Australian Race Memorializes Athlete’s Escape from Police

The Ben Cousins Biathlon could turn out to be the ultimate hash run.

Ben Cousins is an Australian footballer. In February 2006, he was driving along a road in Perth with his girlfriend when he stumbled upon a police sobriety checkpoint. His reaction is the stuff of legend.

Cousins abandoned his vehicle and his girlfriend in the middle of the road, ran through backyards, jumped fences, and decided his best avenue of escape was to cross the Canning River. He swam halfway, thought better of it, and reversed course. Once again on dry land, he ran a considerable distance to the Blue Water Grill, where he denied his identity and demanded a phone call.

On the fifth anniversary of his bolt to freedom, racers will reenact his feat – an achievement much like that of Pheidippides. Organizers are searching for home owners who will allow runners to use their backyards for the fence-jumping portions.

“I saw the humour in some of the things he did,” said race organizer Damon Bull.