There has been a lot of noise recently about the Nike Womens After Dark race in London and honestly, I understand why. This event was pitched as something special, something designed purely for women, something that would uplift us and make us feel safe and powerful under the night sky.
So many of us feel uncomfortable running in the dark, so the idea of reclaiming the night together felt really meaningful.
Until race day arrived, and women stood on the start line only to find men taking part. Including Nike staff.
If you say an event is women only, it has to be women only. That feels pretty straightforward.
What Nike Promised With The Global After Dark Tour
The After Dark Tour is a huge deal for Nike, their debut global women’s running event, and something they have tied closely to their mission of empowering women in sport.
According to Nike, the tour is a way to champion women runners, build community, and invite more women into running. The series includes 10K and half marathon races across major cities like Sydney, Shanghai, Seoul, Mumbai, Los Angeles and Mexico City. London was a later addition, taking place on 23 November.
Nike described the tour as a place for women to race the night away, supported by a full training journey through the Nike Run Club app, community run clubs, and local events.
They even went big on the details. A sweatproof reflective necklace created by a mostly women design team, bespoke medals, Hyperice recovery zones, style and product experiences, and a pitch that framed each weekend as the ultimate girls weekend.
The messaging was clear. This was for women. A space to feel seen, connected and celebrated.
So Why Were Men Running In London
This is the question women have been asking all week.
The London event did not communicate clearly that men could enter. Many runners had no idea until they arrived on the night and saw men pinning on bibs and lining up to race.
For an event built around empowerment, community and safety after dark, this felt like a complete contradiction. Nike talked at length about creating a space where women feel welcome and uplifted. They talked about reclaiming the night. They talked about confidence and belonging.
You cannot talk about all those things, then quietly allow men to join in. It completely changes the experience.
What Research Shows About Women Only Races
Recent research from She Races looked into why women choose women only races, and the findings made one thing very clear, these events genuinely matter.
53 percent of women said they feel more safe and secure taking part in a women only race.
66 percent said the atmosphere is more enjoyable.
The research also highlighted that some women would not feel comfortable racing alongside men at all, for many different personal reasons. For those runners, a women only space is not a bonus, it is what enables them to take part in the first place.
This is why clear communication is so important. When women signed up for the London event, they did so based on the understanding that it would be women only. Arriving on the night to discover something different left many feeling blindsided and let down.
A Missed Opportunity That Should Have Been A Celebration
The Nike Womens After Dark Tour had everything it needed to be a brilliant moment for women runners. A strong message, thoughtful design, a supportive community and a global stage that could have shown exactly why women only spaces are so needed.
But in London, the delivery did not match the promise.
Hopefully this sparks better conversations, clearer communication, and more women centred events in the future. Women showed up for this race. They always do. It is time for organisers to show up for them too.
Dear Men, A Quick Note Going Forward
Even if an organiser gives the green light, it is worth taking a moment to think about the impact. When a race has been created specifically to give women a space where they feel safe, confident and supported, stepping back is sometimes the kindest thing you can do.
Even if your partner wants you there, there are thousands of brilliant mixed races you can enjoy together. Choosing not to enter a women only event is not exclusion, it is simply respecting the purpose of the space and the women the event was designed for.
