1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:05,000 Speaker 1: I'm feeling all sorts of nostalgic and pretty excited right 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: now because today's episode of Hurdle, episode fifty one is 3 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: pretty special. My name's Emily Badi. You are listening to Hurdle, 4 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: a podcast that talks to everyone from entrepreneurs to CEOs 5 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: and athletes about how they got through tough times hurdles 6 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: of sorts, by leaning into wellness. Today's episode is with 7 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: the one, the only Catherine Switzer, and if you've never 8 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: heard her name, your mind's about to be blown because 9 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: in nineteen sixty seven, she became the first woman to 10 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:41,959 Speaker 1: complete the all male race of the Boston Marathon as 11 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: an official entrant, which makes today's episode pretty appropriate because 12 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: unless you've been living under a rock, you know that today, 13 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: April fifteenth, is the Boston Marathon. I am so amped 14 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: for this. Before I give you some deats on Catherine, 15 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: a quick shout out to my sponsor, Athletic Greens with 16 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: twelve servings of fruits and vegetables. Athleticgreens is a delicious 17 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: greens powder that I shake up every single day that 18 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: helps me start the day off right. They're offering Hurdle 19 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: listeners a special deal it's twenty free travel packs a 20 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: seventy nine dollars value, absolutely free with your first purchase. 21 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 1: Trust me, this is an offer you're going to want 22 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: to jump on. Stat Just head on over to Athleticgreens 23 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: dot com slash hurdle to claim it. No code necessary again, 24 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: that's Athleticgreens dot com slash hurdle. All right, now, let's 25 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: talk about Catherine. Let me tell you when I started 26 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:40,040 Speaker 1: the podcast at the end of twenty seventeen, I was 27 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: just about to start training for Boston, and when the 28 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: time came for me to run the race, I was 29 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: super I don't know if bummed is the right word, 30 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:50,559 Speaker 1: but a little down on myself that I didn't think 31 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: about reaching out to this epic figure in running. When 32 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: I first heard about Katherine Switzer, it was from Jen Atter. 33 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: She was the fitness director at Woman's Health. She just 34 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: announced that she's the new editor in chief of Women's Running. 35 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: And we were walking through Central Park and filming some 36 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 1: content for Rodale leading up to the New York City Marathon, 37 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: and there were banners lining that final stretch leading up 38 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: to the finish line, and on one of the banners 39 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: was Catherine Switzer's name, and Jen told me all about 40 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 1: her story and as I mentioned, the first woman to 41 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: run the Boston Marathon, but she did it a little 42 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: bit under the radar, completely unintentionally when she signed up 43 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: for the race, and you'll hear all about this in 44 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 1: today's episode. She signed up as Kay V Switzer. It 45 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: was kind of the nickname that she went by, not 46 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: really thinking anything of it, and what ended up happening 47 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: was people weren't exactly excited when they found out that 48 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: there was a woman on the course. Comra's day. You'll 49 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: probably recognize the super famous photo of these race officials 50 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 1: literally coming after her with their bare hands. It's crazy. 51 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: Today's episode is all sorts of inspiring and the things 52 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: that Catherine is doing now with her legacy and just 53 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: what she's doing today with her organization two six one 54 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: Fearless to bring active women together through a global, supportive 55 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: social running network. It's really special. Also tried something new 56 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: this week. This is the first ever hurdle that I've 57 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: recorded over the phone, and I actually really love to 58 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 1: get your input on this. I know it's something that 59 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: I love sitting down with people in person. It's really 60 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 1: personal hurdle obviously means a lot to me, and I 61 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: think it's really special to have that in person connection. 62 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: But it's not always possible. So sometimes you know, there 63 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: are going to be guests that I'm really excited about 64 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: that I just don't have the opportunity to sit down 65 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: with in person. And I'm curious to know what you 66 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: guys think. Do you like the over to the phone thing? 67 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: Does it bother you? You know? Just give me your feedback, 68 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: you know. The drill a Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, at Hurdle podcast. 69 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: If you have a hurdle moment of your own to 70 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: share or want to just say hi, shoot me a message, 71 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: feel free to email me Emily at Hurdle dot us. 72 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: I am so so grateful to all of you. Last 73 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: week was, without a doubt, the biggest week of a podcast. 74 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: I thank you guys for that. I think Joe Holder, 75 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: Nike Master trainer and performance consultant, for giving me his time. 76 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: I loved interacting with you guys with all of those 77 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 1: takeaways that you loved from the episode. And like I said, 78 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 1: please keep engaging on Instagram, keep sending these episodes to 79 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: your friends. Just share the hurdle of it makes a 80 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 1: huge difference. It makes my day. It makes me excited 81 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: to keep coming back your week after week and sharing 82 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: with you guys. So it's time to get to Catherine's story. 83 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:36,719 Speaker 1: Let's get to hurdling. 84 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 2: Today. 85 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: I'm sitting down over the phone with the lovely Catherine Switzer. 86 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: It's a special day because this podcast's coming out on 87 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: Marathon Monday, the day of the Boston Marathon. Thanks so 88 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: much for giving me your time today, Catherine. 89 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 2: Emily, it's wonderful to be here. And of course this 90 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 2: is the build up for Big Boston and what a 91 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,600 Speaker 2: day it is. It changes the whole city of Boston. 