On my 20 mile training run I listened to the Another Mother Runner podcast #101 with Kathryn Switzer. What an amazing story she told! She is the first woman to run the Boston Marathon. She is a professional journalist, speaker and commentator, and has several books Marathon Woman, 26.2 Marathon Stories and Running and Walking for Women Over 40. I have not read any of her books yet but they are next on my list.
She is most famous for running the Boston Marathon 45 years ago, when she officially entered what was considered to be a men’s only race. This is my first time seeing this image, but this was a very famous image of her running the Boston marathon and being attached by the race director for officially wearing a bib during the race. Her boyfriend protected her and she continued to run and finish the race.
In 1974 she won the New York City Marathon and in 1975 Kathryn finished second in the Boston Marathon with a finish time of 2:51:33.
Her most recent work is the 261 Fearless Women’s Marathon which took place on March 30, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. Bib number 261 was her 1967 Boston Marathon bib number. Women from around the world have been wearing this bib number because it makes them feel fearless in the face of adversity.
Learn more about Kathryn on her website and listen to the podcast, it’s an amazing story!
I can’t get over the RACE DIRECTOR attacking her! When i first saw the image, I was thinking it was a bystander … but someone actually involved with the politics of the race!
You really have to listen to how Kathryn tells the story on the another mother runner podcast. It is amazing!!