Woman Uses Self-Defense to Save in Assault

Kelly Herron took a self-defense class three weeks ago, just in case anything were to happen to her. She never thought she would have to use those skills so soon.Just a few miles into her 10-mile run, Kelly stopped to use a public restroom. As she was drying her hands, she froze, and knew something was very, very wrong.A man, later identified as registered sex offender Gary Steiner, was standing behind her. When she turned around, he proceeded to assault her.On the floor of the restroom, Kelly remembered the self-defense that she had learned just a few weeks ago. She began screaming and fighting back viciously."I just kept screaming, 'not today m***** f*****,'" she said. It became a battle cry for her. She knew to put hard bones in the soft, fleshy places of the body. She knew not to make it a fair fight. Eventually, she was able to break free.A passerby happened to have a carabiner with them that they used to lock Steiner in the bathroom until the police arrived. He now faces charges of attempted rape and assault.Kelly hopes that her experience will help other women to realize the importance of knowing how to fight back, just in case.

My biggest running nightmare became reality- 4 miles into my long run Sunday afternoon, I stopped to use the restroom and was assaulted by a man hiding in a stall (that is my GPS in red lines). I fought for my life screaming("Not today, M**F**er!"), clawing his face, punching back, and desperately trying to escape his grip- never giving up. I was able to lock him in the bathroom until police arrived. Thankfully I just took a self-defense class offered at my work and utilized all of it. My face is stitched, my body is bruised, but my spirit is intact. #fightingchanceseattle #ballard #runnersafety #marathontraining #womensselfdefense #myballard #fightlikeagirl #fightback #dontbeavictim #nottodaymotherfucker #youcantbreakme #instarunners #garmin #garminvivosmarthr

A post shared by Kelly Herron (@run_kiwi_run) on Mar 6, 2017 at 10:48am PST

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTZhJon_B3o