People used to think women couldn’t run marathons, because their bodies couldn’t take it. So they weren’t allowed to run in the Boston Marathon until 1972. But one woman ran the whole thing five years earlier . . .
A 20-year-old student at Syracuse University named Katherine Switzer entered it in 1967 under the name “K.V. Switzer.” That way they wouldn’t know she was a woman.
There’s a famous black-and-white photo of an official trying to rip her number off about two miles into the race. But her boyfriend shoved him out of the way, and she ended up finishing in 4 hours and 20 minutes. Now 50 years later, she just ran it AGAIN.
She’s 70 years old now and hadn’t run a marathon since 2011. But she finished the Boston Marathon yesterday in 4 hours, 44 minutes, and 31 seconds. So about 25 minutes slower than when she ran it as a 20-year-old.
She posted some photos and videos on Twitter, including one of her passing the spot where the official tried to rip her number off 50 years ago. (Here’s the video.)
She wore number 261 yesterday, which was the same bib number she wore in 1967. And it’s the LAST time anyone will wear it in the Boston Marathon. They announced they’d be retiring it after the race. (NY Times / CNN)
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