Knoxville, Tenn. (WATE) – After a Memphis teacher goes missing in a possible kidnapping while jogging, Knoxville runners share tips on how to be safe when exercising at the outside.
Memphis police are now looking for 34-year-old teacher Eliza Fletcher after she went for a run on Friday morning and was possibly abducted. It was reported that she was forced into an SUV and taken away.
We asked Knoxville running clubs about what steps you can take while running.
Kristy Altman is a running coach for kids and an avid runner herself.
“It doesn’t happen very often. Really in our area, our greenways are safe, our roads are safe, we have a lot of officers looking for what’s going on,” Altman said. “So we don’t have this kind of incident here very often. We don’t see it very often across the country, but when we do see it, it’s a great reminder of some things we can do to keep ourselves safe while running.
Altman said she takes her kids to the local parks and greenways all around Knoxville to run.
“Our kids come here a few nights a week to come and practice,” she said as she stood at Lakeshore Park. “We always have adults with them, we always keep an eye on them, we count them as they take off, we count them as they come back.”
She added that it is best to run in groups of two or more. If you find yourself running alone, you need to make sure someone is aware and aware of your surroundings.
“It’s always good to have someone who knows where you are and how long you’re going to be there when you go for a run.”
“I like the music when I run but I never run with two headphones, always just one. That way I can hear what’s going on,” Altman said. “Keep your head up. Make sure you are looking around, that your head is on a pivot, that you can always see what is going on around you, that you can always make eye contact.
Knoxville also offers several running groups that you can join, regardless of your skill level. You can find a list here.
The search for Memphis jogger Eliza Fletcher, 34, continues.
We will keep you updated on the investigation into his disappearance on air and on wate.com.
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