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This is
#elizafletcher
On Friday, she got up and started her day like most. She went out for a run. She was an accomplished, avid, Boston Marathon level runner. She often ran in the morning before work. She’s a teacher. She’s a mother. She’s a wife. She’s every female runner out there.
We often rise before the sun. And start while it’s still dark and some of us finishing while it’s still dark. I don’t run in the city because it’s “not safe”. I drive 12 miles to a trail. It’s usually pretty populated with runners and cyclists. But I still carry a knife. And pepper spray. I keep my music low. I make eye contact with people. I post it to Facebook. I leave a note of what I’m wearing. I have alerts set up in case I stop moving. I go over scenarios in my head. I know I would fight like hell. I take mental notes of places people can hide, where they could jump out, where they could drag me in.
Running should bring peace. It’s my therapy. It clears my head. I do a lot of thinking on my runs. But the past two mornings, my anxiety and fear got the best of me. I didn’t go. I’m halfway through my marathon training cycle, so trust me I need to, but I just couldn’t get out the door. They just posted that they found a body near where the suspect lives. I wanted a good outcome for her and her family, but sadly, it will likely not be the case. I pray for her family, for her little boys, and her husband.
I’m sad and I’m angry that this keeps happening. We all know an Eliza Fletcher. She’s your sister, your mother, your wife, your daughter, your best friend.
Tomorrow, I will put my fear aside, and go for a run. I will start before the sun comes up. My miles tomorrow will be for Eliza. I don’t know what the answer is, but I hope it never happens again.
Sadly the dangers for female runners are real, I have no doubt she knew that, but she ran anyway. And so will I. For her.
#girlswhorun