Montreal’s women-led running group ‘She Runs’ back for the summertime
Posted May 29, 2023 10:02 pm.
Last Updated May 30, 2023 10:03 pm.
With Montreal’s beautiful weather lately, many people are getting back into running. Running alone at night is a safety fear for many women, which is why Montreal running group Yamajo organizes running meetups led solely by female runners every Monday, so they can feel safe and supported during evening runs.
“Right now, it’s bright, it’s sunny,” said She Runs co-leader Caroline Gagnon. “But we do run all year long and the winter runs are dark,” adding that having this running group makes it safer for women to run at night.
Gagnon says even after their runs, she and co-leader Nema Gaye makes sure everybody gets home safe.
The women’s running group usually completes a 5K run at every meetup, but beginners shouldn’t feel intimidated as Gagnon and Gaye make sure everyone is not left behind.
“Running is accessible to anybody and everybody,” says Gaye. “You just need a pair of shoes, good company, and laughter.”
Yamajo has been running since 2014, but their ‘She Runs’ initiative only came back in September of last year after a long hiatus.
“You don’t really realize how much you need to exercise until it’s gone,” said Gaye. “We stopped running during the pandemic for the first couple of months. And I didn’t do anything else.
“I didn’t go to the gym. I was trying to do those YouTube videos, but most of the time I was just sitting down looking at the instructor and not exercising.”
Gaye says the meetups have led her to create bonds and friends with other women runners and to “also, you know, be between women.”
Most of those joining their running meetups found the group either through social media or word of mouth. ‘She Runs’ co-leader Gagnon says there are no other women’s running group in Montreal, but that there is a need for local women-only sports events as many consistently show up to their meetups.
“As people show up and keep showing up, bonds are created, friendships are made and people keep coming back,” said Gagnon. “So it gives a safe space for women and makes sports accessible.”
