My first case here was, sadly, the Mollie Tibbetts case. It, too, involved a woman running, and I have many thoughts on both as a runner myself.
Every runner I know is a creature of habit. We wear specific things, have certain pre-run habits and follow the same paths.
I want to know when she ate and how much/what. Running her usual 3.1 miles would not require much energy or sustenance- I can easily do it in the morning before bfast- so I would doubt she ate much right before the run. If she did eat a lot around 1:00, she was possibly playing the piano to let her lunch settle. I also totally disagree with the idea that she would pop to a taverna for food right before she ran, esp. in that heat.
Much has been made about the heat, but 80 degrees plus is not a big deal for a seasoned runner. Waiting till 5:00 would not usually drop the temp much, and we daily runners have to get it in when we can, context be damned. Having run the previous two days, she would know what she was dealing with.
As she had been to that conference before, I would imagine she had a set route of her preferred distance. Her runs the two days before could also have established this route. This would allow her to run w/out a phone. Run to your turnaround point and come back. Easy and mindless. This would, unfortunately, make her moves predictable to anyone watching.
I believe she intended to set out on her usual route- but what confuses me is the mileage. Her family has said that she usually did about 3 total. Running 3 to Afrata and then turning back for a total of 6 doesn’t fit with her daily routine or the day’s time frame with sessions resuming at 6:00. I’d like to know her usual pace. It’s possible to do 6, of course, but her average pace would be useful.
I also disagree with her taking a ride. If she did, I believe it would absolutely have to be with someone she really knew. She was a brilliant woman, and we female runners are always on super high alert. No chance she willingly took a ride from a stranger, even if she was injured (which has not been indicated).
SE’s family said she did not usually run with headphones or a watch, so no music. That automatically makes her more alert and aware of her surroundings. That likely helped with the defense and her ability to get DNA from the perp. She must’ve heard them coming, if they got her from behind.
With the Mollie case, I felt strongly that she was just attacked while running, and I allowed myself to be swayed by other theories. I don’t think this was ISIS or some Mafia shepherds- I think it was some depraved individual who saw her alone and attacked. JMHO