Switzer’s books include Marathon Woman and Running and Walking for Women Over 40. She formed her own company, AtAlanta Sports Promotions and is an Emmy Award-winning television commentator who has done broadcast work for ABC, CBS, NBC and ESPN. Switzer went on to simultaneous careers as a fitness expert, television broadcaster, author and public speaker. In 1984, 49 athletes from 28 countries ran the inaugural Women’s Olympic Marathon. These efforts eventually led to the inclusion of the women’s marathon as an official event in the Olympic Games. In 1977, Switzer founded the Avon International Running Circuit, an initiative that created running programs in 27 countries for over 1 million women.

in public communications from Syracuse University. Thanks to the efforts of Switzer and others, women were officially allowed into road races in 1971.

Photos of this “Boston Incident” ignited the women’s running revolution at a time when popular theory held that women were not strong enough to run the 26.2 mile distance. However, she continued on and completed the course. After the race began, the race director realized Switzer was a woman and attempted to forcibly remove her.

In 1967, Switzer registered for the Boston Marathon as ‘K. from the Newhouse School of Journalism (1968). As the first woman to officially enter the Boston Marathon, Kathrine Switzer broke the gender barrier and paved the way for women in running.īorn into a military family stationed in Germany, Switzer later attended Syracuse University, earning a B.A.

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