Passing the Baton - Panel Talk on Running (Putney)

Passing the Baton is a new evening series by Relay, bringing together runners, designers, and urban safety advocates. Passing the Baton: Second Leg - Safety Summer 2026 saw record participation in women's running, yet 70% of the 187 women runners Relay interviewed said they've stopped running in the dark. As winter pushes women to adapt further, run clubs, activists, and designers are building something new: community-powered infrastructure that lets women run independently while harnessing the power of the collective. Passing the Baton brings runners, designers, and urban safety advocates together for open conversations across four themes: Design, Safety, Community, and Racing. In the second talk, chaired by Vishal Mehta (Relay), three runners share how co-design and participatory mapping bring women, girls and their communities together to shape safer urban spaces, what that looks like in practice, and how we can all take part. If you are a runner who loves running in London and care about how design is bringing and making space for runners, come along. A pint of beer, a glass of wine, or a soft drink is included with your ticket. Speakers: Dr Sarah Ackland, founder of Taking Space Kate Tellier, founder of Run Her Way Sangeeta Bhopal, Youth Programme Manager at The Outrunners Event Schedule: 6:30 pm - Doors open 7:00 to 8:00 pm - Introduction by Relay | Panel Talk along with a Q&A About Relay: Relay is a community-powered platform for women runners that visualises routes that are visible, active, and supported in real time, without tracking. It is designed around the paradox of running independently while harnessing collective safety.