In 1967, Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially enter the Boston Marathon. This Monday she ran it again, wearing the same number that she wore 50 years ago. During her 1967 race, a large man, the race director, tried to grab Switzer's race bib, screaming, "get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers!" Switzer later went on to form the Avon International Running Circuit of women-only races in 27 different countries, paving the way for the first women's Olympic marathon in 1984 and has completed a total of 40 marathons. She inspired countless women to join the racing community and carries her inspiration in current races today.
Switzer's story has had a watershed effect in the world of women's athletics. Overcoming prejudice, Switzer laid the foundation for thousands and thousands of women to run marathons across the globe. The fact that she could run a marathon at age 70 is truly remarkable and inspiring in itself. This article sheds light on the historical significance of her most recent marathon and informs its readers of Switzer's incomparable impact. This can synthesize back to 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention which laid the foundation for countless other women's rights conventions to push for gender equality.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/17/us/boston-marathon-kathrine-switzer-trnd/index.html
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