Have Your SAY
Got something on your mind that you want to share, a burning question you want answered, or a
good story to tell? Then send it to [email protected], and add a pic if you can. Letters
should preferably be no more than 300 words long, and pics must be high-resolution to be usable in
print. (Note that letters may be shortened due to space limitations.)
EDITOR’S PICK
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
I have been typing and deleting this email for a while. I thought maybe I am just
overreacting, but every day I run, and everyday it’s the same. If it’s not a hoot, it’s a
whistle, a shout, some lights… the endless things men do to get my attention while
I am on my peaceful run.
My question is, do men do this to men on their run? I am human, just like them.
So why do these creatures feel the right to disrespect us woman. Why can’t us
woman just run in our running shorts? Why can’t we run and just feel safe? I am so
upset that they just take us as a piece of meat.
Today I was so fed up with this man continuously showing me lights, because I
was ignoring him, that I eventually showed him the middle finger. Not that it helped
make me feel better. Woman should not be treated like this, because they are just
trying to get their run in for the day, or just taking a walk for some air in this time of
this pandemic.
To all men out there that feel the need to make a woman feel so disrespected by
you… Yes, you know who you are. Stop and think, what if that was your mom or
sister? How would you feel if she came home crying because she experienced this
kind of disrespect while coming home from work, or while out on her run or walk?
– Zaheera Khan, via e-mail
Thank you for sending this letter to us, because we agree wholeheartedly
with what you say, that this type of behaviour is simply unacceptable. In
the last year or two the #MeToo movement has really put a spotlight on
sexually abusive behaviour, such as this, and I hope that this letter will
help reinforce the message that men can do better. – Ed.
REMOVE THE TEMPTATION…
quickly that most athletes are now exercising with a phone, increasing their
value as a target.
For the above reasons, we appeal to all athletes to please refrain from exercising
with any sort of valuables:
1. Please leave cell phones at home. Measure a route in your car and then run
it, but please do not run with a phone – not only does this pose a danger to
yourself, but to other athletes as well.
2. Don’t run with iPods or any form of music in your ears. Not only does this
make you a target, due to the value of the iPod, but you also can’t hear traffic
or thugs approaching you. (Safety in traffic is why ASA doesn’t allow the use
of any music players at official races).
3. Take all jewellery off before your run or walk.
4. Try not to exercise alone, irrespective of the time of day or the route that you
follow. (Many of these attacks have occurred on busy roads in broad daylight,
so always try to train with at least a small group.)
The past few weeks have seen a dramatic spike in runners and walkers being
attacked while out exercising on the roads. From reports that I have been receiving,
there appear to be on average four or more such attacks per day, and their
occurrence is increasing. (I’m sure many such attacks are not actually reported,
making this figure conservative.) While we can all speculate as to the reasons for
this dramatic spike, those in the know point to a few reasons:
• The lockdown has resulted in many people exercising by themselves, or in
very small groups, making for easy targets.
• Many athletes now exercise with an expensive cell phone, in no small part
due to the spike in virtual races requiring members to download an app on
their phone with which to record their run/walk. Word is clearly spreading
By following the above steps, not only will you substantially decrease your chances
of being targeted, but in time you will help to influence others on the road, thereby
reducing overall attacks on runners and walkers, as word will quickly spread that
runners and walkers are “low value targets.” Sadly, the opposite is happening
at the moment. Please play your part in creating a safe environment in which to
exercise, and please pass this message on to all your running and walking buddies.
– Matthew Grossett, Johannesburg
Safety on our roads and trails has always been a concern in South Africa, so it’s
frightening to think attacks on runners are actually increasing now! When lockdown
rules for exercising said everyone must run alone, I immediately told all I lnow to
make plans to run together, even if just within sight of each other, because running
alone is unfortunately too risky. Many will want to keep their ohones on them, in
case of emergencies, but at least try to conceal them well. – Ed.
Images: Pexels
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ISSUE 132 JULY 2020 / www.modernathlete.co.za