Meet the women who run
SALIFE meets a family of runners who, along with an Olympian, are organising running groups as well as events helping to encourage more women to stride out in confidence. Now becoming role models, they also recognise barriers that still need to be overcome.
It is astonishing to think that the women’s Olympic marathon was only introduced as recently as 40 years ago, at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Fast forward to 2018 when – for the first time in history – women outnumbered men in all running races worldwide, with just over half of runners being female (RunRepeat’s 2019 State of Running report). That’s up from less than 20 per cent in 1986.
Now, in 2025, that upward trend shows no signs of slowing down. In Semaphore, Amy Robb, and her three sisters and their mother Debbie Robb, 69, are all keen runners who have each completed half-marathons. Debbie first took up running to get fit after having her four girls and continues to run today. Amy and her sister Katherine were both top-level sprinters, before later transitioning to running longer distances.
They have participated in various South Australian half-marathon events together as a family.
“Our Mum’s run for as long as I can remember, so I think it’s in the genes,” Amy says. “I grew up running and just simply love the feeling it gives me, physically and mentally. It clears my mind so I can switch off from the day and focus on the present.
“I ran my first half marathon a few years ago, and I ran it with Mum. We trained together for that, which was nice. It’s great bonding time. Mum doesn’t do Parkruns, she gets ultra-competitive, so she just enjoys running on her own without that pressure.
“As a woman, there are so many benefits to running. Running is a powerful way to build physical strength and empowerment. It has taught me to be resilient, determined and goal-driven and has given me the confidence in knowing that I can push through various challenges no matter what.”
It was while competing as a sprinter that Amy made friends with Chelsea Jaensch who became an elite long-jumper and competed for Australia at the Rio Olympics in 2016. After retiring from long jump, Chelsea wanted to find a new way to challenge herself and started running weekly Parkrun events, often alongside Amy.
“I won a ballot entry into the New York marathon, so had to quickly shift my craft within five months, from sprinting a 42-metre long jump run-up, to running a 42-kilometre event,” says Chelsea. “I’m not a natural distance runner, but I really enjoy the social aspect, particularly since starting up at Parkrun on Saturday mornings.
“I run to keep fit, I run to relax and to clear my mind. I enjoy the feeling of moving my whole body to break a sweat. I also run to sightsee – it’s a great way to explore new places, get over jet lag and explore a city before anyone else is up.
“The stereotyped gender roles are shifting, which means more women are supported with time, flexibility and mental freedom to get out for a run. Running is quite motivating, and it builds my confidence and self-esteem.”
With her experience as a sprinter and personal trainer, one year ago, Amy decided to create an Instagram page: Running With Amy. She shares getting-started tips, training ideas and motivation with beginner and recreational runners. Her following has grown rapidly.
“There are so many recreational runners out there, and because I’m not an elite runner, I think they find me relatable,” says Amy.
“I’m just passionate about making running more approachable for women. I get messages saying things such as, ‘I never enjoyed running before until I saw your workouts and advice’. It’s nice to know that what I’m putting out there is helping people.”
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There has been a surge in interest in running in recent years, especially since the Covid pandemic when running was one of the few activities available to people during lockdown.
“I remember when I first started doing Parkruns, there were 50 or 60 people doing it, and now you get nearly 400 people, especially here at Largs Bay. I think it has really come along in the last five years, and that includes marathon running too,” says Amy.
But there are still barriers and challenges for women, particularly around safety and self-consciousness. “I often hear from other women who are embarrassed or self-conscious about running. People say it hurts too much, it looks painful, or they don’t have the body for it, so they’ve already made their mind up,” she says.
Amy recently used her Instagram account to poll women about their thoughts around running, and of more than 300 who responded, 85 per cent said they felt embarrassed while running, many because they felt insecure about their bodies. Many also mentioned they felt “too slow”.
“There is a belief that you have to have a certain body type to be a runner. When truthfully, there is no ‘body type’,” says Amy. “When people want to start running, they go all-in because they want quick results. But if you go too hard, you’re going to develop overuse injuries, burn out, and then you’re going to hate it and not want to do it again.
“I advise people to start with a walk-run, maybe once or twice a week and build up slowly.”
Organised running clubs and Parkrun events are helping provide a safer, more social environment. But safety is still a concern for women, particularly those who only have time to run outside of working hours, often when it is dark.
“For a lot of women, the only time they can run is either early in the morning or late at night, because they’re juggling their work and family lives,” says Amy. “It’s such a shame, because it’s something that is so enjoyable and you don’t want to have that constant fear or watching your back. Something needs to happen, but I don’t know what that would be.
“Then there are pregnancy and postpartum challenges. Getting back into running postpartum can be daunting. This leads into the next challenge – working mums trying to balance all their responsibilities. Juggling their careers and their family and then trying to fit in their own running. There can be a sense of guilt when it comes to doing something for themselves.
“I wish there wasn’t that feeling of guilt so it’s important to remember that you need to fill your own cup before you can fill someone else’s.”
Amy’s sister Katherine, a mother of three, has since moved to rural Eyre Peninsula where she runs on country roads most days.
“In my phase of life now I run mainly for my mental health. Being a busy mum of three young boys, running is a time where I can switch off and enjoy the peace of nature as well as clear my head or de-stress from the day. I’m also a very goal-driven person and love pushing my body through hard sessions to try and improve my times over longer distances,” says Katherine.
“I’m lucky that where I live is extremely remote, so safety is not an issue for me, but growing up in the city you are always subconsciously on alert when running by yourself, particularly in the early mornings or late evenings.
“For me there is nothing quite like the feeling of the runner’s high. The motivation, mood lift and energy you gain post run is what motivates me to continue running.”
