In 1967, a 19 year-old cross-country runner and journalism student from Syracuse University entered the historic Boston Marathon. At that time, the marathon did not require qualifying times; all one had to do was pay the $3 entry fee and fill out a form. This particular entry was signed “K.V. Switzer,” and the runner was given bib number 261.
While none of this may sounds extraordinary, runner 261 would change the face of running forever. You see K.V. was Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially enter and run in the Boston Marathon. In this video, which we stumbled on this week, she tells her inspiring story, recalling her determination to finish the race. When Switzer crossed that finish line she started a brand new era for women in sports.
To read more about Kathrine’s accomplishments, click here.
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About Michael Wood, Chief Fitness Officer
Michael Wood, CSCS, is Chief Fitness Officer at Koko FitClub, driving the development of integrated strength and cardio training and nutrition programs for Koko members nationwide. A nationally acclaimed fitness expert, Michael has conducted research as a Senior Exercise Physiologist at the Nutrition, Exercise Physiology and Sarcopenia Laboratory at the Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, and has lectured at Boston University and the University of Connecticut. He has been named Boston Magazine’s “Best of Boston” Personal Trainer, and made the Men’s Journal “Dream Team” list of the nine best trainers in the U.S. Michael and his family live in North Attleboro, MA.
