'Running makes you fearless': Boston Marathon's 1st female runner recalls bombing
In one of America’s most historic racing events, Kathrine Switzer was responsible for one of its most memorable moments.
Fifty-one years ago, Switzer became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, despite nearly being run off the course by a race official.
In a recent interview with Fox News, the running icon reflected on, among other things, another unforgettable moment in the race’s history — but one that was undoubtedly more tragic.
In 2013, the Boston Marathon was upstaged by a bombing near the finish line that killed three people and severely injured many more.
Switzer wasn’t running that day, as she and her husband were at a nearby hotel. But once they realized what was happening, Kathrine immediately wanted to try and help out.
“I wanted to run out and help, even though it was irrational,” she said.
But there was no way to leave, because the hotel was on lockdown. Throughout the rest of the day, Switzer did about 15 interviews with different outlets, as reporters were scrambling to relay information about what was going on to the rest of the world.
“All I could do was relay what I was seeing. I didn’t see any of the horrors, but what I saw was horrible enough,” she said.
Switzer kept getting asked one particular question that day: “Aren’t you afraid?”
But decades of running competitively meant that even in the face of such horrific tragedy, Switzer wasn’t going to give in to fear.
“Running makes you stronger; it makes you fearless,” she said. “Nothing makes up for the sadness and death. But as horrible as it was, running itself is a force for good.”
“Talk about heartened courage,” she said of the the bombing victims, many of whom have continued to run despite their injuries.
“Sometimes tragedy does that; it makes people rise to the occasion,” she added.
Switzer knows a thing or two about running in the face of hardship.
Back in 1967, an official named Jock Semple told her to “get the h— out of my race” and physically tried to stop her from continuing. A photo of that incident has become iconic in the years since.
Katherine Switzer attacked by Boston Marathon official Jock Semple in 1967 for being a woman. 'Get the hell out of my race,' he said pic.twitter.com/eNdphmDi1f
— Comrade Weez (@weezmgk) April 18, 2017
A half-century later, in 2017, Switzer ran the race again, this time in front of a supportive crowd.
How cool is Kathrine Switzer? 50 years after she became the first woman to officially run the #BostonMarathon she ran again #WBZ pic.twitter.com/mD27gCKjos
— Brad Tatum (@BradTatum) April 17, 2017
“Last year was so incredible, I can’t duplicate it,” Switzer said, while indicating that she may want to try again when she’s 80.
We know better than to bet against her.
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