After training consistently, the two set up a trial course and ran, but as they neared the finish line, Switzer began to worry that they had mismeasured. Switzer argued that women could run the distance, and Arnie said that if she ran 26.2 miles in practice, he would take her to the Boston Marathon.

Arnie told her that women were incapable of running 26.2 miles.

Switzer suggested that she and Arnie run the Boston Marathon together. Arnie had run the Boston Marathon fifteen times, and Switzer credits him with teaching her about running. Switzer and Arnie began running six to ten miles nightly. Arnie worked out with the team daily, after he finished his shift, and later became the unofficial manager of the team. During this time, she met Arnie Briggs, postman for the university.

While she was not allowed to run officially, she was welcome to work out with the team. At age 19, while Switzer was attending Syracuse University for her bachelor of arts degree in journalism and English, she asked the men’s cross-country coach if she could run on the team, considering there was no women’s team. Participating in the Boston Marathon is no small feat today, but in 1967, running as a woman was an even greater challenge. 26.2 MilesĪt age 20, Switzer ran the Boston Marathon. For Switzer, running was “magical” at age twelve, and it is still magical after fifty-three years. That daily mile helped her to realise that running built her endurance and would make her better at sports. As part of the game, she needed to “learn to run, and to run well.” Her father measured the yard, and Switzer began running a mile day she made the team because of her conditioning. He encouraged her to try out for field hockey.

At age 12, Switzer thought she wanted to be a cheerleader her father told her that cheerleaders spectate, and that she wanted to participate.

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