Switzer was the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, but it wasn’t until 1972 that women were officially allowed to compete
NEED TO KNOW
- Kathrine Switzer faced physical and verbal attacks during the 1967 Boston Marathon, but refused to quit the race
- Her historic run led to the inclusion of women in the Boston Marathon starting in 1972
- Switzer continues to empower women globally through her nonprofit 261 Fearless and celebrates her legacy in running events
When Kathrine Switzer stepped up to the start line at the Boston Marathon in 1967, she knew she had done everything she could to train for the moment.
The then-20-year-old Switzer, a Syracuse University student, had spent months working alongside cross-country assistant coach Arnie Briggs, logging hundreds of miles in preparation for the big day to prove that she could do it.
Nearly 60 years later, ahead of the 2026 Boston Marathon, Switzer caught up with PEOPLE to talk about her experience and share what made her keep going even after she “was attacked in the race.”…