COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE
Marathon icon Switzer’s DNA in perfume
Fun Fact: Equinox has a fragrance made with real DNA from the legendary runner Kathrine Switzer and it’s on display in its Franklin Street gym.
Switzer’s claim to fame comes from being the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an accidentally numbered entry. During the 1967 race, Marathon official Jock Semple attempted to stop her mid-run and tried to tear off her bib, but Switzer’s thenboyfriend Thomas Miller pushed him away in what would be one of the most iconic photos in marathon history.
Flash forward to today, and Switzer’s actual blood, sweat and tears are now a part of the blush-colored concoction currently located in our Financial District. The mixture isn’t hiding anything, going by the apt name of Eau de Blood, Sweat & Tears. And despite being deemed a fragrance, it’s oddly odorless ... which could actually be considered a pro given its B.O. potential.
If you’re thinking, “Ew, that has to be a biohazard,” know that our minds went there, too. But worry not: The fragrance underwent an approval process with the FDA, so Switzer’s bodily fluids don’t pose a threat to anyone.
Eau de Blood, Sweat & Tears is just part of Equinox’s The Commitment Collection, which is in line with its Commit to Something campaign that’s been going three years strong. The collection contains an assortment of luxury apparel and accessory items crafted from real-life commitments made by inspirational people and organizations.
Its collection also contains items like The Truth Lipstick, made from ink from The Washington, and The Law Suit, assembled from case files belonging to lawyer James Thornton, founder of ClientEarth.
All of the items will be up for auction — kind of — throughout the year, with proceeds benefiting specific charities that are relevant to each piece and its meaning. There is a catch, though. The highest bidder doesn’t get to physically own the items because money can’t buy commitment.
So deep.