{"id":73483,"date":"2025-08-17T14:52:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T14:52:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/73483\/"},"modified":"2025-08-17T14:52:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T14:52:11","slug":"meet-the-glasgow-club-helping-women-feel-safer-exercising-at-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/73483\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Glasgow club helping women feel safer exercising at night"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n She told the Glasgow Times: \u201cI just had an idea because I love running. I want other people to enjoy it too and create a welcoming safe space for females to socialise and make new friends.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cAs much as my whole life is fitness and I do personal training, I thought why not make it more about the social aspect too.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cIt\u2019s a chance for girls to get out the house with working from home and meet new friends while improving their fitness too.\u201d\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n (Image: GordonTerris\/Herald&Times) Jodie, who is a personal trainer at women\u2019s only gym Sculpt in Bishopbriggs, says the club has been helpful for women who may have otherwise skipped night-time runs.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n She continued: \u201cI feel like for a lot of girls on their running journey, it\u2019s common for them to skip their run that night if its dark and they don\u2019t want to go alone, and they\u2019ve not really got any friends that are into the same thing.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cIn the evenings it’s really good for them to run with the company of myself and the girls in the club, and enjoy it rather than feeling a bit afraid looking over their shoulder and nervous about what could happen to them.\u201d\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n (Image: GordonTerris\/Herald&Times) Sculpt Run Club is free to attend and takes place at 6pm on Wednesday evenings at Hogganfield Loch with around 15 women on average turning up each week.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n Jodie, 23, says prior to starting the club, running at night in winter is something that \u201cconstantly\u201d left her feeling scared but says having company has completely changed that.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n She said: \u201cI was training for a half marathon through winter, and sometimes I would finish\u00a0work late and give my runs a miss because I don\u2019t really feel it\u2019s as enjoyable when its pitch black and I\u2019m scared of my own shadow, constantly looking over my shoulder.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cHaving the company of the girls was a completely new environment to run in and takes that nervous scary feeling away.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cAll through winter I had a good retention in terms of girls showing up.\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cWe would run where the streets were lit, and it was a route we all knew, and no one got left behind, so it did feel fun and safe.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cThey were like \u2018who knew winter runs could be so fun\u2019.\u201d\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n

\n Jodie, who is from Milton, says she would like to see more similar clubs being set up around the city, saying it also helped women feel less intimidated.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n She said: \u201cIt\u2019s a chance for women to feel like fully themselves, I feel like sometimes mixed gender environments can feel a little bit intimidating, especially on your running journey.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cJust keeping it female only remove the pressure, makes the girls feel comfortable and they have that chance to properly connect and life each other up.\u201d\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n She added: \u201cIn Glasgow we\u2019re lacking in free social groups that are beginner friendly.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cIt\u2019s really worthwhile setting things up like this because it means so much to people.\u201d\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n Sculpt Run Club takes place each Wednesday at 6pm at Hogganfield Loch.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n

\n You can find out more at instagram.com\/sculptglasgow.\u00a0\u00a0\n <\/p>\n