Kathrine Switzer at the 2011 Berlin Marathon Expo

 

Kathrine Virginia "Kathy" Switzer (born January 5, 1947) is an American author, television commentator and marathon runner,[1] best known as the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry.

Life and career

Switzer was born in Virginia and graduated from George C. Marshall High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. She then attended Syracuse University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1968 and a master's degree in 1972.

1967 Boston Marathon

While attending college, Switzer entered and completed the race in 1967, five years before women were officially allowed to compete in it. Her finishing time of approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes was nearly an hour behind the first female finisher, Bobbi Gibb (who ran unregistered).[2] She registered under the gender-neutral "K. V. Switzer", which she insists was not done in an attempt to mislead the officials. She claims to have long used "K. V. Switzer" to sign the articles she wrote for her college paper.[3] Race official Jock Semple attempted to remove her from the race, and according to Switzer said, "Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers."[4] However, Switzer's boyfriend Tom Miller, who was running with her, shoved Semple aside and sent him flying. The photographs taken of the incident made world headlines.[3]

As a result of her run, the AAU barred women from all competition with male runners, on pain of losing the right to compete.[5] Switzer, with other women runners, tried to convince the Boston Athletic Association to allow women to participate in the marathon. Finally, in 1972, women were welcome to run the Boston Marathon officially for the first time ever.[6]

Later competition and work

Switzer was the women's winner of the 1974 New York City Marathon, with a time of 3:07:29 (59th overall).[7][8] Her personal best time for the marathon distance is 2:51:37, at Boston in 1975.[9]

Switzer was named Female Runner of the Decade (1967-77) by Runner’s World Magazine and received an Emmy for her work as a television commentator.[6] She wrote Running and Walking for Women over 40 in 1997. She released her memoir, Marathon Woman, in April 2007 on the 40th anniversary of her first running the Boston Marathon. In April 2008, Marathon Woman won the Billie Award for journalism for its inspiring portrayal of women in sports.[10]

She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2011 for creating a social revolution by empowering women around the world through running.[6] Since 1967, she has worked to improve running opportunities for women in different parts of the world.[11]

Personal life

Switzer married Tom Miller, the man who blocked officials for her while running the Boston Marathon in 1967. They later divorced, and she remarried to British-born runner and author Roger Robinson.

Achievements