The Courage of Katherine Switzer

In 1967, Katherine Switzer registered for the Boston Marathon as “K.V. Switzer” and was assigned bib number 261. She made history by becoming the first woman to run the Boston Marathon. “Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers,” the angry race official screamed as he chased Switzer. He was trying to rip off her bib as she was running, but her teammates and boyfriend physically protected her so she could finish. 

Switzer helped resolve tensions to help other female athletes who were denied opportunities like this marathon. The Boston Marathon finally began accepting female runners in 1972, and Switzer kept running in the races. She placed second at the marathon in 1975. She founded the Avon International Running Circuit, which is a worldwide series of women’s races that paved the way for the women’s marathon becoming an Olympic event in 1984. 

Switzer was courageous because she defied the authority to pursue what she believed in. She pushed through her fear and did not give in to the assault or intimidation of the race official. She broke historic barriers and accelerated women’s rights by inspiring the Boston Marathon to officially open to women.