Marathon Woman Kathrine Switzer

[Decker]

Kathrine Switzer helped pave the way for women in sports, and 50 years after she made history, she remains an inspiration. Here is a link to her story if you are not already familiar with it like me:

goodtimes.ca/marathon-woman/

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Very cool. " When you’re 60, you don’t go home and sit on the sofa." Too right!!

As a side note, I knew a girl at school who used the misspelled name from her birth certificate. I always thought it was an odd thing to do - why be dictated to by that?

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to roseabi]

Thought you might appreciate this 🙂. She is a pretty big deal.

My wife’s grandmother doesn’t even know her birthday. She is from a mountain village. It seems in Greece back then they were quite casual with certificates and the children’s birth years were remembered by “the year the olives were good” or something similar 😁

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Decker]

"It was a very good year..."

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Great reading! Thanks for sharing, Decker.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

No problemo

[C3PO Marathon]

I read her book a few months back. Am so sorry she won't be at the expo when I'm there!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to C3PO]

Oh darn it! In the presence of a heroine. What a gal 💪. Never mind C3 we follow in her brave footsteps.

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Great lady and yes, I knew her story - but thank you for sharing this though. Very inspirational.🙂

[misswobble Marathon]

What I can’t get my head round is that this was in modern times, not the dark ages. By then surely everyone must have known that the reasons given by the governing body - or whoever - not to allow women to do marathons was completely bogus.

Modern times though! Shakes head. I burn with indignation about it 🤨

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

Very modern times. Within our lifetime. That is what caught me too.

[C3PO Marathon in reply to Decker]

I've been talking about this with my little 6-year-old boy, and he couldn't believe me when I told him how things were such a short while ago.

[ancientrunner Half Marathon]

Have read quite a lot about her previously but good stuff about us oldies getting out there.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to ancientrunner]

Yes that looks to be her present cause now. And she is proving it too like so many here.

[Sadie-runs Half Marathon]

I love this woman, and first read about her when I was starting C25k. Great piece, thanks for posting, Decker! I heard that she is running the London marathon this coming Sunday, wearing her original number. I am going to try and go to cheer her on! x

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Sadie-runs]

That would be something to cheer her on in London. Hope you get the chance!

[Sadie-runs Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/4...

22nd April (not this Sunday as I originally said). I cannot wait!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Sadie-runs]

She is the real deal isn’t she, and so good to see that she’s still immersed in it . I hope you get to see her. That would be awesome👏 😎

[Decker Ultramarathon]

I honestly did not realize it was so recent and that the first women’s Olympic marathon was in ‘84 in L.A.

[misswobble Marathon]

The lady that stepped into her shoes as it were was the late great Ingrid Kristiansen, a fellow countrywoman of C3PO. 💪🙂🏃‍♀️👍

[C3PO Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Ingrid Kristiansen (who I think won the London Marathon a couple of times) is alive and well, and coaches people in Oslo.

I think you’re thinking of Grete Waitz. We lived in the same part of town. I remember seeing her out for a walk towards the end of her life. I was impressed that such a frail person was still managing to go for walks. She’s buried almost next to my father, so I pay my respects fairly often.

[misswobble Marathon]

Oh dear, yes, I expect so ☺️