Sunday, March 17, 2013

Inspired by: Katherine Switzer. Switzer was the first woman to run the Boston marathon. After realizing that a woman was running, race organizer Jock Semple went after Switzer shouting, “Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers.” However, Switzer’s boyfriend and other male runners provided a protective shield during the entire marathon.The photographs taken of the incident made world headlines, and Kathrine later won the 1974 NYC marathon (women's division) with a time of 3:07:29.
 
This story made me so happy because I have so many women friends who run races, and because of this brave person, women were one step closer to be able to do that. I just had two friends run a triathalon in Selinas, Ecuador this weekend, and to no fault of their own, I doubt they thought of who made that possible for them. This woman, and many other women who fight to have equal rights in sports, broke down barriers, and I appreciate that.

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