Episode 29: Women's running safety with Jen Goff, Heather Pulliam, Julie Day

The murders of runners Mollie Tibbetts in Iowa during the summer and Wendy Martinez in Washington in September weigh on the minds of female runners across the nation. But safety during a run is paramount for women on a daily basis, particularly those who have experienced incidents here at home. "To have to think about 'Do I have this?' when I leave the house to make sure I'm safe – it's a hindrance," Reidsville runner Heather Pulliam says. "You can walk out and just go," she tells a male journalist and runner. "But we can't. We have to be ready. ... You've got to be able to take care of yourself, and we have to think about these things so that we don't become the victims." Fleet Feet Sports in Greensboro will host a "Run Safe, Run Happy" clinic at 6 p.m. Monday. Greensboro Police Department officer Chris Zimmer, a runner, will speak, then the group will go on a 3-mile run-walk about 6:20 p.m. before returning for a self-defense presentation. The event, at 3731 Lawndale Dr. in Greensboro, is free, and men and women are invited. As a preview, Pulliam, Fleet Feet Sports coach Jen Goff and Julie Day join me for a new episode of The Running Shorts Show, where they discuss their experiences and share tips about safety and gear that they find helpful.