To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Women Urged Not To Share Their Running Routes Online

Women Urged Not To Share Their Running Routes Online

Apparently, it could be smarter to keep your whereabouts to yourself.

Charlotte Forrester

Charlotte Forrester

After completing a lengthy run or achieving that new personal best, it can be pretty tempting to show all your mates on social media in a humble brag.

However, people are warning women against this due to the lack of control over who views our posts.

It can be tempting to post online our running routes - but should we? (
Pexels - Andrea Piacquadio)

Gina Martin is a British activist who led the campaign to make taking photographs under someone's clothing without their consent - otherwise known as "upskirting" - an illegal offence in England and Wales back in 2019.

Yesterday, she reposted a tweet of hers onto her Instagram urging women not to share their running routes online.

Gina Martin shared stories and advice to her Instagram about the risk of posting your running route online (
Instagram - ginamartin)

The post read: "Not sure who needs to be reminded of this but if you're a woman, pls don't post your run route on social media. We are already proud of you for running & would rather you we're safe form [sic] weird men who will screenshot it and be able to tell where you run and where you live".

Gina added a caption alongside which read: "Changing your behaviour because of male violence is one thing, but supplying information about your routine and whereabouts publicly to anyone who wants it is entirely another.

"As the weather gets warmer and evening runs become attractive, keep your whereabouts to yourself!"

Apps like Strava have features that help protect your privacy (
Pexels - Tirachard Kumtanom)

Gemma Tutton from Our Streets Now, a 'movement to end Public Sexual Harassment in the UK by making it a criminal offence and changing the culture that allows it' told Tyla: "We deserve to exercise in peace without the fear of harassment.

"It's unacceptable that we have to adapt our behaviour and adjust our routines because of sexual harassment and stalking. Running clubs and sporting associations should be taking the lead in working with women and non-binary runners to tackle these behaviours.

"The right to exercise should be shared equally, but unfortunately we know that currently, it is not."

People shared with Martin how running apps had influenced their encounters with abusive behaviour (
Pexels - Andrea Piacquadio)

The rest of Gina's Instagram carousel shared some of the stories that people had shared with Gina on Twitter.

One Twitter user had replied: "My ex used Strava to track me five years ago and it still makes me shiver every time I see women sharing theirs openly. It does give an option to obscure your home address but tbh just safest not to share at all..."

Although the onus shouldn't have to be on women to be safe on our own streets, be mindful if you go out running - and remember that it's not just your mates who can view the running routes you post online.

Featured Image Credit: Pexels - Tirachard Kumtanom

Topics: UK News, Life, Technology, Fitness, Health