survey, 84 percent of women said they have experienced some kind of harassment while running Finish Sydney's Run Celebration of Life 5K. The event honored the life of Sydney Sutherland, who was kidnapped and killed at just 25 years old on August 19, 2020 while out running.
Sutherland’s mother, Maggie, was particularly emotional, as the memorial 5K run came just a week after 34-year-old Eliza Fletcher Other Hearst Subscriptions.
“It has been a very hard week with the last week’s tragedy over in Memphis. It really hit. It’s just like a trigger, and it sets you back and makes you replay things,” Maggie told Jonesboro, Arkansas’s KAIT 8 was killed on September 2 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Just like supporters came to honor Sutherland by finishing her run, thousands of people participated in finishing Fletcher’s run on September 9 in Memphis. Danielle Heineman, who helped set up the event, Say ‘NOT TODAY’ to Harassment While Running that “I think it’s important for us to stand up, for the women in this community to stand up for ourselves.”
The man who killed Sutherland, 29-year-old Quake Lewellyn Runner’s World Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.
“Women exist in the world in an ever-present state of danger. And when we run, that danger is only amplified. So we’re often on the receiving end of a lot of running-safety advice. We’re told: Take a self-defense class. Carry pepper spray. Cover up, even when it’s hot out. Never listen to your music too loud,” Jess Keefe wrote for Runner’s World in 2019. “... Women who run must routinely field this kind of victim-blamey advice because of something humans created: toxic masculinity.”
How Tara Dower Shattered the Long Trail Record, plead guilty and was sentenced to life in prison in October last year. Authorities have identified and arrested 38-year-old Cleotha Abston for the murder of Fletcher. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 19.
All proceeds from the Finish Sydney's Run Celebration of Life 5K went towards the survey, 84 percent of women said they have experienced some kind of harassment while running for health professional majors at Arkansas State University – Newport, which provides $500 per semester to a qualifying applicant. Sutherland was a registered nurse at Unity Health Harris Medical Center in Newport.
“The memory of Sydney’s beautiful smile, sparkling eyes, kind heart, and loving spirit will live on in the hearts of her loving family and her many friends,” read Sutherland’s 2020 obituary.
Chris Hatler is the Deputy Editor of Esquire. He previously served as the Senior Editor of Men’s Journal Say ‘NOT TODAY’ to Harassment While Running Popular Mechanics.