92 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: It does. We were both in Boston last year and 93 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:17,799 Speaker 1: the weather wasn't ideal. So I don't know we're recording 94 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: this a little bit preemptively, but it seems to me 95 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 1: that they're going to have a better time this year. 96 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 2: Well, Emily, I've think anybody who was in Boston last 97 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 2: year realizes that on marathon Day it couldn't get worse. Honestly, 98 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 2: it was like running in the cold rinch spin cycle 99 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 2: of a washing machine for twenty six miles three hundred 100 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: and eighty five yards. Absolutely, my congratulations to you for 101 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 2: actually surviving it. 102 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,479 Speaker 1: Oh man. Well, it definitely made me stronger, that's to 103 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 1: say the least. And I'm happy that, you know, I 104 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: completed it and now it's on to the next hurtle. 105 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: So i'd love to introduce my audience just to your 106 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: story and kind of jump into this. I know when 107 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: I heard your story, I was walking on the New 108 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: York City Marathon route about four years ago with a 109 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 1: girlfriend of mine and I saw your name on a 110 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: banner hanging over the route and she explained it to me, 111 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: and I was just so in awe. So I don't 112 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: need to, you know, ramble on about it too much more. 113 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: Why don't we start with you just talking to me 114 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: a little bit about how you got into running. 115 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 2: Well, it's a wonderful story because it was my dad 116 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 2: who encouraged me to run a mile a day to 117 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 2: make the field hockey team and my local high school 118 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 2: and I was only twelve years old and leaving elementary 119 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 2: school and going to high school, and the school had 120 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 2: just introduced this sport for women, which is phenomenal, but 121 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 2: this is the late fifties, and you know, I was insecure, 122 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: and he said, listen, you run that mile of day, 123 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 2: you get ready for the team. You'll be one of 124 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 2: the best players. And he saw that I was kind 125 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 2: of struggling and looking for identity and acceptance. And I 126 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 2: did run this mile of day. I did make the team. 127 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 2: It was a wonderful experience, you know, playing sports throughout 128 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 2: high school. But the important thing was running that mile 129 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:04,479 Speaker 2: a day was really magical and it empowered me and 130 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 2: gave me a sense of fearlessness. And I didn't know 131 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 2: what it was in those days. I just called it 132 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 2: my magic. But I didn't tell too many people about 133 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 2: it because I was afraid they think I was kind 134 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 2: of crazy. But I would just go up and do 135 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 2: this mile a day no matter what, even though I 136 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: was playing other sports, because it made me kind of 137 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 2: like I had a victory under my belt nobody could 138 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 2: take away from me. And I say, Wow, what a 139 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 2: great thing that is to have when you're growing up 140 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 2: and you're getting you know, confronted by all kinds of 141 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: decisions and you know, prescrewty behavior. But honestly, this magic 142 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 2: has stayed with me all my life. I've been running 143 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 2: for sixty years, and every day I run, I have 144 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 2: this sense of magic and destiny and capability, and that 145 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 2: is one reason I'm kind of jumping ahead now. But 146 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: as we're looking today the Boston Marathon, half of the field, essentially, 147 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 2: I believe it's forty nine percent is women do one 148 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 2: percent of men at a tough race where you have 149 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 2: to be qualified. Most of those women are running because 150 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 2: it makes them feel empowered. They're not running because they 151 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 2: have a dream of making an Olympic team. They're running 152 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 2: for a completely different reason. And the millions of women 153 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 2: are running in the United States now especially, which is 154 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 2: fifty eight percent of all running participants in the United 155 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 2: States are women. Now, that's a social revolution. It's because 156 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 2: I feel empowered. So I wasn't wrong when I was twelve, 157 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 2: and I really kind of dedicated my career now to 158 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 2: trying to get every woman I know to just put 159 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 2: one foot in front of the other. 160 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: When I started running as well, I was running at 161 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: what I thought was a mile every day, but a 162 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: half mile every day, and it didn't really matter how 163 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: far that distance was. What mattered at the time was 164 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: that I was slowly succeeding at something that I thought 165 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: that I wasn't that good at. 166 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: Exactly, because I never ever in my life felt that 167 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 2: I was talented at anything. I mean, I've had to 168 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 2: work really hard for everything, but that little run every day. 169 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 2: Of course, a mile seems like Kilimanjaro to me, but 170 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 2: that run just gave me the sense, hey, you know, 171 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 2: if you can do this, you can do maybe you 172 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 2: can do two miles, you know, or maybe you can 173 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 2: try out for the you know, drama club or something, 174 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 2: you know what I mean. It just gave you the 175 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 2: next step. And constantly it has been my kind of 176 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 2: northern star as I've gone through life. 177 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 1: What does running look like for you these days? 178 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 2: Well, it's interesting, you know, we all go through waves 179 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 2: in our lives, of transitions, et cetera. I trained up 180 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 2: really hard for the twenty seventeen Boston Marathon, which was 181 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 2: my fiftieth anniversary run, which made me the first woman 182 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 2: ever to run a marathon fifty years after she first did, 183 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 2: which doesn't make me special, No, it doesn't make me special. 