Four female runners tragically murdered in Kenya: ‘Athletes are no longer safe.’
Perhaps you run without a sound, forego headphones, or use just one earbud to enjoy your music while staying alert to nearby footsteps. Maybe you stick to populated routes, schedule your runs to finish before sunset, or avoid forest trails altogether. You might even share your GPS location with a trusted friend or loved one so they can track your whereabouts.
How do you prepare for a run outdoors? Running has arguably never been more popular, with record-breaking race participation, 4.7 million #running posts on TikTok, and a 34% surge in sales for elite running brand Hoka this year.
However, for many women in the sport, there’s an underlying fear that they could become the next Laken Hope Riley, Eliza Fletcher, or Mollie Tibbetts—women tragically killed during or after their runs in the U.S. Tragically, a new name has been added to this growing list: Alyssa Lokits.
“Alyssa was the best of us,” reads the obituary for the 34-year-old, who was killed on October 14 in Nashville, Tennessee. “Always poised, graceful, and beautiful, she was everyone’s champion.”