Today is the world-famous Boston Marathon. It is a good time to remember Kathrine Switzer.
Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to enter the Boston Marathon, in 1967. She applied to run by using her initials instead of her first name.
For the previous 70 years, the famous marathon was open to male athletes only.
She ran with her coach and her boyfriend alongside her. They were both students at Syracuse University.
When race officials realized there was a woman running, they tried to drag her out of the race and rip the numbers off her back.
Her boyfriend pushed the older men out of the way, so that Kathrine could continue.
She was asked by the press, “Are you a suffragette? Are you a crusader?”
She said, “No, I am just trying to run.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Good morning Diane and everyone,
Happy Boston Marathon and wonderful to remember Kathrine Switzer. How about a story of a LIFE marathon. At age 64 (!!!!!) and after years of failed attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida, she finally achieved her lifetime dream. A true champion and a beautiful and inspiring woman (and she speaks French too :). Her autobiography Find A Way is a great read as well.
Thanks for commemorating this sports pioneer. She finished in 4:20, a great time, but it took five years after she ran in 1967 for the Boston Marathon to admit women. Kudos to her male coach, who finally believed in her.
This was at the beginning of the Women’s Rights Movement which dramatically changed the American way of life for 1/2 the population (approx). Sadly, Title IX is being eviscerated.
I love to think of all the wonderful women athletes who opened the door for all of us to succeed in whatever we wish – be it sports or anything else. So many of them overcame personal adversity, societal blocks, backlash and ignorance. They are all an inspiration.
What a travesty that we have so many instances like this. People may not believe this but women could vote in Turkey before they could here. Sad that so many groups have to fight so hard for their rights. There is so much to be proud of with our country but also so much like this that defies even common sense.
I remember that race, and the way that official tried to grab at Switzer and get her out of the race. From wikipedia, quote: During her run, race manager Jock Semple assaulted Switzer, trying to grab her bib number and thereby remove her from official competition. After knocking down Switzer’s trainer and fellow runner Arnie Briggs when he tried to protect her, Semple was shoved to the ground by Switzer’s boyfriend, Thomas Miller, who was running with her, and she completed the race. end quote. Switzer, who is alive and well, later become friends with Jock Semple. A small step for a woman, but a giant leap for mankind, womankind, human (huwoman?) kind.