184 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 2: It just shows you how few women ran fifty years ago. 185 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 2: But the point is is I did it, and I 186 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:03,439 Speaker 2: did it well. I only did it twenty four minutes 187 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 2: slower than I did when I was twenty, so the 188 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 2: body is utterly fantastic. And then I went on that 189 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 2: year and also ran the New York City Marathon forty 190 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 2: three years after I won it, and then I decided, 191 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 2: you know, now I'm full of delusion and I have POxy. 192 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 2: I hear, okay, but I've been going on and random 193 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 2: London Marathon last April, so it has been an incredible 194 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 2: year I would say two years. But right right after 195 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 2: the London race, I tripped on a tree route near 196 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,599 Speaker 2: my home here and the Hudson Valley and tore my 197 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 2: glotous minimus. And I think nature was saying, you know what, 198 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 2: girls is slow down, to just take me easy in 199 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 2: the back off. So I backed off for the last 200 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 2: five or six months, easy jogging, doing my core work, 201 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:49,319 Speaker 2: and I'm gearing up now. I'm going to run the 202 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 2: five k in Boston, and I'm going to run several 203 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 2: five k's and then a ten k the Senior Games 204 00:10:56,120 --> 00:11:00,040 Speaker 2: in June, and then in November I hope to be 205 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,720 Speaker 2: ready for half marathon. So they would take it easy 206 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 2: and then we'll look at what the marathon looks like 207 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 2: on the horizon, then would make it easy. I will look. 208 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 2: I want to run all my life. I really do 209 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 2: want to be running when I'm eighty and eighty five 210 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 2: and as I say, I'm very grateful for my health, 211 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 2: but I also want to take care of it. The 212 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 2: point that we have to find is that as we 213 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 2: age and we age actively, we know that people who 214 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 2: stay active, the longer they go have a longer life, 215 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 2: a better life, and more optimistic life, a healthier life. 216 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 2: But we want to make sure that we find the 217 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 2: balance so that you know, I don't fall over true 218 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 2: roots and I don't overtrain, so I'll find that sweet spot. 219 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:49,439 Speaker 2: And I must say, though twenty seventeen, twenty eighteen were 220 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 2: animrabulous is for me, fantastic. 221 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,439 Speaker 1: For sure, for sure, And I love that you just dropped. 222 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: You won the New York City Marathon in nineteen seventy four. 223 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: Only did you win the New York City Marathon, but 224 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 1: you did it on one hundred degree day, in three hours, 225 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 1: in seven minutes. Something else, a statistic that I find 226 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 1: interesting is that, uh, if you've run the Boston Marathon 227 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: in a time of two fifty one. When I ran 228 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: my first half marathon ever in two thousand and eight, 229 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: it was just about that time. 230 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 2: Isn't it amazing though? What the body can do? Yeah, 231 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 2: I mean, I can distinctly remember you know when I 232 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 2: ran my first miles, and I can distinctly remember when 233 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 2: I've ran my first mile in six minutes, and then 234 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 2: I can remember, of course training up and running that 235 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 2: two fifty one. I ran six thirty three minutes a 236 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 2: mile for twenty six miles, and I thought, holy toly, 237 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 2: do you know if I can do that? How much 238 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 2: talent exists out there among women, if they only have 239 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 2: the opportunity and belief in their own capability. See, the 240 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 2: fascination was, you know, I mean, I'm physiologically fascinated by 241 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 2: what we can do and what we're going to come, 242 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 2: But I know I'm not talented. When I did that, 243 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 2: I said I can run two fifty one. There are 244 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 2: women out there who can run a two thirty. And 245 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 2: when I said that, honestly, people said, you're smoking poppy, 246 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 2: and I said, no, look at how it breaks down. 247 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,719 Speaker 2: And what we're also finding out, of course, is that 248 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 2: women actually are extremely good, in fact better than men 249 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 2: at endurance, stamina flexibility events. And we're seeing them win 250 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 2: outright one hundred mile races, three day races, twenty four 251 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,719 Speaker 2: hour runs. And this is going to be very, very 252 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 2: influential in terms of how the future sport looks. So 253 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 2: when I did that, my focus really, there's two fifty one. 254 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 2: My focus really then became even stronger to create opportunities 255 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 2: where women could emerge and we could get not only 256 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 2: them out running, but would get the event in the 257 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 2: Olympic Games, which was my biggest goal at the time 258 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 2: in my life. 259 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 1: Right right, So why don't we rewind it back back 260 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: towards nineteen sixty seven and what the year or two 261 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: looked like leading up to that monumental Boston Marathon for you? 262 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 2: Oh, well, it was hilarious, but it was very eye opening. 263 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 2: My coach was an ex marathon runner. He was a 264 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 2: fifty year old Maleman, a wonderful, big hearted guy, a small, 265 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 2: tiny and he didn't believe any woman anywhere could run 266 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 2: a marathon. And I kept telling him that women had 267 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 2: run marathons, not with any fans fare, and that even 268 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 2: a woman named Bertie Gibb had jumped out of the 269 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 2: bushes at Boston and run the race. And he simply 270 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 2: didn't believe it. He always said, no dame ever ran 271 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 2: no marathon. So I said, okay, I will show you 272 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 2: in practice. And where were you living at the time, Oh, 273 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 2: I was a student at Syracuse University. I was studying journalism. 274 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 2: We were running through canyons of snow. It was so cold, 275 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 2: it was so bitterly cold, and it made me very tough, 276 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 2: and he was very impressed with my toughness. So when 277 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 2: I told him that I really wanted to run Boston, 278 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 2: he was the one who really challenged me. He said, 279 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 2: I did it in practice, the distance in practice, he 280 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 2: would be convinced and would take me to Boston. And 281 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 2: he never never in a million years thought that I 282 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 2: could do it or I even wanted to do it really, 283 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 2: but I did. And the day that we ran our 284 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 2: twenty six miles in practice, we actually ran thirty one 285 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 2: miles because when we finished the first workout, I said, 286 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 2: let's do another five. Let's keep going because I want 287 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 2: to make sure we go to Boston. Nothing can stop us, 288 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 2: which was an interesting thing to say, and I metaphorically, 289 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 2: you know, like that we wouldn't get tired. And I 290 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 2: had no idea that there was going to be anything untoward. 291 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 2: And when we finished the workout, my coach passed out 292 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 2: and he said, women have hidden potential in endurance and stamina. 