Marathon Woman : Running the Race to Revolutionize Women's Sports

**A new edition of a sports icon's memoir, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Kathrine Switzer's historic running of the Boston Marathon as the first woman to run.** In 1967, Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially run what was then the all-male Boston Marathon, infuriating one of the event's directors who attempted to violently eject her. In one of the most iconic sports moments, Switzer escaped and finished the race. She made history-and is poised to do it again on the fiftieth anniversary of that initial race, when she will run the 2017 Boston Marathon at age 70. Now a spokesperson for Reebok, Switzer is also the founder of 261 Fearless, a foundation dedicated to creating opportunities for women on all fronts, as this groundbreaking sports hero has done throughout her life. "Kathrine Switzer is the Susan B. Anthony of women's marathoning."-Joan Benoit Samuelson, first Olympic gold medalist in the women's marathon In 1967, Kathrine Switzer Was The First Woman To Register For And Wear Bib Numbers In What Was Then The All-male Boston Marathon, Infuriating One Of The Event's Directors. He Attacked Her Midrace, Trying To Violently Eject Her. In What Would Become One Of The All-time Iconic Images In Sports, Switzer Escaped From The Director, With The Help Of Her Fellow Runners, And Finished The Race. Not Only Was This A Watershed Moment For The Sport, It Also Became A Significant Event In Women's History - A Force For Social Change And Empowerment For Women Worldwide. Switzer Went On To Create The Avon Running Program, Composed Of Events In Twenty-seven Countries, With More Than A Million Women Participants, And Was Instrumental In Securing The Women's Marathon Event In The Olympic Games, An Event Which Changed World Thinking On Women's Capabilities. Marathon Woman Is Kathrine Switzer's Personal Story About How She Overcame The Odds - As Well As Public Ridicule - To Become One Of The Greatest Marathon Runners Of Her Time, And An Authority On Women's Sports And Fitness. From The Childhood Events That Inspired Her To Succeed As An Athlete, Through Her Triumph In The 1974 New York City Marathon, A Best Marathon Time Of 2:51 Among The Thirty-five Marathons She Has Finished, And Her Work As One Of The Sport's Greatest Ambassadors - This Liberally Illustrated Book Details The Struggles And Achievements Of One Of The Pioneering Women In Sports.--jacket. A Memoir -- Jacket. -includes Index. -in 1967, Kathrine Switzer Was The First Woman To Register For And Wear Bib Numbers In What Was Then The All-male Boston Marathon, Infuriating One Of The Event's Directors. He Attacked Her Midrace, Trying To Violently Eject Her. In What Would Become One Of The All-time Iconic Images In Sports, Switzer Escaped From The Director, With The Help Of Her Fellow Runners, And Finished The Race. Not Only Was This A Watershed Moment For The Sport, It Also Became A Significant Event In Women's History -- A Force For Social Change And Empowerment For Women Worldwide. Switzer Went On To Create The Avon Running Program, Composed Of Events In Twenty-seven Countries, With More Than A Million Women Participants, And Was Instrumental In Securing The Women's Marathon Event In The Olympic Games, An Event Which Changed World Thinking On Women's Capabilities. Marathon Woman Is Kathrine Switzer's Personal Story About How She Overcame The Odds -- As Well As Public Ridicule -- To Become One Of The Greatest Marathon Runners Of Her Time, And An Authority On Women's Sports And Fitness. From The Childhood Events That Inspired Her To Succeed As An Athlete, Through Her Triumph In The 1974 New York City Marathon, A Best Marathon Time Of 2:51 Among The Thirty-five Marathons She Has Finished, And Her Work As One Of The Sport's Greatest Ambassadors -- This Liberally Illustrated Book Details The Struggles And Achievements Of One Of The Pioneering Women In Sports. -- Book Jacket. Kathrine Switzer. A Memoir--jacket. Includes Index.

In 1967, Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially run what was then the all male Boston Marathon, infuriating one of the event’s directors who attempted to violently eject her. In what would become an iconic sports image, Switzer escaped and finished the race. This was a watershed moment for the sport, as well as a significant event in women’s history.

Including updates from the 2008 Summer Olympics, the paperback edition of Marathon Woman details the life of an incredible, pioneering athlete, and the lasting effect she’s had on women’s sports. Switzer’s energy and drive permeate the pages of this warm, witty memoir as she describes everything from the childhood events that inspired her to succeed to her big win in the 1974 New York City Marathon, and beyond.

Katherine Switzer ran the Boston Marathon in 1967 where she was attacked by one of the event's directors who wanted to eject her from the all-male race even though there was no explicit rule that the race was men only. With the help of her training partner and boy friend, she fought off the director and finished the race. From the childhood events that inspired her to become a world class marathon runner to the inclusion of the marathon for women in the 1984 Olympics, this liberally illustrated book details the struggles and achievements of a pioneering women in sports. A memoir of the first woman participant of the Boston Marathon describes her efforts to break the gender barrier, an effort for which she endured formidable resistance, and also traces the childhood events that spurred her athletic ambitions. pt. 1. Base pt. 2. Build-up pt. 3. Sharpening pt. 4. Warm-up pt. 5. The race pt. 6. Breakthrough.