Lorraine Kelly
International Women’s Day is often marked with speeches, panels and the odd branded tote bag. Endurance runner Esmée Gummer would rather mark it with tired legs, 13 laps of Victoria Park and a crowd of women who are just brave enough to try. On Sunday 1st March, she’s inviting women of all abilities to test themselves—whether that’s a first 5K, 10K or a half marathon—on a low-pressure, community-led loop in East London.
The day is part celebration, part experiment: what happens when you remove the finish-line fanfare and simply give women a safe space to see how far they can go?
The Nation’s 5K, One Loop at a Time
This International Women’s Day run is folded into The Nation’s 5K, a nationwide initiative aiming to get one million people across the UK to complete a 5K. As part of her own training, Esmée hosts monthly community sessions where runners can join for as little or as much of the route as they like.
Earlier this month, she clocked up 12 laps of Victoria Park—55km in old money—welcoming runners of all levels to dip in and out for support, camaraderie and a non-judgmental space to chase personal goals. For IWD, she plans roughly 13 laps, turning the park into a rolling support crew for women stretching to new distances.
“A huge part of The Nation’s 5K is giving people confidence to complete their first 5K by supporting them in person. Women often feel nervous about new distances, safety, harassment, caring responsibilities and disconnection with their bodies all create barriers. I want women to feel safe, supported, and empowered to push themselves further.”
It’s not a race, there’s no official timing mat and nobody cares what’s on your watch. The only real measure is whether you dared to turn up.
Why Running Together Changes Everything
The idea of yet another event might feel like admin, but the numbers behind this International Women’s Day project are hard to ignore. Research commissioned by realbuzz shows how much community matters: over half (57.4%) of UK runners feel more motivated running in a group, with many citing increased safety (50.9%), enjoyment (49.3%), and encouragement to keep going (47%).
Nearly two in five (40.1%) say they value the social connection, underscoring the role of support networks in keeping Britain active. When you layer in the specific barriers facing women—harassment, safety concerns on dark routes, caring responsibilities and a sometimes-fractured relationship with their own bodies—the case for organised, visible group running spaces becomes even stronger.
This International Women’s Day run in Victoria Park isn’t just about mileage; it’s a deliberate attempt to flip those stats in women’s favour.
Nerves, Laps and Collective Grit
Crucially, Esmée isn’t pretending to be superhuman while everyone else struggles. She’s upfront about her own doubts.
“I’m nervous about lapping Victoria Park 13 times myself,” Esmée adds, “so I’m inviting anyone nervous about their longest run to join me. It’s about challenging yourself and helping each other get through, as a team and community.”
That honesty is the point. Rather than the typical endurance-sport myth of the fearless lone hero, this is about shared nerves and collective grit. If the thought of your longest run makes your stomach flip, you’re in the right place. If you’ve never gone beyond a parkrun but secretly wonder if you could, this is your test—without the usual pressure.
Event Details: How to Join the Victoria Park Run
For anyone who’s ever hovered over a race-entry button and chickened out, the format could not be simpler:
- What: International Women’s Day Community Run with Esmée Gummer
- When: Sunday 1st March, from 9:30 am (join for as many laps as you like and at any point)
- Where: Victoria Park, East London (meet/end point: Pavilion Cafe)
- Who: Women of all abilities and their supporters
No start gun, no rigid corrals, no judgment about pace. No sign-up needed, just show up!
If you’re building up to your first 5K, you can hop in for a single lap. Training for a 10K or half-marathon? Stay for more. Supporters are encouraged; sometimes the loudest work you’ll do is clapping.
The Bigger Picture: Women, Endurance and International Women’s Day
Behind the friendly “join when you like” structure sits a more serious reality. Women remain underrepresented in endurance sports and still face unique barriers—safety worries, time pressures, confidence gaps and the lingering sense that long-distance sport belongs to someone else.
This International Women’s Day, Esmée’s project offers a different script:
- A safe, visible space where women can run without feeling like they’re in the way.
- Community accountability that makes it harder to talk yourself out of that extra lap.
- A tangible milestone—a first 5K, a personal-distance record, or simply proving you can show up.
Through community, encouragement and a supportive environment, Esmée is helping women achieve personal milestones while building confidence and connection that lasts longer than a single Sunday.
How to Support Beyond the Park
If you can’t make it to East London on International Women’s Day, you can still be part of The Nation’s 5K push. You can sign up to join a free 5K near you at realbuzz.com/thenations5k, or support Esmée’s fundraising via her GoFundMe link.
In the end, this isn’t about ticking off another themed day in the calendar. It’s about what happens when women claim the path, lap after lap, and discover that the distance they were most afraid of wasn’t on the route—it was in their head.
