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“Finish the Run” event planned in Toronto after runner violently assaulted

The event planned for Sunday, Aug. 25 is open to anyone, and will benefit METRAC, an organization to support those affected by gender-based violence

inside the run

On July 20, seven kilometres into a planned 27-km long run, SarahRose Black of Toronto was violently assaulted in broad daylight on Toronto’s Yonge Street, sending her to the emergency room with serious facial injuries. Five weeks later, though still not fully recovered, Black plans to finish that long run, along with friends, fellow runners and supporters in the fight against gender-based violence.

Black along with her run club (ChixRunthe6ix), and several family members and friends are planning an event entitled “Finish the Run” for Sunday, Aug. 25, which will include a 20-km run, starting at 8 a.m. at Yonge and North York Blvd. and ending at Oliver Coffee Bar on Pape Ave., with a post-run party from 10:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. All are welcome, and supporters are asked to make a donation to METRAC, an organization that helps women, youth, neighbours, students and co-workers build safer communities and prevent violence, harassment and discrimination.  

SarahRose Black
SarahRose Black at the 2023 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Photo: Courtesy of SarahRose Black

In describing what happened to her, Black, a Toronto psychotherapist and music therapist, said she thought  she was taking all the appropriate precautions: “My husband knew where I was going and what time I’d be back, I was running in daylight on a busy street, there were lots of people around and it was a route I’d taken countless times,” she says. “But there was really nothing I could have done.” 

Sadly, this was not the first time a Chix member has experienced violent assault while running in Toronto; its leader, Amanda Richardson, had a similar experience in 2021 while running in Riverdale Park. And in a similar way, the group rallied and created an event, Take Back the Track, to finish the workout and to raise awareness around safety. “This is a big issue,” Richardson said at the time, “and we just want to be able to go out for a run and feel safe.” 

In fact, Richardson was the next person, after her husband, that Black called after the assault: “I felt the need to reach out to her, because I knew she had experienced violence on the run also,” Black says. “She was fantastic–she let the group know, and support came flooding in.

“Women on the run experience the world differently, because we have to be aware of our safety,” Black says. “Whether it’s verbal aggression or physical violence, none of it is OK.”

Once again, the details: the 20-km run starts at 8 a.m. at Yonge and North York Blvd. and everyone is welcome (for all or part of the run). A donation of $27 (or pay what you can) to METRAC is requested, here

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