Roar Training will be teaching workshops during Runner Safety Awareness week.
January 18-24 is Runner Safety Awareness Week. RSAW will include interviews, panel discussions, and workshops to help you be safer on your runs. This year we’re going virtual, and you can join from anywhere in the world. All events are free.
The events we are hosting are listed below. For a full list of all Runner Safety Awareness Week events click here.
Check back regularly, as new events are added every few days.
Roar Training badass ambassador T.A. Fields practicing her punches at last year’s Runner Safety Awareness Week workshop in NYC. Photo by gconnelie.
Monday, January 18
January 18, 10:00 AM EST: Conversation with Verna Volker of Native Women Running
Julie Morrill will host a conversation with Verna Volker. Verna is an accomplished runner, mom to four, and a paraeducator for special education. Verna founded the Instagram page Native_Women_Running to bring visibility and voice to Native American runners. It has over 16,000 followers. Verna and Native Women Running often bring attention to missing and murdered indigenous women. Indigenous women experience 10 times the rate of violence compared to the national average. Join us for a conversation to learn more about the challenges native women face and what everyone can do to reduce violence against women runners.
Verna Volker. Photo from Women’s Running Magazine.
Tuesday, January 19
January 19, 12:00 PM EST: Conversation with Kelly Herron, “Not Today Motherf@#!er!”
"Not Today Motherf@#!er" was the battle cry Kelly Herron screamed on a Sunday afternoon when she experienced every runner's biggest nightmare. Four miles into her marathon training run, she stopped in a park bathroom, where she was brutally assaulted. Using skills she recently learned in a self-defense class taught by Jordan Giarratano of Fighting Chance Seattle, she fought back and trapped her attacker inside the bathroom until police arrived. Her Instagram post (@run_kiwi_run) showing the frantic GPS lines tracking the assault went viral, attracting global attention. Women around the world were inspired to learn self-defense and fight back - whether it be against assault or even against someone who is underestimating them. Kelly continues to run marathons and encourages others to not let fear stop them from doing the things they love, and to always be prepared for a worst-case scenario by arming themselves with a foundation of self-defense and a warrior mindset. Julie and Kelly will discuss self-defense and what techniques Kelly used to save her life.
Kelly Herron training at last year’s RSAW workshop in NYC. Photo: gconnelie.
January 19, 7:00 PM EST: Conversation with Brook Doire, Granddaughter of Betty Robinson
Roar Training's Julie Morrill will host a conversation with Brook Doire, granddaughter of Elizabeth Robinson and founder of the Traincatcher's Foundation, which maintains the legacy of Elizabeth Robinson. Elizabeth "Betty" Robinson was the first woman ever to win a gold medal in track and field, the 100m in 1928. Betty defied great setbacks to continue competing in track and field. She fought for equality within running and was never afraid to be the first woman at the table. She helped make running more accepted and safer for women. Thanks to Betty, women can find joy in running and competition today.
Betty Robinson in track competition. Photo from Instagram @elizabethbaberobinson.
Wednesday, January 20
January 20, 7:00 PM EST: Conversation with Kara Goucher
Julie Morrill will host a conversation with Kara Goucher. Kara is an American distance runner and former Olympian. She advocates for sport that is free of doping through her work with the Clean Sport Collective and serves as co-host of the Clean Sport Collective podcast. Kara also hosts running retreats for women and teen girls, offering sisterhood and education to help everyone love the sport of running and be their best selves. Kara and Julie will talk about making running a safer and healthier sport for female athletes.
Kara leading a track workout at her 2019 Podium Retreat. Photo credit: Laralyn Barhydt.
Thursday, January 21
January 21, 12:00 PM EST: Conversation with Liz Anjos, aka “Mercury”
Liz Anjos (aka “Mercury”) is a distance runner and musician hailing from Portland, Oregon. She co-founded the running team and nonprofit Rose City Track Club and coaches individual runners. She’s a classical pianist and spent five years touring nationally and internationally as a keyboardist and singer with the indie pop act RAC. In early 2020, Liz set a slew of FKTs (fastest known times) on local trails in Oregon, and in the summer of 2020 Liz set the FKT northbound for women on the Appalachian Trail. Liz will talk about the safety preparations she made for her 2020 Appalachian Trail run.
Mercury on the AT. Photo by Nate Nieri.
Friday, January 22
January 22, 7:00 PM EST: Runner Safety Workshop
Exercising alone outdoors? Running in the dark? Don't let fear of being attacked stop you from enjoying your time outside!
Almost daily the media report stories of violent physical attacks on runners. Those who fight back are more likely to get away, yet without some form of training it’s hard to know what to do. Join self-defense instructors Julie Morrill and Jennifer Finkle for an online workshop on personal safety where you will learn how to fight back. The training will include safety tips, scenario discussions, and some empowering self-defense techniques. Bring your sense of humor and sense of adventure.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN IN THIS COURSE?
How to respond to violent situations;
Basic tools for fighting back, including: The ideal stance to help maintain your balance and get away; basic moves: punches, kicks, elbows, and knees.
Defending against common attacks, such as: wrist grabs, bear hugs, and being pushed to the ground.
ZOOM Link will be sent to you upon registration.
Sunday, January 24
January 24, 4:00 PM EST: Runner Safety Workshop
Exercising alone outdoors? Running in the dark? Don't let fear of being attacked stop you from enjoying your time outside!
Almost daily the media report stories of violent physical attacks on runners. Those who fight back are more likely to get away, yet without some form of training it’s hard to know what to do. Join self-defense instructors Julie Morrill and Rebecca Tolkoff for an online workshop on personal safety where you will learn how to fight back. The training will include safety tips, scenario discussions, and some empowering self-defense techniques. Bring your sense of humor and sense of adventure.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN IN THIS COURSE?
How to respond to violent situations;
Basic tools for fighting back, including: The ideal stance to help maintain your balance and get away; basic moves: punches, kicks, elbows, and knees.
Defending against common attacks, such as: wrist grabs, bear hugs, and being pushed to the ground.
ZOOM Link will be sent to you upon registration.