I love the story of Kathrine Switzer and wanted to share it with you all, for those of you who don’t know who she is.
Kathrine Switzer is known as being the first women to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry. In 1967, she signed up under the name K. V. Switzer under entry number 261 with Syracuse Harriers athletic club.
During the race, when it was realised she was a woman by race officials, one tried to physically remove her from the race. Her boyfriend shoved him out of the way. Photographs of this incident made headlines around the world.
After this, she then realised that she had to finish this marathon to prove women could do it.
5 years later, women were officially allowed to run the Boston Marathon.
I’ve never heard of her, but she’s so inspirational! I love everything that has to do with feminism and the movement. xx
I’ve never heard this story before but wow – I never even knew women at one point were not allowed to run! That’s just unbelievable! Good on her and her boyfriend for fending him off and supporting her!
Fascinating! I’ll have to remember her every time I do an event run now!
Sarah 🙂
I did not know you had a fitness blog until now! So glad I found it!
And, she seems like such an inspirational woman. Glad I got read about her.
Eena