m also autistic, and when I started training, running became a great way to regulate my emotions, particularly when feeling overwhelmed.’
Liv learnt about Nike After Dark on social media. She says: ‘In the winter, most of my runs are done on a treadmill.
‘This event looked so empowering, so I wanted to get involved.’
And, the event lived up to Liv’s expectations. She says: ‘It was just wonderful. Everyone was so supportive — if someone was struggling, women were shouting words of encouragement. I saw friends holding hands to cross the finish line, and afterwards, strangers were congratulating each other.
‘It was the definition of female friendship — I can’t wait for next year!’
Follow Liv on Instagram @livtriestorun.
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