293 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 2: And that's when we began to realize the longer I ran, 294 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 2: the better I got relative to the men. And in fact, 295 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 2: the men on the cross country team with whom I 296 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 2: was training want to come out with us if we 297 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 2: were going to go more than thirteen miles. You guys 298 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 2: are crazy, they say, So that's what happened. And then Arnie, 299 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 2: my coach, was all business, and he said, okay, you 300 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 2: got to sign up for the race. And I said, well, 301 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 2: why can't we just go and just you know, jump in. 302 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 2: It looks like a big tree for all to me. 303 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 2: And he said, you know, you've got to be crazy. 304 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 2: This is the most serious race in the world, next 305 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 2: to the Olympic Games. And I said okay, And he said, 306 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 2: you remember the Athletic Federation. You got to sign up 307 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 2: and pay your two dollars injury free and follow the rules. 308 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 2: And I said, okay, okay, okay. Well in the rule 309 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 2: book there was nothing about gender in the marathon right 310 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 2: and on the entry for there was nothing about gender. 311 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 2: And I said to Arnie, okay, gosh, we're going to 312 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 2: be noticed up in Boston. Are you wearing a number 313 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 2: at all? And he said, I know, and I'm proud 314 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 2: of you. It was really, really nice he was just 315 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 2: he was a guy who completely changed his attitude and 316 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 2: was willing to take the risk and take me to Boston, 317 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 2: take me under his wing. He was a couple of 318 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 2: guys from the cross country team, and here we were. 319 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 2: So the point of the entry form, though, is this 320 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:11,360 Speaker 2: is that I signed the entry form with my initials K. B. Switzer. 321 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 2: And I was doing that not to defraud the officials, 322 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 2: because that's how I'd been signing my name for two reasons. One, 323 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 2: my dad misspelled my name on my birth certificate and 324 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 2: it was always spelled I think you've noticed the E 325 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 2: is not in the middle of the Catherine. And the 326 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 2: other reasons because when I was writing sports from my 327 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 2: high school newspaper and then on to journalism school where 328 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 2: I wanted to be a sports writer, I was reading 329 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 2: also J. D. Salinger in E. E. Cummings and T. S. Eliott, 330 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 2: and so it seemed to me that if you're really 331 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:43,880 Speaker 2: a cool writer, you signed your name with your initials. 332 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: So I want to reevaluate what I'm doing here. 333 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 2: The obviously, the officials thought the entry form had come 334 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 2: from a guy but not from a girl, so that 335 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,959 Speaker 2: that was a coincidence, And of course the other coincidence 336 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 2: Boston was up until last year, Emily, it was the 337 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,919 Speaker 2: worst conditions ever in the history of the Boston Marathon. 338 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 2: So it was about thirty five degrees thirty four with 339 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 2: a headwind and sleep and snow and rain, and it 340 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 2: was bitterly, bitterly cold, so we were soaked to the skin, 341 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:20,919 Speaker 2: but you still had snow piling up on your shoulders 342 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 2: and your hands were frozen. We looked like refugees. We 343 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:28,920 Speaker 2: had on everything we brought with us, and from a distance, 344 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 2: just like last year, you probably couldn't tell me from 345 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 2: the guys, we all looked alike. We were all bundled up, 346 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:39,240 Speaker 2: and the officials didn't see me, didn't call me out. 347 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 2: They pushed me into the starting lineup. And it wasn't 348 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 2: until about a mile and a half into the race 349 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:48,360 Speaker 2: when the press truck came true and was filming from 350 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 2: the back of a flatbed truck that they saw me 351 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,679 Speaker 2: and the race wearing numbers and stopped, slowed down and 352 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:56,639 Speaker 2: began taking pictures. And we didn't think anything else. We 353 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 2: just kind of waved at them. But the race directly 354 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 2: on an accompanying bus, and he completely lost his temper. 355 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 2: His name was Jock Semple. He was the sort of 356 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 2: speisty race director of the race, regarded it as his baby, 357 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 2: doesn't want anybody making a fool of him. And now 358 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 2: here was this girl wearing numbers. He just lost it 359 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:22,120 Speaker 2: and threw into a rage and ran down the street 360 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 2: and attacked me and tried to pull off my good 361 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 2: numbers and screaming at me, get the hell out of 362 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 2: my race and give me those numbers. 363 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:31,439 Speaker 1: And what were the people around you doing at that time? 364 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 2: Well, well, the men around us were shocked. They kind 365 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 2: of looked like what what And they were saying, hey, hey, hey, 366 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 2: you know, leave her alone, leave her alone. And Arnie 367 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,399 Speaker 2: was streaming at him, my coach saying leave her alone, 368 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:44,439 Speaker 2: leave her alone. She's okay, I've trained her. He couldn't 369 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 2: get him away. He just the official batted arnyway. But 370 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 2: my boyfriend, who is running with me, part of the team, 371 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 2: who shouldn't have been there. You know, he was only 372 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 2: there because if his girlfriend could run twenty six miles, 373 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 2: he could run twenty six miles. It was a very 374 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 2: very talented athlete, and he just took out the official 375 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 2: with the most amazing shoulder charge and sent him flying 376 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 2: and Arnie looked at all of us and screamed, run 377 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 2: like hell, and down the street we went. And you know, 378 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,239 Speaker 2: in the retelling it's very very funny, but at the 379 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 2: time it was extremely traumatic, especially for me. It was 380 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 2: traumatic for all of us, but for me it was 381 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 2: extremely traumatic because I was scared, I was embarrassed, humiliated. 