We take so many liberties for granted it's hard to remember just how long and bumpy is the journey toward freedom. At this week's Boston Marathon, the annual race that began in 1897, we take for granted the four different, competitive divisions -- men, women, men in wheelchairs, women in wheelchairs. Or that just about half of the entrants are women. That has not always been the case. In fact, the first official entrant who was a woman was Kathrine "K.V." Switzer (#261 pictured above) - a sophomore at Syracuse University. The year was 1967.
When Kathrine registered for the 1967 Boston Marathon there was no place on the form to indicate gender. It was assumed only men would enter the race. K.V. had been routinely running 10 miles a day with the man who became her coach. She convinced him she could cover the distance one evening after adding 5 miles on to the end of their 26-mile run.
On that snowy, race day in 1967, Kathrine was dressed like all the other runners in a baggy gray sweat suit. At about the two mile mark other runners got excited to see that #261 was a woman. Lots of photos were taken as Kathrine approached a press truck.
