'A constant state of fight or flight' for women who go running in disguise

DANGERS FROM MEN IN SOME AREAS OF CITY

- RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU

TWO Nottingham runners have spoken of the dangers for women who run in the city as a woman as the police launch a new campaign.

Nottinghamshire Police has launched the Walk In My Shoes campaign this week to tackle areas where women and girls feel unsafe.

The eight-week campaign invites all girls and women to share their views with the force, potentially leading to changes including better street lighting and increased CCTV.

Phoebe Lake, 21, leader of the Nottingham These Girls Run group, has spoken about the struggles she encounters.

She said: "The campaign is important to me because I lead the running group in the city centre and there are plenty of areas that we avoid and that we have problems in.

"This campaign will help hotspot those and really tackle the issues because the police are listening to us.

"All we want is to go out and enjoy a run. It shouldn't be like this but we've got to prepare in advance just in case."

Phoebe tries to make herself look "as least feminine as possible" when she goes running on her own.