The Female Runners’ Safety Summit panel will provide valuable insights and practical strategies to educate, empower, and enhance female runners’ safety and confidence in an interactive session. Drawing on expertise from statistical research, safety professionals, self-defense instructors, and experienced runners, attendees will learn the impact of violent threats against women when they run, and actionable tactics to mitigate risks and navigate potential threats while enjoying their runs. From situational awareness techniques to self-defense tips, this session will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to feel more secure during their workouts and daily activities and how to support the female running community. Additionally, the session will emphasize the role of the run specialty community in fostering a safer environment for female runners, providing retailers with insights into the unique safety concerns and needs of their female clientele.
The Female Runners’ Safety Summit, established in 2024 by a collaborative group of women-led businesses, is committed to ending violence against female runners. The summit aims to empower women through community support, education, and heightened safety awareness during their runs and daily lives. Women should feel secure while running, walking, biking, shopping, driving, and simply living.
Panel participants include:
-Dena Lewis, Founder and CEO of Running Mate, recently presented at Techstars Impact and has been a guest on multiple podcasts, including Trail Runner Nation, Get Healthy Tampa Bay, and Moontower Business.
-Shanna Birchett of Motherhood Running was featured in Runner’s World last November and is a Nike content creator and running influencer.
-Faith Chima, founder and CEO of Fittsafe
-Lina Khalifeh, Founder of SheFighter
-Ashley Raymond, founder and CEO of Safely
The women will share their personal experiences and what they have learned about staying safe on the road. They will give practical tips to keep all runners safe, ways for loved ones to support them, and ways to build a safer running community.
Session Learning Objectives:
1.) Understand the importance of situational awareness and learn how to assess and mitigate potential risks while running and in their daily lives.
2.) Discover practical self-defense strategies tailored to the unique challenges female runners may encounter.
3.) Learn how to cultivate a supportive community and advocate for safer running environments for women.
