Hey, runners: Be safe out there

A woman running on the Greenway on the western edge of uptown Charlotte was the victim of an attempted sexual assault Sunday.

According to police, the woman was using the path near Morehead and Calvert streets at about 9:30 a.m. when she heard a man calling for help. When she went behind a nearby building to investigate, the man -- who police said was armed -- reportedly grabbed the woman and commented that "he had seen her running on a previous day." The victim, fortunately, was able to fight off the man and seek help.

In a statement, CMPD Officer C.J. Pierce offered these tips: "[It's] a good idea to run/walk with someone. Also ... change up your route so that a person can't predict your daily routine."

Coincidentally, Run For Your Life's University location is hosting a FREE Running Safety and Self-Defense Clinic from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday. The course will cover safety tips, advice and a Q&A session with two officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (who are runners themselves). Also, instructors from King Tiger Charlotte -- a local Tae Kwon Do studio -- will teach participants some basic self-defense. For details, call 704-503-1105.