Stories from The Spokesman-Review

Free daily coverage from the newspaper.

Get stories via RSS     Return to headline list

Interloper to elite runner, she led way for women

Shawn Vestal  •  Staff writer
Published April 30, 2008

Kathrine Switzer became the center of media attention in 1967, when photographers captured her boyfriend Thomas Miller blocking a Boston Marathon official who attempted to force her from the race shortly after the start in Hopkinton, Mass. (File Associated Press) Graphic: Bloomsday finishers by gender

More than 40 years ago, Kathrine Switzer was the only woman running in the Boston Marathon – and she had to sneak in and avoid aggressive race officials just to finish.

This weekend she and thousands of women will get a friendlier reception at Bloomsday. Like a lot of road races, Spokane's annual race has seen participation by women steadily increase over the decades – rising from just over a quarter of all runners in 1978 to 59 percent the last two years.

Switzer, who's coming to Spokane to speak Saturday, says she's seeing that pattern repeat itself at road races and, to a lesser extent, marathons around the country.

"One of the most exciting things is that 41 years ago the race director of the Boston Marathon tried to throw me out of the race because I was a woman, and now in my own lifetime there are more women runners than men," she said this week.

Switzer played no small role in that development. Her guerrilla entrance in the 1967 Boston Marathon became a worldwide media spectacle – the race director tried to physically force her out of the race, only to be blocked by Switzer's boyfriend. The altercation occurred in full view of a pool of news photographers on a flatbed truck.

At the time, Switzer said, myths about sports and the fragile woman abounded – chief among them the idea that rigorous exercise would damage a woman's reproductive system. Even Switzer's track coach at Syracuse, Arnie Briggs – who knew she was training 10 miles a day – told her "no woman can run the Boston Marathon" before she persuaded him otherwise, she wrote in a 2007 article for Runner's World magazine.

"The reason there are no intercollegiate sports for women at big universities, no scholarships, prize money, or any races longer than 800 meters is because women don't have the opportunities to prove they want those things," she wrote. "If they could just take part, they'd feel the power and accomplishment and the situation would change."

Switzer developed the Avon Running series, marathons and other sporting events for women and campaigned for a women's marathon in the Olympics. The event was added to the Olympics in 1984 – and Switzer said she considers that the peak achievement of her life, though her Boston Marathon appearance is more well-known.

Switzer went on to finish 35 marathons and held top national rankings. She's also been a commentator, author and promoter.

By the time Don Kardong was getting Bloomsday started in 1978, running had become popular. Only 27 percent of the runners in the first race were women, but that figure grew steadily. Said Kardong: "Even in the first year, and certainly in the second and third years, we wanted to appeal to women." He said several factors help explain the popularity of the race among women. In addition to the growth of running as exercise, there are social and family elements to the race.

While fathers are surely evident on race day pushing strollers or walking with children, Kardong said, it's more common to see the mothers doing so. "When kids get involved with Bloomsday, it's more likely to pull in mom than dad," he said.

The sport also got a boost from from women of all ages getting involved, he said. "I think running has been a good sport especially for women who didn't have these (athletic) opportunities when they were in high school and college," he said.

It