Last July, one of the members of the Snider High School cross country team was out for a mid-morning run when a strange man attacked her in her own neighborhood in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The frightened teenager managed to escape then run back home, but was understandably shaken after the alarming incident.
“Unfortunately, it can be dangerous to run alone in certain areas,” said Snider High cross country coach Lynn Atlevogt. “Then you add in variables like being tired, having headphones on and being distracted while running and it can be dangerous just to be a female.”
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Rather than letting fear get the better of her team, Altevogt took action by enrolling all 15 teenagers in a local self-defense program with a sixth degree black belt at Shuri Ryu Karate Academy in Northeast Indiana.
“Predators will zero in on the most vulnerable target,” she said. “They don't want to make things difficult, so the key is to know what makes things easier and what makes them much tougher on them.”
Since enrolling in the self-defense program, the 15 teens, ranging in age from 14 to 18, have learned how to escape, fight back, and spot a threat when they're out for a run alone. They've also learned to trust their instincts when they're hitting their stride on the street, even in seemingly safe areas.
Keep yourself safe on the run.
“Giving them these tools has not only made them feel more confident and strong,” said Altevogt, adding that her entire team now feels empowered. “It's made them independent. They can feel safe no matter where they go, because they're ready for all of the 'What if's?' We run in safe areas and we keep an eye on everyone, but I want these girls to feel as safe on their own as they do with their team.”
