Former Boston Marathon Champ Urges Atlanta Runners to Keep Going

WABE

April 16th, 2013

Hundreds of Georgia runners participated in the Boston Marathon Monday, where two bombs went off near the finish line. Now some are wondering about security at big races, such as Atlanta’s Peachtree Road Race on July 4.

Atlanta running coach Gayle Barron won the 1978 Boston Marathon. She says she was devastated to hear about the bombings at yesterday’s race.

“This is the only race in the world that you have to qualify for,” Barron says, “So that’s what makes it even sadder is that they tried so hard to win that honor of qualifying for the Boston Marathon and then some of them not being able to complete it, some of them might have gotten injured.”

As the Peachtree Road Race approaches, Barron says she hopes runners won’t let Monday’s events stop them from racing.

“What we need to do is stand firm, be vigilant, pay attention to our surroundings, unfortunately,” she says.

“But, move forward, keep your goals, don’t let somebody or something like this make you stop training for what you want to do so badly.”

Officials with The Atlanta Track Club, which organizes the Peachtree, declined an interview. In a statement, they said safety is their top priority at all of their events.