Ten years ago, a young woman named Citlalli set out for a simple Saturday run in Iowa. She was 21, excited about an engineering internship, and training for her first marathon. However, that run nearly ended her life.
In October 2014, she ran through a quiet park filled with falling leaves and crisp air. She felt peaceful. But everything changed when a man with a knife attacked her without warning.
“He got my face, my neck, and my arm,” she remembered. “There was so much blood, I couldn’t see.”
Fighting to survive, she ran through unfamiliar trails, dialing 911 with shaky hands. Eventually, two female runners found her and stayed with her until help arrived. She didn’t believe they were women at first.
“They wore beanies. But then one took hers off, and her curly hair fell out — that’s when I knew,” she said.
Though she completed a half marathon just two months later, Citlalli stopped running. Fear took over. She told herself, “If no one sees me, no one can hurt me.” That became her silent mantra for years.
Each run after the attack felt heavy. Her legs moved, but her mind froze in fear. “My body could run. My brain couldn’t,” she said.
Still, over time, her inner voice began to shift. She started telling herself, “I’m alive. I’m kind. I’m brave.” Slowly, healing began. She runs with power now.
In 2024, nearing the ten-year anniversary of the attack, Citlalli discovered the Every Woman’s Marathon. Designed by women, for women, it felt like the right place to reclaim her strength. “This is the one,” she said.
Supported by her mother and a Charlotte running club, she trained hard and crossed the finish line. Her mother waited at the end. Marathon legend Kathrine Switzer placed a medal around her neck.
“It felt like fireworks. Like closure,” she said, smiling. She runs with power now.
During her training, she called her mom during anxious runs. “I wasn’t scared anymore. I just wanted to talk,” she said.
Citlalli found comfort in Charlotte’s women-led running clubs. “They let you show up as you are,” she explained. These safe spaces reminded her she belonged.
Now, she runs to inspire other women and to honor her younger self. “We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere,” she declared. She runs with power now.
However, she knows many women still feel unsafe. “We shouldn’t need alarms or mapped routes just to go for a run,” she said. “The issue isn’t just one man. It’s a culture that tells women to protect themselves.”
For Citlalli, the focus wasn’t winning. It was about reclaiming joy and running with the people who lifted her up. “It wasn’t about speed. It was about love and strength,” she said.
Today, Citlalli continues to share her story. Not just about surviving, but about choosing strength over fear.
For more updates on this story, visit DC Brief.
