A brutal daylight assault on a female jogger serves as a stark reminder that safety vigilance is essential for all runners, whether pounding city pavements or country tracks.

The shocking attack on a 59-year-old woman on Canberra's Centenary Trail has sent ripples through Australia's running community, highlighting that even in our safest cities, danger can strike without warning.

The victim was grabbed from behind by a 15-year-old boy while jogging at Oak Hill in Bonner at 10:15am on Monday. Police say the teenager choked and struck the woman before stealing her mobile phone, leaving her with minor injuries but significant trauma.

ACT Police Detective Acting Superintendent Anthony Brown described the incident as "horrible" and "very traumatic", though he emphasised such attacks remain rare in the nation's capital.

"Canberra is very safe — most of the time our cities and trails are very safe," Detective Acting Superintendent Brown said. "We do remind people that they do need to stay vigilant."

The attack follows another incident in March where a female runner was grabbed from behind at Tuggeranong Hill but managed to break free.

These incidents have prompted soul-searching within the running community, with many women now joining group runs for safety.

Trail runner and exercise physiologist Kirra Rankin said the attacks had discouraged some women from running outdoors altogether.

"It is pretty disheartening," Ms Rankin said. "I know a lot of women do feel unsafe going on the trails."

Running festival manager Melitta Bingley said it was "incredibly worrying" that female runners now felt compelled to exercise such caution.

"As women, we have to consider time of day, how remote we could be — things like: Do we have mobile coverage where we're running?" she said.

The safety concerns extend beyond Canberra's borders. Whether running through Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne's Yarra trails, or remote country paths, joggers across Australia face similar risks that require the same vigilance.

Safety experts recommend:

Carrying a mobile phone at all times

Varying running routes and times to avoid predictable patterns

Running in well-lit, populated areas when possible

Joining running groups for added security

Staying alert to surroundings, particularly avoiding headphones in both ears

Informing others of planned routes and expected return times

The Canberra running community has responded with solidarity, organising group runs to "take back the track". As one runner noted, the freedom to run safely should be a basic right, not a privilege.

While violent attacks on joggers remain statistically rare, this incident serves as a sobering reminder that personal safety must remain a priority for all runners, regardless of location or time of day.

The 15-year-old offender has been charged with multiple offences including assault, robbery and acts of indecency without consent.