Two months ago Ballarat mum and keen hobby runner Samantha Murphy was last seen on CCTV footage in the driveway of her family home. She is now presumed dead.
Murphy’s disappearance highlighted a prevalent issue that women athletes face – or even just women who exercise for fun – that’s according to Dani Bryan, Head Running Coach at Run Like a Girl.
Gold Central Victoria’s in-house Journalist, Tayla Oates, sat down to chat with Dani to discuss the impact Murphy’s disappearance had on the female running community.
Byran says she and many women in the community have been harassed, assaulted, or abused just for being out on a run, well before this happened to Samantha. She says the unfortunate event has called attention to the dangers women face and is encouraging new running clubs to pop up across the country.
Over a month after she disappeared, over 100 local women united for the biggest tribute run to date for Samantha Murphy, who was allegedly murdered after setting off on her regular Sunday run.
The run began with a one-minute reflection for Murphy and then the group set off for a 7-kilometre run or 3km walk through the darkness. The group aims to “finish what she started”, running the distance that is believed to be the route Murphy ran on February 4.
