Every woman and girl running on her own terms
Run Her Way works with communities and cities to create the conditions that make that possible
About us
Run Her Way’s mission is to make running more equitable, accessible and safe for women and girls everywhere. We want more women and girls to start and stay running, so they can access the many physical, mental and social benefits of the sport.
Today, the conditions for running aren’t equal. Too many women adapt when, where, how — and if — they run based on how safe, confident and supported they are in public space.
We work with runners, cities, communities and partners to create running environments women and girls can trust. We turn runner experiences into evidence, advocate for policy and public space change, build allyship in communities, and deliver local participation programs that strengthen skills, connection and agency.
Kate Tellier, Founder and Director
"I want to be an advocate for female athletes at all levels and bring the joy of running to more women and girls, wherever they are."
Our why
EVERY RUNNER DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE
Running offers numerous benefits for women and girls, including improved health, increased confidence, reduced stress, and stronger connection to community. However, research consistently shows that barriers in the running environment limit women and girls from fully and equally participating.
are concerned for their safety when they go for a run (Adidas)
female runners in the U.S. and Europe alone (Running with Grit)
experience abuse while running (BBC)
changed their behavior in some way as a consequence (Runner’s World)
A SHARED PROBLEM REQUIRING A shared response
Inadequate urban planning, insufficient community and authority engagement, and a lack of interventions addressing the root causes of harassment, are among the numerous factors driving this dynamic. And solutions are scarce and almost entirely reactive.
Rather than remediating issues after they occur, Run Her Way is working to shift the focus to proactive, preventative strategies to create a world where women and girls can run with confidence.
From runner experience to real-word change
We work with local champions to mobilize stakeholders and drive meaningful change in running environments. Our programs are expanding — and so is the evidence base for change.
Our approach
Run Her Way takes a community-led, evidence-based, and collaborative approach to improving how women and girls experience running in public space. While every place is different, many of the barriers are shared — and progress requires coordinated action across communities, partners and decision-makers.
Runner-led insight
We prioritize the voices of women runners. Gathering data on running routes, incidents, and runner feedback allows us to analyze safety concerns, identify areas needing intervention, and deploy targeted solutions. This data-driven approach ensures that the real experiences of women guide our initiatives.
Government engagement
Partnering with government at all levels is essential to driving sustainable change. We provide local decision-makers with analytics and insights with the aim of securing the commitments required to implement our recommendations. We also advocate for policies to improve running safety, such as the criminalization of street harassment.
Community safety pathways
We engage community safety stakeholders to connect runner experiences with reporting pathways, local priorities and practical opportunities to improve confidence in public space.
Education and allyship
Shifting behavior and culture is central to our work. Through education, bystander training and community programs, we are building the awareness, confidence and allyship needed to support women and girls in running.
Partnering for impact
Corporate, foundation and institutional partners help fund, amplify and scale our work. We build partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to expanding who feels able to take part in running.
Mobilizing across the running ecosystem
Running clubs, brands, events, coaches, athletes and platforms all have a role to play. Through joint initiatives, events, and campaigns, we aim to harness the collective power of the running community to drive meaningful change.
Our programs and services
We bring more women and girls into running, learn from their experiences, and use that to improve how running works in public space.
Run & Reflect™
A facilitated run using a structured reflection method.
We run together, observe what shapes the experience, and turn it into insight and change.
Run Her City™
A city-level program focused on change.
Working with cities to improve routes and running environments based on women’s experiences.
Run Her Neighborhood™
A local participation program.
Helping women and girls get started, build confidence, and keep running—right where they live.
Run Her Way Verified Routes
A system to scale and share what works.
A growing set of routes based on real runner input.
Get involved
Bring Run Her Way to your city or community
To scale our impact, we work with local champions, running communities, and partners to bring Run Her Way programs to new locations. Are you a local community leader, government, running club, university, business or other community organization looking to improve confidence and safety in running and get more women and girls participating?
Partner with us
Achieve your social impact goals through a Run Her Way partnership. We create tailored partnerships for organizations that share our commitment to enabling more women and girls to participate on their own terms.
