The Relentless Kathrine Switzer

The Boston Marathon Podcast

While training with her coach in the Winter of 1966, Kathrine was told that 'women were not allowed to run the Boston Marathon'. Flabbergasted, the Syracuse University student set her mind on doing just that - and in 1967, she made way for Boston. She signed her name 'K.V.' on the application form and started the 1967 race without incident. But a few miles down the road, race director Jock Semple got wind of a woman in his race, and he saw her, he tried to take her bib numbers away. After all, the Amateur Athletics Union did not allow for women to compete in the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, and Jock wasn't about to let an 'imposter' run in his race. The pictures of the incident went around the world, and Kathrine became an icon for women and their right to an even playing field near and far. Today, with her creation of Fearless 261, her work continues. She sat down with B.A.A. CEO Tom Grilk in May of 2018 to talk through the day that was, and all that has happened since.