"People say ‘how do you just get out the door?’ and I’m like, ‘well I have never been in the space where I don’t’," Pattillo said.
"But I think it’s part [my] personality. I’m just ... do it, I’ll do it myself and I’ll do it to the best that I can."
After finishing her studies, spending time in the North Island, and having her daughter, Ellie, Pattillo returned to Dunedin and found women’s running had "depleted".
There was no longer the middle ground between the elite and recreational runners, and Pattillo was determined to fill the void.
"I came back because I was like, ‘if I don’t, no-one’s going to do it’," Pattillo said.
Pattillo planted the seed for Leith Lasses, a community for female runners, about four years ago.
After chugging along in the early days, Leith Lasses - open to female runners from all clubs and non-registered members - has expanded to nearly 100 members.
Runners can take part in their own runs, the Leith Harbour Free, Tuesday night sessions with Leith stalwart Chris Sole, and various other races and events.
Pattillo said it was tailored for all needs - from track to trail runners - and all age groups and fitness levels.
"It’s just a women’s community where it’s not elitism. We prioritise participation, and doing your best and support a safe environment.
"I think I grew up and it was such a male-dominated sport. At the time, I was so young I didn’t realise it and it’s looking back like, ‘oh’.
"It’s building that environment, breaking down those barriers that women face to get involved and it’s really worked."
"We’re booming now. Girls have come from just your recreational jog ... and now they’re right up there, at that track every Saturday and blitzing it - so that’s really cool."
Representation among running had spilled over into over events. About 51% of entries were female at the 3 Peaks Mountain Race last year, the highest number to date.
Pattillo, 36, was proud to see the impact Leith Lasses had on the sport.
"It’s that whole thing of women’s safety in numbers. You have to see someone else do it for you to think, ‘oh I actually can do that’.
"That’s been a huge part of it."
Running had a big impact on Pattillo’s life physically and mentally, and her determination to help women was wide-reaching.
"I see so many benefits of it crossing into daily life that I can see other girls benefiting from as well.
"There’s so much that women face that the whole community don’t even realise.
"Being a mum, coming back into it, that’s helped massively ... a lot of girls saying ‘well actually, I can have a baby and I can carry on.’
"Being a mum doesn’t mean the end of sport. You can make it happen and we’ve got the right support in place for that."
Pattillo, who is also part of an international campaign - Here for the Women’s Race - which is aimed at getting more women into trail running, wanted to see more equity across sport.
That included having trophies for both men’s and women’s races, and prize money for both too.
"Just women’s sport across the board - it doesn’t matter if it’s running or yachting - just breaking those barriers that women can face."