382 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 2: And then the press came kept alongside of me on 383 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 2: the press truck and really kept burraating me and saying, 384 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 2: when are you going to drop out? What are you 385 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 2: trying to prove? What are you doing here? You know 386 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,439 Speaker 2: this is a joke, right, just a publicity stunt, And 387 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 2: it was really, really hard. It was the even the 388 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 2: second great women's liberation movement, the Betty for Dan Gloria 389 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 2: Steinem movement, where people were saying women are always barging 390 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:01,679 Speaker 2: into places where they're not well and they can't do 391 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 2: it anyway. And I knew, no matter what, even at twenty, 392 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,199 Speaker 2: I knew. I just turned to my coaches, so I 393 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 2: have to finish the strength. I have to finish and 394 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 2: raise my hands and I knees it if that's what 395 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,919 Speaker 2: it takes, because nobody's going to believe women can do 396 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 2: it right, And it was a tremendous decision for a 397 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:23,880 Speaker 2: young girl. I was, you know, all through twenty seventeen 398 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 2: when the media was really really hot about me running 399 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 2: again fifty years later, and they said, what did you think? 400 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 2: What do you think about when you see that picture? 401 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 2: Because there were lots of pictures taken of the incident, 402 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 2: because he did it at the front of the press truck. 403 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:41,959 Speaker 2: Actually man. But anyway, when I look at the picture, 404 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,440 Speaker 2: I don't look at him attacking me or my boyfriend 405 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 2: hitting him. I look at my face, and I'm thinking, 406 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 2: how could a twenty year old girl make a decision 407 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:54,160 Speaker 2: so strong in the face of such adversity? And I 408 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 2: think it was because I've been running since I was 409 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:00,119 Speaker 2: twelve and had that magic victory under my belt that 410 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 2: nobody could take away from me. And that's what I 411 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 2: tell people, and that's what I try to impart two 412 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 2: young girls and even old ladies. 413 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 1: Did you know at the time that you would go 414 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:14,159 Speaker 1: on to run more marathons? Did you think that you 415 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: would show up there and it would be kind of 416 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: a one done situation, or the second that you finished 417 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: that you were hooked. 418 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 2: No. I In fact, it's interesting you asked that question. 419 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:26,640 Speaker 2: I had fallen in love with running, and I'd fallen 420 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 2: in love with distance running. I mean, nobody's going to 421 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 2: run thirty one miles in practice unless they love to run. 422 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,919 Speaker 2: And I just wanted to keep on going forever, and 423 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 2: I felt like I could go forever. So I knew 424 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,359 Speaker 2: after Boston that I was going to just run all 425 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 2: the time, but I didn't know what it would looked 426 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 2: like because I didn't know it was going to be 427 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:50,159 Speaker 2: a hard fight or what It was hard and bizarre 428 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 2: because all the men in the race were so wonderful 429 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 2: to me. You know, they were very welcoming. As they 430 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 2: went by, they'd say, go for it, were with you 431 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,359 Speaker 2: all the way, or I, hey, I might I wish 432 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:01,360 Speaker 2: my wife would run. I wish my girlfriend would run. 433 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:03,200 Speaker 2: Can you give me some tips to get her started? 434 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 2: So those are things that were resonating with me. Is 435 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 2: that the population of people I was running with, the 436 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 2: men on the cross country team or the master's aged 437 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 2: guys I was running with, were very, very supportive. They 438 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 2: never they never regarded me as the girl. I was 439 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:24,680 Speaker 2: just out there running with them and we just sort 440 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 2: of shared the secrets of her soul as running buddies do. 441 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 2: And it was a wonderful time in an age of 442 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 2: sexual contentiousness, very much like we are in now sometimes, 443 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:40,479 Speaker 2: where we found egalitarianism and inclusion and was totally natural, 444 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,639 Speaker 2: totally natural supporting each other. But no, interesting you asked 445 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 2: that question, because when I crossed the finish line, I 446 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:51,919 Speaker 2: was met by a bunch of really irascable journalists and 447 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 2: one of them said, just what you asked, but in 448 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,199 Speaker 2: a much nastier way. He said, this is just a 449 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 2: one off deal. Hey, you're not going to run another marathon? 450 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:04,119 Speaker 2: Is just a joke, right, And I said, there's nothing 451 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 2: about twenty six miles. That's a joke. It's a tough road. 452 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:11,680 Speaker 2: And I said, and I'm going to run the rest 453 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 2: of my life. You are going to someday read about 454 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 2: a little eighty year old lady who dropped dead in 455 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 2: Central Park while she's running, and that's going to be me. Well, 456 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:26,199 Speaker 2: of course, now I die only get back. I'm up 457 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 2: to ninety five now, so but no, I knew I 458 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 2: was gonna run forever, you know. 459 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:39,919 Speaker 1: Taking a quick break from today's episode to give my 460 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: sponsor Athletic Greens a little bit of love, I finally 461 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 1: did it. I made smoothies this week with Athletic Greens. Now, 462 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 1: before I tell you what was in my perfect smoothie, 463 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: a reminder about what's in Athletic Greens. It's a greens powder. 464 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:58,119 Speaker 1: It's got twelve servings of fruits and vegetables. It's got prebiotics, 465 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 1: probiotics adapted in super foods, so naturally it's the perfect 466 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:06,919 Speaker 1: addition to a post workout smoothie. Now, usually I just 467 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 1: shake it up with ten to twelve pounces of water, 468 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: but I was feeling a little adventurous, so in the smoothie, 469 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: I did just shy of a cup of almond milk, 470 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:20,639 Speaker 1: five ice cubes, very specific vegan vanilla protein powder of 471 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:25,160 Speaker 1: course Athleticgreens, and then about three quarters of a cup 472 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:28,679 Speaker 1: of frozen pineapple. I blended that up in my VitaminX 473 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: and let me tell you, it tasted like a healthier, 474 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 1: greenish version of a pina colada. And I was so 475 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: about it. You guys have got to try this for yourselves. 