Boston Runner, Age 78, Knocked Down By Blast, Finishes Race
April 17th, 2013
- Photo: The Boston Globe, John Tlumacki
The attention of the world has turned to those suffering from the tragic bombing at this year’s Boston Marathon. However, most of the focus has been on the act of violence that took place. Whenever evil shows its face, heroism and acts of goodness flourish in response. Boston Marathon participants exemplified this in numerous ways — too many, in fact, to name comprehensively in just this entry.
There were some unique stories of heroism and resilience. The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that 78-year-old runner Bill Iffrig, depicted in the above photo, embodied unmatched perseverance when, after being knocked down by the bomb blast, he rose to his feet and continued running across the finish line. After noticing the horrific injuries suffered by victims, other runners continued their treks an additional mile and a half, crossing the finish line and running on to the hospital to donate blood. When a small number of rotten souls commit acts of evil, exponential numbers of good people rise up in response. Check out the ESPN interview with Bill Iffrig below, and let’s talk healing and heroism after the jump.
Fittingly, Many Boston Marathon Runners Displayed Both Heroism and Extraordinary Physical Fitness
Bill Iffrig’s refusal to stop his run even after being knocked over by a bomb at 78 years of age metaphorically represents the healing process currently in progress for many victims, witnesses, their family members, and people in the local community. His extraordinary physical fitness and strength serve as a symbol for American resilience in the face of adversity and tragedy.
However, other runners also demonstrated fitness and heroism by continuing their runs almost two miles past the finish line to donate blood at Mass General Hospital. Marathon running puts the human body under enormous strain. Finishing a marathon brings most runners to the brink of total exhaustion, and the Boston Marathon is one of the most competitive races around. These marathon running blood donors had to be fed and hydrated via intravenous injection while giving blood due to their depleted physical state. In the end, Mass General Hospital had more donors than necessary.
Heroes Ran Towards the Blast
Right after the blast hit, many people nearby saw the carnage and destruction and, rather than fleeing, charged towards the blast site, risking their own lives. No one knew if there might be an additional blast. No one at that point even knew why or how it happened. There wasn’t time to think. People were bleeding and missing limbs, and some good people can’t stand by idly while that happens, even if there are potential dangers.
In fact, police officers and rescue personnel were not the only people rushing to aid those fallen. Regular folks from all walks of life became heroes on that day.
After mass tragedies like these, some will exclaim that they’ve lost faith in humanity. However, when evil strikes, the goodness of humanity shines through. At the Boston Marathon, there were too many heroes to name them all in one place.
In the end, good prevails over evil.
Find out where you can see Silver Circle by checking our theater and special screening schedule on -->our event page -->.
