‘Thought I’d never see my kids again’: The terrifying reality uniting female runners

Kate was exercising in her local suburb before dawn when a stranger allegedly circled her repeatedly in a car before pulling up to yell abuse.

“I genuinely thought to myself, what if I didn’t see my children again?” she told A Current Affair.

She managed to escape into a nearby Woolworths, causing the driver to flee. But for Kate, the harrowing encounter is just one of many she has faced while exercising.

“I’ve been running my whole life … I’ve been followed. I’ve been chased. I’ve been followed into toilets.”

Her experience has hit a nerve with other runners east of Brisbane, who have since united after sharing similar fears for their safety.

While Kate initially struggled to report the incident online, Queensland Police have since met with her and launched an investigation.

Extra patrols have been deployed to the area as officers search for CCTV footage. Queensland Police urge anyone who experiences similar behaviour to report it directly to their local station.

Kate has now started a Facebook page and Instagram account, which aim to advocate for women’s safety and raise awareness about the issue.

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