Happy Boston Marathon day! We are excited to share our interview with Kathrine Switzer, an iconic athlete, author, Emmy-award winning broadcaster and advocate for sports and social causes, Ms. Switzer was the first woman to officially register and run the Boston Marathon in 1967. She was attacked in the race by an angry official who tried to rip off her bib number (#261) and throw her out of the race because she was a woman. She finished the 26.2 mile distance anyway and went on win the 1974 New York City Marathon and to champion women in the sport globally, most notably leading the drive to make the women's marathon an official Olympic event in 1984. Now, 58% of all runners in the USA are women. To celebrate this social revolution, and to support another on active aging, Switzer ran the Boston Marathon again, at age 70, on the 50th anniversary of her iconic run, finishing only 24 minutes slower than she did when she was 20. This run launched her non-profit '261 Fearless' --named after that famous bib number--which empowers women globally though running. She has been honored widely for her achievements including being inducted into the USA National Women’s Hall of Fame which recognized her for creating positive social change throughout her storied career.
Show Notes & Links Of Interest
Introduction [00:11]
Interview Begins [03:14]
Autobiography 05:38
Question: Can she introduce herself to our audience? [08:24]
261 Fearless [09:11]
Question: Could you tell us a bit about where you grew up and what your childhood was like? [12:53]
Jasmine Paris [17:08]
Barkley Marathons [17:14]
Question: Could she walk our listeners through her first Boston Marathon day? [19:15]
Jock Semple [23:07]
Title IX [31:19]
Avon Cosmetics [32:27]
First Women's Olympic Marathon [36:19]
Joan Benoit [38:12]
Question: Throughout your career how did you handle extremly hard things? Did you ever consider giving up? [40:13]
Question: Is there a particular accomplishment you are most proud of? [43:24]
Women's Sport Foundation [44:08]
Question: Who were some of your favorite mentors and role models? How did you find them? [45:58]
Margo Fontaine [46:20]
Emil Zadepek [47:24]
Roger Robinson [48:34]
Question: What advice would you give to a young woman as she is starting our her career? [49:02]
Question: How does she feel about the phrase "Empowered women empower women"? [52:04]
Question: One one quality or trait do you think that young women should embrace? [54:43]
Wrap Up: [59:49]
Kathrine Switzer’s BIO
An iconic athlete, author, Emmy-award winning broadcaster and advocate for sports and social causes, Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially register and run the Boston Marathon in 1967. She was attacked in the race by an angry official who tried to rip off her bib number (#261) and throw her out of the race because she was a woman. She finished the 26.2 mile distance anyway and went on win the 1974 New York City Marathon and to champion women in the sport globally, most notably leading the drive to make the women's marathon an official Olympic event in 1984. Now, 58% of all runners in the USA are women. To celebrate this social revolution, and to support another on active aging, Switzer ran the Boston Marathon again, at age 70, on the 50th anniversary of her iconic run, finishing only 24 minutes slower than she did when she was 20. This run launched her non-profit '261 Fearless' --named after that famous bib number--which empowers women globally though running. She has been honored widely for her achievements including being inducted into the USA National Women’s Hall of Fame which recognized her for creating positive social change throughout her storied career.
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