Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 56, March 2014 | Page 29

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Safety First!
South Africa is known for its great
roads and trails, which make running
and cycling so enjoyable, but sadly,
the ever-rising crime rate means that
those roads and trails aren’t always
safe, as Susan Hurter and Jenny
Hibbert can tell you. However, there
are simple but effective precautions us
ladies can take to avoid becoming a
victim of crime while out doing what
we love. – BY NICOLE DE VILLIERS

usan Hurter is well
known in 1000km Challenge
circles for running every
race on the calendar while
chasing race mileage, and
in 2007 she was well on
her way in the Washie 100
Miler when she was suddenly
attacked. “I was 76km into the
race, running in the dark through the
early hours of the morning, when a man grabbed
me, clamped his hand over my mouth and started
dragging me across the road. I lost my balance and
as I did so, the attacker’s hand slipped from my
mouth, so I screamed. The attacker kept shouting at
me to shut up and turn off my headlamp, which he
eventually smashed,” says Susan.
“Thankfully, help arrived quickly and the attacker
ran away, but I was so disorientated, and it was only
when my husband arrived that I calmed down. Then
came the hard decision: Whether to abort the race
or push through to the end. When fellow runner
Stuart Wainwright arrived at the scene, his words
inspired me: ‘No-one will blame you if you give up,
but no-one will ever forget you if you finish this
race.’ I managed to finish the race in the overall 11th
position.”

Simple Safety Tips
SAFETY IN
NUMBERS

You don’t have to lock yourself
away and never hit the roads or
trails again, because simple but
effective safety precautions can
make it much safer to still train or
compete.

Jenny Hibbert was training
for the Momentum 94.7 cycling
race when she became a victim of
an attack during a training ride in the Cradle of Mankind
conservancy. “About 60km in, our group headed up a
steep hill where the stronger riders broke away and the
slower riders slipped to the back. I was somewhere in
the middle, on my own, when I cycled past a young man
standing on the side of the road with an old blue racing
bike. I greeted him and carried on pedalling, but the
next thing I felt someone grab my bum, and as I turned
around it was this fella on his bike,” says Jenny.

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“He then grabbed my bike seat and stopped me, threw
his bike down and had himself exposed to me! He was
trying to pull me towards the side of the road, but I
managed to pick up my bike and shield myself, and
then screamed my lungs out, which drew the attention
of the cyclists up ahead. When the man saw everyone
turning around, he fled. Sadly, he has been flashing and
harassing many ladies on their training rides and has
never been caught.”

4.

To their credit, neither Susan nor Jenny has let their
frightening experience stop them from participating in
the sports they love. However, not all athletes are as
lucky to escape unharmed, and the best advice remains
to always do everything you can to be as safe as possible
out there.

7.

WIN WITH

5.
6.

Run with pepper spray or a
whistle.
Don’t wear jewelry or carry
money, as this will attract an
attacker.
Exercise in familiar areas,
and avoid unpopulated areas,
deserted streets and overgrown
trails.
Always tell a family member or
friend where you are going and
when you will return.
Vary your route. That way, a
potential attacker won’t get to
know your routine.
Stay alert and listen to your
surroundings – the more aware
you are, the less vulnerable you
are.
Trust your intuition: If you are
unsure about an area, leave
immediately. If you think you
are being followed, change
direction.

Images: Courtesy Flickr, Susan Hurter & Jenny Hibbert

S

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TS MA 225mmx75mm FC.indd 1

2013/08/15 12:21 PM