Peter Sagal, Oak Park resident, running aficionado, and host of WBEZ’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me”, had just passed the finish line at this year’s Boston Marathon along with fellow teammate William Greer when they heard two explosions behind them.
Greer had struggled through the last mile or so of the race, but despite fatigue, Sagal wrote that he had run the last couple blocks of the race “like a man reborn” and crossed the finish line in 4 hours and 4 minutes – just 5 minutes before the explosions occurred.
Despite this uncanny timing, Sagal writes that he did not realize the importance of Greer’s last mile until much later.
Sagal describes his experience from Monday’s tragedy in his column for Runner’s World, which can be found here.
At least 20 runners from Oak Park and three from River Forest also participated in the Boston Marathon according to the marathon’s website.
Guided my man William to a 4:04. A great race. Was a hundred yards beyond line when explosions happened. We’re fine.
— Peter Sagal (@petersagal) April 15, 2013
Note: This article has been updated from a previous version. Peter Sagal is not a “native” of Oak Park, but rather a “resident”. Wednesday Journal regrets this error.