476 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: The good news is that they're offering Hurdle Listeners a 477 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 1: special deal. It's twenty free travel packs a seventy nine 478 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 1: dollars value with your first purchase just head on over 479 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:52,120 Speaker 1: to athleticgreens dot com slash hurdle to claim it. It's 480 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:58,400 Speaker 1: no code necessary again athleticgreens dot com slash hurdle. Let's 481 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:06,360 Speaker 1: get back to it. Aside from that question from the journalist, 482 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:08,879 Speaker 1: what was everything else like after you finished that run? 483 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 2: Well, it was very anti climactic to finish the run, 484 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 2: because all through the run there was this enormous tension 485 00:26:15,359 --> 00:26:17,399 Speaker 2: of are we going to be thrown out? Are the 486 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,439 Speaker 2: police going to intercede? Are they going to wait until 487 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,920 Speaker 2: we get near the finish and then divert us software 488 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 2: course and keep us from finishing. Those are all things 489 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 2: that went through our minds, and as it turns out, 490 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 2: nothing happened there, and we came down and crossed the 491 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 2: finish line, and we didn't hug each other and throw 492 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:36,159 Speaker 2: our arms up there and say we did it. We 493 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,400 Speaker 2: did it, but we were all kind of quietly pleased. 494 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 2: Three of us finished together. My boyfriend had dropped away, 495 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:46,159 Speaker 2: but he did eventually finish anyway. But it was then 496 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:49,639 Speaker 2: the journalists who are really crabby, and they took the 497 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 2: joy out of it. Of course, you know, telling me, 498 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:54,440 Speaker 2: what are you trying to prove again? What do you suffer, Jette. 499 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 2: They're very, very crabby and unwilling to understand, with the 500 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 2: exception of one, and his name was Joke and Kennon. 501 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 2: He was a young guy about twenty five years old, 502 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 2: and he was covering his first to Boston Marathon. And 503 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 2: this guy went on to become the Dean Marathon writing 504 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:15,120 Speaker 2: until his death with the Boston Globe. So that was interesting. 505 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:17,159 Speaker 2: And then and then we thought, okay, this is just 506 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 2: a crazy incident, and we went back to a friend's house. 507 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 2: We got a showers and food and a couple of beers, 508 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 2: and then we had to hit the road and get 509 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:26,720 Speaker 2: back to Syracuse. We had class and work the next day. 510 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 2: Boston in those days wasn't on Monday. It was always 511 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 2: on April nineteenth, and so we had class the next day, 512 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 2: and so, you know, we didn't get home until like 513 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 2: two in the morning, and it wasn't until he stopped 514 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:44,879 Speaker 2: on the truway in Aubany and we're getting some coffee 515 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:48,160 Speaker 2: and ice cream just to stay awake. When we saw 516 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 2: the newspapers and front and back, because you know, in 517 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 2: those days there are lots and lots of newspapers in 518 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 2: those wire racks. In all the cafes and there we 519 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:00,919 Speaker 2: looked at the paper and we all just looked at 520 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 2: each other and we said, oh my god, it was 521 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:06,760 Speaker 2: every one of them on the front page. So that's 522 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:09,480 Speaker 2: when I thought, well, my life is going to change. Now. 523 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 2: The boys were crowing. The boys were crowing like roosters 524 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,040 Speaker 2: in the barnyards. They thought it was really cool. Look 525 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:20,479 Speaker 2: wait that that guy. Ah, And I just got very 526 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 2: quiet because I thought, oh my gosh, my life is 527 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 2: going to change. And did it ever? I mean, it was. 528 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 2: It was a thing that changed my life. And you know, 529 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 2: you can do two things in life. You can you 530 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 2: can pick up the responsibility and make positive change or 531 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 2: some kind of deliberate change with that, or you can 532 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 2: walk away from it. And I felt terribly responsible for 533 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 2: what I had done. And then I was going to 534 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 2: try try, try to make a good out of it, 535 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 2: and I did so I was. It took my whole life, 536 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 2: and I'm still doing it. There's still a long way 537 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 2: to go, because most of the women in the world 538 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 2: still live in a fearful situation and running can really 539 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 2: help them, and it will continue to do that. But 540 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 2: it's a big world, and there's still a tremendous number 541 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:11,200 Speaker 2: of barricades and prejudices out there. 542 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:14,720 Speaker 1: Right, And you say responsible in what sounds to be 543 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 1: like you felt guilty about what you had done. Is 544 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 1: that how you felt? 545 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 2: Not at all? Not at all. I felt the burden 546 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 2: of responsibility. I felt that there was going to be 547 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 2: a lot of work, but I said no, no. I 548 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 2: felt quite delighted and happy, but resolute about what I 549 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:36,440 Speaker 2: had done. I didn't go to Boston to prove anything, 550 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 2: but that's what happened, and now I really needed to 551 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 2: follow up with it. If I walked away from it, 552 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 2: it would have been a disgrace. Instead, I embraced it 553 00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 2: full on and said, all right, I'm going to make 554 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 2: positive change here. But it was not easy because I 555 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,520 Speaker 2: was expelled from the Athletic Federation. I got a lot 556 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 2: of hate mail, but I also got a lot of 557 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 2: wonderful male and I got tremendous support from guys who 558 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 2: or runners, and that made all the difference. And just 559 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 2: piece by piece, step by step, we started making that change. 560 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 2: I think what I mean by responsibility, and this is 561 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,720 Speaker 2: a very very important thing in terms of business too, 562 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 2: is people always have an opportunity to do something better 563 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 2: or to change some social injustice. We all are surrounded 564 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:25,479 Speaker 2: by it. Most people will say, oh, I'm too busy 565 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:28,000 Speaker 2: or it's too hard, and they walk away from it. 566 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:32,040 Speaker 2: Picking it up and making positive change is not easy, 567 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 2: and it takes a lot of time, and it's hands on, 568 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:37,520 Speaker 2: nitty gritty work. And I was willing to do that. 569 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 2: And I often say that, you know the reason I 570 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 2: got the women's marathon in the Olympic Games is I 571 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 2: was a person who was willing to lift the envelopes 572 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 2: at night. You know, right right, you have to. You 573 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:50,240 Speaker 2: have to. You have to take all of it. You 574 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:52,400 Speaker 2: can have great ideas, but you've got to make it happen. 575 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 2: In it, it's piece by piece. The devil's always in 576 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:55,240 Speaker 2: the details. 