Celebrating Running Pioneer: Kathrine Switzer
Celebrating the Early Women Pioneers of Long Distance Running
KV Switzer – 261 Fearless
Running History: April 19, 1967
Kathrine Switzer becomes the second female to run the Boston Marathon. She was the first to run with a race number 261. She would run a world class time of 2:51:37 eight years later for a second place finish at the 1975 Boston Marathon, on this day her time was 4:20.
Kathrine retold the story of her groundbreaking run in an April 14, 1996 NY Times article “From K.V. Switzer to Girl to Women in the Span of 4 ? Hours” here are some exerts:
“I signed my name with initials, the Boston official Jock Semple thought I was a man and issued me race numbers along with my coach Arnie Brigg and boyfriend Tom Miller. It was a miserable sleeting, 33 degree day, and I dressed in baggy gray sweats. My pre-race jitters dissipated as more and more men approached me with encouragement. At four miles it turned into a nightmare as ferocious Semple grabbed me by the shirt and shoulders, spun me around and screamed, “Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers!” Arnie tried to pull Jock away: “She’s O.K., I’ve trained her.” But Jock was like a terrier, clenched to my shirt: “Stay out of this, Arnie!” Big Tom a 233 pound hammer thrower hit Jock with a flying shoulder block and sent him through the air.
Kathrine was well trained to cover the distance at age 20. She and Arnie Briggs had completed a 31 mile workout three weeks prior to the race.
Some Kathrine Switzer Running Milestones:
1972: First year women officially allowed to race at Boston – 3rd place finish in 3:29:51
1972: Founded along with Nina Kuscsik, and Fred Lebow the first ever women’s road race in the US, the Crazylegs Mini Marathon, 6 miles, Central Park, New York
1974: 5th place Boston Marathon in 3:01:39
1974: 1st place New York City Marathon in3:07:49
1977: Founded and directed the Avon International Running Circuit – These races helped lead the way for the first Women’s Olympic Marathon race in 1984.
1984: ABC-TV Network commentator for the first Women’s Olympic Marathon
1998: Inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame, Utica, NY – Inaugural Class
2015: Established 261 Fearless to empower and unite women through running.
Kathrine Switzer has been a TV commentator for these marathons over the years:
Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, and Los Angles