Join our ambassador network
We’re building a growing network of runners, elite athletes, and corporate leaders that support and promote Run Her Way initiatives. Our ambassadors help amplify our reach and impact, as well as provide invaluable advice and support.
Fundraise for us
Use your next race or running challenge to support Run Her Way by becoming a fundraiser. Every donation helps us serve more runners and communities.
Volunteer
Run Her Way relies on the support of dedicated volunteers. If you share a passion for our mission and have time and relevant skills to contribute, we would love to hear from you.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Stay connected to our work improving safety, confidence, and participation in running for women and girls. Receive updates on our projects, insights, events, and opportunities to get involved.
Ambassador spotlight
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![Bob de Jong ambassador of run her way]()
Bob de Jong, Olympic gold medalist and proud girl dad
Bob is a world-renowned athlete known for his outstanding achievements in long distance speed skating. He has won numerous world championships and an Olympic gold medal during his illustrious career. With over 22 years of competitive experience and six Olympic appearances, Bob is unquestionably one of the best endurance skaters in the world. He is also an avid runner and a proud girl dad.
“When I go for a run, it’s a simple process. I don’t think twice. I get dressed, lace up my shoes, and I’m off. I didn’t realize the severity and the scale of female running safety concerns. Is this for real, I wondered? It also never occurred to me that my Olympic colleagues might have to deal with these kinds of challenges in their training, in addition to trying to compete at the highest levels of sport. The research and speaking to many in the running world and in my own community opened my eyes. It's time we create safer environments where every woman and girl can run with the same confidence and freedom that I have always taken for granted." -
![Dauphine Sulzer ambassador of run her way]()
Dauphine Sulzer, Public affairs leader
Dauphine is a consultant at Public Matters, a leading Dutch public affairs and lobbying firm that helps organizations navigate the political and societal landscape. With a focus on the healthcare and sports sectors, she supports clients in positioning themselves effectively within political and public debates. A natural connector, Dauphine thrives on bringing people and ideas together to drive meaningful change — whether through policy influence or grassroots action. With a strong interest in politics, advocacy, and social impact, she brings strategic insight and a deep understanding of how to turn complex challenges into opportunities for progress. She supports Run Her Way with guidance on engaging local governments in program locations, building strategic partnerships, and shaping our stakeholder and media outreach efforts.
“As a runner, I know how important it is to feel safe while exercising. I believe in the power of community-driven initiatives to create real change, and I admire how Run Her Way is putting this into action. I'm thrilled to contribute to making cities safer and more inclusive for female runners.” -
![Jimmy Schneidewind Image]()
Jimmy Schneidewind, 10-time marathoner and sport for good practitioner
Jimmy’s history with running predates even his earliest memories. In recent years, he has found a home at the marathon distance, completing 10 marathons in total. He is passionate about using sports, especially running, as a tool for youth development, gender and racial equality, environmental awareness, and community cohesion. He currently is the coordinator of a youth run series in his county of Maryland, a regular volunteer with Special Olympics and Girls on the Run, an Advisory Council Member of the Girls Gotta Run Foundation, and a contributor to Ashoka’s Reimagining Youth Sport Project.
"Running should be a simple act of freedom — but when women and girls don’t feel safe in public spaces, it becomes a human rights issue. If we can ensure that women and girls are safe to run on their own terms, we can uncover powerful insights into how to build a society that works for everyone."
Run Her Way has recently been featured in these articles!
“SIN has launched in partnership with Run Her Way, a global non-profit focused on women’s running safety, marking the start of ongoing fundraising and awareness-building events.”
“Kate Tellier, a former college athlete who has run since she was a child, has been photographed by a man she didn’t know, followed by a car while out running, and even followed home on foot to her doorstep—experiences that help explain why she only runs during the day, often with only one headphone in, and shares her live location with her partner. ”
“We bring voices together, translate them into action points, and help cities improve their sports and public space policies. Ultimately, it’s about half the population feeling just as free as the other half.”