577 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:58,600 Speaker 1: Got you, okay? So obviously you said that you got 578 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 1: banned from the BAA. I know that in nineteen seventy two. 579 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 1: That's when women were finally allowed to run in the 580 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 1: Boston Marathon for the first time. And then your personal 581 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:10,400 Speaker 1: best time shortly after that two fifty one thirty seven 582 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 1: at Boston in nineteen seventy five. 583 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, so getting women into the Boston Marathon took five years. 584 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 2: I mean, that's amazing because people like Sarah may Berman, 585 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:25,120 Speaker 2: Anina Cusick and others were pushing down to three hours, 586 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:28,480 Speaker 2: even under three hours, and they still weren't official. And 587 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:32,479 Speaker 2: finally we did our legislative work and got the Amateur 588 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 2: Athletic Union to admit women in long distance running, and 589 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:38,720 Speaker 2: there were some provisos, but we managed to work those 590 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 2: into Finally we finally were official in Boston seventy two, 591 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 2: and then became the big push to get women in 592 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:48,400 Speaker 2: a lot of other events. And my dream was then 593 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:51,320 Speaker 2: to get the women's marathon into the Olympic Games. And 594 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:54,400 Speaker 2: what I did with my skills is, first, you know, 595 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,000 Speaker 2: you decided to try to become a good athlete, so 596 00:31:57,040 --> 00:32:00,080 Speaker 2: I would have the credibility of being a good athlete. 597 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 2: I knew I was. I knew if the women's marathon 598 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:04,960 Speaker 2: got into the Olympic Games, I would never have the 599 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 2: talent to make the team. I just knew there were 600 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:10,600 Speaker 2: some incredible women runners out there who didn't know they 601 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:14,040 Speaker 2: were good, and if we could create the opportunity for them. 602 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 2: So I wrote a very big business proposal to Avon 603 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 2: Cosmetics and took it out to them and they hired 604 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 2: me and we created a global series of races, four 605 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,680 Speaker 2: hundred races in twenty seven countries, and we use the 606 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:31,320 Speaker 2: data statistics from those races to convince the International Olympic 607 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:33,920 Speaker 2: Committee to get the women's marathon in the Olympic Games. 608 00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 2: So people who say, oh, let's get this event in 609 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:38,560 Speaker 2: the Olympic Games, I say, yeah, sure, you can get 610 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:40,520 Speaker 2: your eventing Olympic Games if you're willing to do your 611 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:42,840 Speaker 2: homework and prove to the IOC that you have the 612 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:46,360 Speaker 2: international representation and the events in all those different countries. 613 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:53,000 Speaker 2: It was really, really very very tedious, but also wonderful 614 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 2: because people would say, in a place like Thailand or 615 00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:59,560 Speaker 2: the Philippines or Brazil, the women in our country don't 616 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 2: want to run, and they would come out by their thousands, 617 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:07,080 Speaker 2: and you know, we just changed everybody's notions, and women's 618 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 2: most importantly about running. They had fun, it was non intimidating, 619 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:17,080 Speaker 2: and they got pretty good too, so it was amazing. 620 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 2: And I believe frankly, when Joe Benoit Saminson came into 621 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:26,520 Speaker 2: that Olympic stadium for the first time in the women's marathon, 622 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 2: the inaugural one in nineteen eighty four, I think that 623 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:33,080 Speaker 2: moment was as important as giving women the right to vote, 624 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:36,400 Speaker 2: because the vote was about our social and cultural acceptance 625 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:40,800 Speaker 2: in nineteen twenty and this was now the physical acceptance 626 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:44,880 Speaker 2: in nineteen eighty four, where we realized women had equality 627 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:48,000 Speaker 2: in the most difficulty event in the Olympic Games with men, 628 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:51,840 Speaker 2: and everybody in the whole world watching on television knows 629 00:33:51,880 --> 00:33:55,480 Speaker 2: how far forty two point two kilometers or twenty six 630 00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 2: point two miles is and they know it's a long way, right, 631 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 2: you know, you understand distance. You understand distance. They said, 632 00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:04,880 Speaker 2: holy to lead, here are women running out. You know, 633 00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 2: it's amazing. 634 00:34:05,760 --> 00:34:08,440 Speaker 1: And after working that hard to get the marathon for 635 00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:10,560 Speaker 1: women to be a part of the games, you were 636 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 1: actually one of the television commentators for the nineteen eighty 637 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:15,040 Speaker 1: four games. Is that right? 638 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:19,520 Speaker 2: When it came time for the Olympic Marathon, ABC did 639 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:22,560 Speaker 2: not have a commentator. They said, you know, we have 640 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:25,160 Speaker 2: this new event called the Women's marathon, but we don't 641 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,680 Speaker 2: have anybody here knows anything about it. And I just 642 00:34:27,719 --> 00:34:29,239 Speaker 2: looked at them and I held up my hand. I 643 00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:31,800 Speaker 2: said I know a lot about it, and I said, okay, 644 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,440 Speaker 2: you're hired. So there I was, you know, kind of 645 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:38,560 Speaker 2: a blazer and Michael pron and L Michael and doing 646 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:41,360 Speaker 2: the commentary and that. You know, I had been doing 647 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:45,279 Speaker 2: bits and pieces of TV, but that was that was 648 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:47,839 Speaker 2: the big one. And from that I'd done several other 649 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:51,799 Speaker 2: Olympics and World Championships and stuff like that. But more 650 00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:55,439 Speaker 2: interestingly is that, I think, not more interestingly, but also 651 00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:59,600 Speaker 2: interesting is I've done the commentary of Boston Marathon for 652 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:04,319 Speaker 2: forty one consecutive years, and this year I've officially retired. 653 00:35:06,640 --> 00:35:09,400 Speaker 2: You know what I said, I said, when an American 654 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:13,319 Speaker 2: woman finally wins the Boston Marathon again, I'm retiring. And 655 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:16,360 Speaker 2: when Desie Linden won last year, I looked at a 656 00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:19,640 Speaker 2: hard producer, I said, it's the end of the road 657 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:20,040 Speaker 2: for me. 658 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:23,520 Speaker 1: Oh man, So obviously you mentioned you're going to be 659 00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:25,319 Speaker 1: running the five k, but what else are you going 660 00:35:25,360 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 1: to be doing on marathon Monday? 