November 14, 2024
Afterglow Night Run shines a light
Popular Torquay-based Surf Coast event, the Black Diamond Afterglow Night Run, has announced that it will participate in Respect Victoria’s 16 Days of Activism, shining its running headlamp on the issue of sexual and family violence.
Taking place on Saturday, 7 December, 2024, Black Diamond Afterglow Night Run will maintain its colourful roots as one of the state’s brightest fun runs – famous for rainbows, unicorns and fluorescent tutus – while also joining the fight to stop sexual and family violence, a serious issue in our society that has one in three women experiencing violence perpetrated by men.
In addition to participating in 16 Days of Activism – a global campaign led by UN Women – Afterglow will also raise money for the Geelong-based The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre (The SAFV Centre), a frontline response, advocacy, prevention and early intervention organisation servicing Barwon (including Geelong and the Surf Coast) and Western Victoria.
The event will encourage its 700-plus participants to get their fingernails painted in bright, flashy colours when they pick up their running bib in a fun effort to spark conversation. For every runner who gets their nails adorned in bright colours, organisers will donate $5 toward The SAFV Centre.
Organisers are also encouraging participants to set up their own MyCause fundraising page linked to the event and use their run at Afterglow to raise awareness and money via their personal networks.
“Afterglow has been and always will be a fun, light-hearted running event,” says Race Director Chris Ord, from Anglesea-based Tour de Trails. “But we also feel that the family-friendly atmosphere of Afterglow is an ideal, easy-approach forum in which we can spark conversations around respect and equality, and contribute to the actions to address the drivers of violence against women. The more we all discuss the issue, especially with our sons and daughters, the more collective understanding and hopefully behavioural change can be encouraged longer term,” says Chris.
Says co-Race Director, Peri Payne: “Women in particular all too often encounter threats of intimidation and violence while out running,” she says highlighting the daily impact on the running fraternity. “I know too well the anxieties and fears of running trails through parks and along quiet streets – especially at night – not knowing what is around the next corner.”
The murder of Ballarat-runner, Samantha Murphy, while trail running was a stark and tragic example of the risks female runners can face, notes Peri.
“Therefore, we are keen to shine a light on the issue in a safe space. I know as a mother to a son and daughter, the event will highlight the issue in a respectful and safe forum that will help me have conversations with them about the issues, not least how our young boys need to be taught to grow into respectful men, something that requires early conversations between children and parents,” says Peri.
The popular event, now in its tenth year, has become famous for eye-wateringly bright running fashion including rainbow onesies, tutus galore, big hair, fire twirlers and saxophonists on course, a pop-up eighties music disco at the finish line, and plenty of neon lighting brightening up the trail and beachside run route along the Surf Coast Walk.
The tail running event encompasses a half marathon (21km) run course following the Surf Coast Walk from Point Addis back to a lit-up finish line at the Salty Dog Café, Fisherman’s Beach. A second ‘half glow’ distance of 13km begins at Southside near Bells Beach, while two 5km ‘mini-glow’ runs round up the line-up with a loop course at Fisherman’s Beach.
The second 5km event is run under the ‘Body Positive Stomp’ banner, a non-timed run or walk specifically aimed to offer a welcoming entry-level outing encouraging all community members to join in without discrimination, judgement or expectation, no matter what level of ability or experience on trails.
Photo credit: Afterglow Night Trail Run
