Girls Fight Back Leader Shares Ways to Stay Safe on the Run
Girls Fight Back CEO Nicole Snell. Photo by Deborah Hart Photography.
By Marnie Kunz
Girls Fight Back leader Nicole Snell has been helping women - and all gender identities - enjoy the outdoors with more confidence thanks to her self-defense teachings. Nicole, a lifelong outdoors lover, grew up running track and field and spent lots of time exploring the desert where she grew up. Nicole’s mission is to empower women and people of all gender identities to gain the confidence and skills to stand up for themselves and fight back.
“The number one thing we can carry with us is the knowledge that we are worth fighting for.”
Nicole sat down for an interview to share her top safety insights for runners and anyone who wants to enjoy the outdoors. Nicole’s confident, knowledgeable techniques are based on her experience with training from IMPACT LA and IMPACT Global (where she is also a lead instructor), Defense Against the Armed Assailant training, FAST defense, and the Girls Fight Back Speaker Academy.
What Is Girls Fight Back?
Nicole became CEO of Girls Fight Back in 2020. Girls Fight Back is a personal safety and empowerment self-defense program for women, girls, and all gender identities. The organization was born in 2001 in response to the murder of college student Shannon McNamara. After Shannon’s death, her friend Erin Weed realized the need for practical and empowering options for young women in college to learn violence prevention and self-defense. Girls Fight Back was born using an empowering attitude, core values, and the best safety and self-defense methods available.
Girls Fight Back offers gender-inclusive programs that are empowering, evidence-based, trauma-informed, and victim-centered.
Nicole teaches violence prevention and self-defense strategies. Photo by Jovelle Tamayo.
Running Safety Questions and Insights
When it comes to running safety, Nicole does not like to give tips, she says, because each situation is different. But having different tools and training can help you assess the situation and decide on the best ways to protect yourself. Being aware of your surroundings and making eye contact with people is one example of practicing safety while hiking and running.
“We do not owe niceness to anybody,” Nicole says. “Do not be afraid to look at someone coming up behind you and make eye contact.”
When people approach you, don’t worry about being polite. Instead, use your intuition to assess situations. Looking behind you is perfectly ok and can be helpful to stay aware of the people around you and let them know you see them.
If you are in a threatening situation, do what you feel is best to protect yourself. That could mean running away, drawing a verbal boundary and telling someone to back off, or yelling to let people know you need help. Nicole urges women to be assertive and set boundaries.
She advocates for women to let go of the outdated idea that speaking out will cause violence. If someone intends to do violence, they will, she explains, but fighting back and setting boundaries can help you escape the situation and protect yourself.
Why You Shouldn’t Yell Fire!
Another outdated tip for women is to yell “Fire!” if you’re being threatened or attacked. Nicole says the best way to yell for help is to be specific and give directions. People are often unaware of what is happening or how to help. Being specific can assist them with helping you.
You may want to shout, “I need help! Call 911!” or “This person is attacking me, help!” or “I don’t know this person! I need help!” You can use your voice as a tool to protect yourself.
Are Self-Defense Tools Worth It?
After a man tried to grab me in Prospect Park once while I was running, I started carrying pepper spray on runs. So I asked Nicole about pepper spray and personal safety devices.
Her insight was helpful and honest - only carry tools you know how to use. Nicole is not an advocate of weapons, as they can be used against you in a confrontation. And your best weapon is yourself.
Nicole teaches that you have everything you need to defend yourself, with tools at your disposal, including non-physical methods - with eye contact, words, gestures- and physical techniques if needed. And above all, having the confidence and assertiveness to defend yourself is the most important.
Nicole’s training includes self-defense techniques for real-world situations. And in the real world, many people do not know how to use their safety devices, she says, so it’s unrealistic to expect to be able to use them correctly only in an emergency when adrenaline is pumping.
When your adrenaline is heightened during a safety threat, your fine motor skills will decrease - such as using your fingers and hands to open, grab, or point something. Instead, she says your large motor skills are heightened in these situations, which can make running away a better option.
Of course, each situation is different, so using your judgment and intuition to assess the best ways to defend yourself is critical.
Is It Ok to Run or Hike Alone?
Yes! So often, we as women hear that you shouldn’t run or hike alone, or you shouldn’t do this, or go here or there. But with some self-defense strategies and your intuition, you can enjoy the outdoors alone, Nicole says. Nicole advocates living your life without apologies and going on adventures. She is a solo backpacker who enjoys camping and trekking around the world.
You Are Worth Fighting For
“The number one thing we can carry with us is the knowledge that we are worth fighting for,” Nicole says.
Learning some self-defense strategies can help build your confidence and empower you to move around the world more comfortably. Whether you’re a trail runner or enjoy hiking, learning ways to prevent violence and escape dangerous situations will help you enjoy your outdoor adventures more.
Nicole leads in-person self-defense training for groups ranging from the Navy to college students. She has public classes in the Los Angeles area and virtual courses. She also has a YouTube channel with lots of helpful strategies tackling everything from camping to confronting an armed person.
To learn more about Girls Fight Back, check out the official website, @girlsfightback Instragam, and the Girls Fight Back Facebook page. To follow Nicole on her adventures, visit @adventuresofnik on Instagram and @nicolesnell_selfdefense on Tik Tok.
Happy running and hiking, Wolf Pack, and take care of yourself! 👊
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Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach based in Brooklyn, a dog lover and Akita mom, and the founder of Runstreet.
