Post by kickstandman on Apr 19, 2017 2:53:01 GMT
Boston Marathon's first woman Kathrine Switzer competes 50 years later
18 April 2017
From the section US & Canada
The first time Kathrine Switzer stood on the starting line of the Boston Marathon, it was as the lone woman in a men-only race.
The fact she dared to compete led one race official to try to rip the number 261 from her back, a few miles in.
Fifty years on, aged 70, Ms Switzer returned to the starting line wearing the same number.
This time, she was hailed for paving the way for women's distance running around the world.
Ms Switzer has now taken part in the Boston Marathon nine times in total, and has won the New York Marathon - completing a total of 40 marathons, and numerous other races, in her career.
Continued: www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39626959
18 April 2017
From the section US & Canada
The first time Kathrine Switzer stood on the starting line of the Boston Marathon, it was as the lone woman in a men-only race.
The fact she dared to compete led one race official to try to rip the number 261 from her back, a few miles in.
Fifty years on, aged 70, Ms Switzer returned to the starting line wearing the same number.
This time, she was hailed for paving the way for women's distance running around the world.
Ms Switzer has now taken part in the Boston Marathon nine times in total, and has won the New York Marathon - completing a total of 40 marathons, and numerous other races, in her career.
Continued: www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39626959
Not only this, I have a friend who according to him, he wasn't a runner until his mid-60s. He went on to win his age group in a major marathon. It was the 70-73 year old range or something like that.
See article for pictures, she is in an amazing shape 50 years later.