Brisbane runner 'hesitant' to report harassment ordeal

At about 5:30am on Monday Kate was hitting the pavement on her regular morning run around the Redlands.

Not long into her route on the dark Birkdale streets, the mother of two noticed a car following close behind her.

"The person in the car wound down their window and they were saying some very awful things to me," she told 612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast.

This was not the first time Kate experienced harassment while running, but it was the first time she feared for her life.

"I actually thought, 'You know what, I think today is going to be the day and I might not make it home to my family today,'" she said.

It was only when Kate (whose surname the ABC has chosen to withhold) ran towards some nearby shops that the man got spooked and drove away.

"I've had some experiences before with reporting these types of things where my concerns haven't been taken seriously," she said.

"So I was hesitant to report this again."

Kate had previously reported a similar incident to police but was told the man involved was "harmless".

This time she called Policelink and was informed she needed to go into a station to file a report.

"It took a little while until I found a station and an officer who actually took my details," Kate said.

"It took three police officers and three separate phone calls to have that happen."

Experience all too common

Kate's frightening experience generated a wave of responses to 612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast, including one from Jan, who said Kate's story sounded very familiar.

The Redcliffe resident said she had led an active lifestyle for more than 60 years and refused to exercise alone when it was dark.

"When I was doing team sports we used to all train as a pack … and that's the only way you could do it," Jan said.

"And that's been going on for 60 years."

Newstead run club founder Katie Dall said harassment of female runners in Brisbane happened "frequently" and that the city was not safe for women wanting to exercise by themselves.

She started the Club KT Walk Run Club in 2021 to help people connect during the COVID-19 pandemic and said it had since become vital.

"I don't feel like there's any really safe place now … even during the day you have to be careful," Ms Dall said.

"I've had my own experiences where a car has slowed down while I've been out running on my own near New Farm Park and you literally have to be like thinking about, 'OK, what do I do next?'"

She said the police should do more to raise awareness and prevent harassment.

"I don't like to say to women, 'Don't run there', because why should we have to change our behaviour?" Ms Dall said.

Experts agree the onus should not be on female runners.

University of Melbourne associate professor of criminology Bianca Fileborn said women should not be responsible for ensuring their safety or changing their behaviour when exercising.

"The emphasis needs to be on the people or the men who are engaging in this behaviour in the first place," she said.

Dr Fileborn said telling people where they were going or bringing a phone could help women feel safer, but there was little evidence this actually increased safety.

"It comes back to challenging and undoing the structural and the cultural and social drivers of gender-based violence," she said.

A constant state of fear

Even before Monday's incident, Kate said she was constantly "looking over her shoulder" when exercising at any time of day.

"I wear my hair in a bun so my ponytail can't be pulled. I wear a tight shirt so my shirt can't be grabbed," she said.

"I shouldn't be living my life like that."

Kate shared her story online and was met with a wave of support.

"The harrowing thing is that nearly every woman who has commented on the post or reached out to me personally, this has happened to," she said.

"This behaviour shouldn't be normalised."

Police told 612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast they were aware of the incident.

"Everyone has the right to feel safe," a spokesperson said in a statement.

"The QPS is focused on ensuring community safety and takes reports of suspicious behaviour seriously."