WORCESTER, Mass. - Local runners came together in Worcester Thursday night to honor the life of Eliza Fletcher, a Tennessee teacher who was abducted and killed while on an early morning run earlier this month.

Participants wore pink shirts and shorts, which was the outfit Fletcher wore when she was abducted on September 2. 

The runners paying tribute to Fletcher said it was important for them to finish her run and bring attention to some of the dangers they say they face while running every day.

"When you run, you run for your goodness, your spirit, to feel better," said Andy Sieracki of Central Mass Striders, the running group which organized the event. "Going out on a run and having something happen to you is the furthest thing from your mind when we go on these runs and we don't even think about that, we don't want that. She was doing everything right, so it meant a lot to me to participate in this run today and to show our support for her and her family."

The event was part of a year-round running tradition with Central Mass Striders. The group runs a family-friendly 5k every Thursday night.