A British ultramarathon runner was forced to abandon one of the nation's toughest races after event organisers received direct threats to her life, linked to her charitable work rescuing women and girls from Afghanistan.
Race Abandoned Amid Serious Security Fears
Sarah Porter was a third of the way through the gruelling 108-mile Montane Winter Spine Challenger South endurance race when officials made the "difficult decision" to withdraw her on Saturday the 10th of January. The decision followed what Ms Porter described as "very serious threats" which talked of executing her.
"I got a message saying there are threats coming in, and it's quite dangerous and they're talking about executing you," Ms Porter told the Daily Mirror. "I burst into tears." The threats were related to the foundation she was fundraising for, which supports women and girls in war zones.
A Legacy of Rescue Work Draws Taliban Ire
The runner has been a target for Taliban fighters since 2021, after she helped rescue 54 girls and women from the Afghan capital Kabul following its capture by the militant group. A risk assessment conducted before the race, which sees runners tracked online across remote UK moorland, had initially deemed it safe for her to participate.
However, the situation changed dramatically during the event. Organisers disabled her tracking device and notified her that the threat level had escalated. After consulting with her security team at the race's second checkpoint, everyone agreed that removing her from the course was the only safe solution.
Determination Amid Disappointment
Speaking to the Guardian, Ms Porter revealed her initial feeling was one of shame. "I really felt like I'd let down the girls that I was running for," she said. The amateur runner, however, holds no ill will towards the race organisers, stating she "can't do anything but respect them for the way that they dealt with things."
This experience has only strengthened her resolve. The incident has "made [her] more determined to carry on and continue doing [future races]." Her GoFundMe page remains open and has so far raised more than £50,000 for her cause.
In a statement, the organisers of the Montane Spine Race, which traverses the Pennine Way from Edale in Derbyshire to Hawes in North Yorkshire, confirmed the action was taken due to a "personal safety threat." They emphasised that the safety of all participants is their primary concern and they have been working with the relevant authorities, believing there is no wider threat to others on the course.