661 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:30,759 Speaker 2: Oh, We've got so much. Mostly my efforts are going 662 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:33,120 Speaker 2: to be with two six one fearless. So let me 663 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:35,400 Speaker 2: tell you about two six one fearless. Who would have 664 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:38,479 Speaker 2: ever imagined that that BIB number that the official try 665 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:40,680 Speaker 2: to rip off of me would become a magic number 666 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,760 Speaker 2: meaning fearless in the face of adversity. I never would 667 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:47,200 Speaker 2: have imagined that for forty five years that number was 668 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:50,520 Speaker 2: three digits, and suddenly people began telling me it made 669 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:52,640 Speaker 2: them feel fearless and that they were wearing that on 670 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:55,920 Speaker 2: their back in their next race, and how running had 671 00:35:55,960 --> 00:36:00,480 Speaker 2: changed their lives, and they just used that number is 672 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:03,440 Speaker 2: a symbol, and I thought, how interesting. I wonder what 673 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:05,640 Speaker 2: this really means. And actually, what it does mean is 674 00:36:05,640 --> 00:36:07,799 Speaker 2: that we've all been told at one time in our 675 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:10,160 Speaker 2: life or the other that you know, we're not good enough, 676 00:36:10,239 --> 00:36:12,719 Speaker 2: or we're not welcome, or we're not cool, and then 677 00:36:12,719 --> 00:36:14,680 Speaker 2: we go run and we feel like we can do 678 00:36:14,719 --> 00:36:19,400 Speaker 2: anything when we can. So we took this sense of 679 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:23,480 Speaker 2: spirit and took the number because the word fearless was 680 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:27,680 Speaker 2: always been used with it, and we created a nonprofit 681 00:36:27,719 --> 00:36:30,520 Speaker 2: called two six 's One Fearless, where we reach out 682 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:36,479 Speaker 2: around the world different villages, cities, countries to offer women 683 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:40,759 Speaker 2: the opportunity to take the first step. And you know, 684 00:36:41,719 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 2: so many women live in a fearful situation and they 685 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:47,879 Speaker 2: think they can't do anything, and we're saying, tell her 686 00:36:48,239 --> 00:36:50,920 Speaker 2: she can't, take her by the hands, bring her out 687 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:55,200 Speaker 2: for an afternoon one day a week and get her 688 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:59,719 Speaker 2: to move with you. Walk, run, talk, whatever, and it 689 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:04,160 Speaker 2: is quite life changing because running is transformation and sometimes 690 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:08,359 Speaker 2: people just need to have that moment to take that 691 00:37:08,440 --> 00:37:12,240 Speaker 2: first leap. And you know, I say that this fearful 692 00:37:12,280 --> 00:37:15,200 Speaker 2: woman may be in a different country, but she also 693 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:18,960 Speaker 2: could be your next door neighbor and even in your workplace. 694 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:21,160 Speaker 2: She may be competent in so many areas, but she 695 00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:25,399 Speaker 2: may be so fearful about your capability and running. When 696 00:37:25,440 --> 00:37:28,319 Speaker 2: you feel empowered to changes everything in your life. You 697 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:30,120 Speaker 2: feel like you can get a better education or a 698 00:37:30,120 --> 00:37:33,320 Speaker 2: better job, or apply for something that's better in your office, 699 00:37:33,480 --> 00:37:35,960 Speaker 2: or leave a bad relationship, all of those things that 700 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:38,960 Speaker 2: gives you the courage to do. So that's what we're 701 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:40,840 Speaker 2: doing with two six one Fearless. And I've got a 702 00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:44,960 Speaker 2: whole team of women who are running here in Boston 703 00:37:45,080 --> 00:37:49,279 Speaker 2: and they're raising funds with charity Bibs to help fund 704 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:52,800 Speaker 2: the foundation, which is going gangbusters around the world. We're 705 00:37:52,960 --> 00:37:55,920 Speaker 2: already in eleven countries with over two thousand women involved. 706 00:37:56,080 --> 00:37:57,200 Speaker 2: It's true awesome. 707 00:37:57,360 --> 00:37:59,200 Speaker 1: That's so awesome. And I know when you ran the 708 00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:01,839 Speaker 1: Boston Marathon twenty seventeen, you were running with some of 709 00:38:01,880 --> 00:38:06,000 Speaker 1: the women from two six one Fearless as well, we had. 710 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:09,279 Speaker 2: One hundred and twenty five people on our team. We 711 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:14,319 Speaker 2: had one hundred and eighteen women and seven intrepid guys, 712 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:17,879 Speaker 2: and we really wanted these guys to run with us, 713 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:20,200 Speaker 2: and they really wanted to run with us too, because 714 00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:23,680 Speaker 2: it was sort of a gesture to the guys who 715 00:38:23,719 --> 00:38:27,360 Speaker 2: had helped me so much in nineteen sixty seven, the 716 00:38:27,760 --> 00:38:31,120 Speaker 2: guys surrounding us in the immediate team, which were so. 717 00:38:31,120 --> 00:38:34,520 Speaker 1: Wonderful, right right, And obviously, I mean, you've made such 718 00:38:34,560 --> 00:38:38,279 Speaker 1: an outstanding career from your passion for running. But when 719 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:40,680 Speaker 1: you're not running, and when you're not speaking, and when 720 00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:44,040 Speaker 1: you're not inspiring, what are some things that Catherine likes 721 00:38:44,080 --> 00:38:46,080 Speaker 1: to do that have nothing to do with running. 722 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:50,600 Speaker 2: Well, first of all, you know, there's a huge frustration 723 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:53,040 Speaker 2: in my life, which is that my house is immense. 724 00:38:55,040 --> 00:38:58,680 Speaker 2: We really love to clean it up, and it's tedious 725 00:38:58,719 --> 00:39:02,160 Speaker 2: because there's a lot of paper and photographs, an incredible memorabilia. 726 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:04,680 Speaker 2: So where's that stuff going to go? And how do 727 00:39:04,719 --> 00:39:06,719 Speaker 2: you sort it? And it always takes too much time. 728 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:09,919 Speaker 2: So that's a frustration. But also something I take great 729 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:12,520 Speaker 2: joy in is finally clearing out a drawer or a 730 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:16,319 Speaker 2: box or something anyway, But by the bye, what do 731 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:18,360 Speaker 2: I love? You know, I really love film and I 732 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:23,480 Speaker 2: really love theater. Just a few days ago I took 733 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:25,480 Speaker 2: off a day and went into the city with my 734 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:29,359 Speaker 2: husband Roger, who is Roger Robinson, terrific, terrific writer. By 735 00:39:29,360 --> 00:39:31,359 Speaker 2: the way, he's just just out with a new book 736 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:35,760 Speaker 2: called When Running Made History and a fabulous book. Everybody's 737 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:38,560 Speaker 2: loving this book. Anyway, we just took the day and 738 00:39:38,600 --> 00:39:41,319 Speaker 2: when we saw a fabulous production of Julius Caesar in 739 00:39:41,360 --> 00:39:44,680 Speaker 2: the city and had dinner with friends. So I would say, 740 00:39:44,960 --> 00:39:51,560 Speaker 2: film and theater is a joy. And honestly, read reading 741 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:54,760 Speaker 2: all the time. I just try whenever I can to 742 00:39:54,960 --> 00:39:58,839 Speaker 2: go through books. And actually I'm frustrated that I don't 743 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:00,640 Speaker 2: have enough time to read as much as I want. 744 00:40:00,760 --> 00:40:02,680 Speaker 2: But you know, if you just read ten minutes every 745 00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:04,279 Speaker 2: night before you go to sleep, you can put through 746 00:40:04,320 --> 00:40:06,360 Speaker 2: a lot of books and awesome. 747 00:40:06,440 --> 00:40:09,120 Speaker 1: And then obviously, you know a lot of people for 748 00:40:09,239 --> 00:40:12,960 Speaker 1: some time now have followed your journey all the way 749 00:40:12,960 --> 00:40:15,680 Speaker 1: back from Boston till now. When they look at you, 750 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:19,799 Speaker 1: they see the first woman that ran the Boston Marathon registered. 751 00:40:19,920 --> 00:40:22,160 Speaker 1: But when you look in the mirror, what is it 752 00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:23,040 Speaker 1: that you see. 753 00:40:24,600 --> 00:40:27,080 Speaker 2: You know, I see a pretty ordinary person, you know, 754 00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:32,040 Speaker 2: increasingly wrinkled. It doesn't have the face of the legs 755 00:40:32,040 --> 00:40:35,279 Speaker 2: you used to have. But I say, cheaper is. You know, 756 00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:38,400 Speaker 2: I've had a really quite amazing life and the women 757 00:40:38,480 --> 00:40:41,520 Speaker 2: I have met and men have given back so much 758 00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:45,919 Speaker 2: to me. And what I think is, you know, I'm 759 00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:49,279 Speaker 2: a really very ordinary person. I'm not talented, but I 760 00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:52,840 Speaker 2: just am a good example of somebody who can dig deep, 761 00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:56,560 Speaker 2: can get down there, be persistent. I'm not a dog 762 00:40:56,640 --> 00:40:59,200 Speaker 2: with a boat, and we can all be like that. 763 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:02,920 Speaker 2: Just get the job done. People have said to me 764 00:41:02,960 --> 00:41:05,600 Speaker 2: the most amazing things kind of about Ragels. They say 765 00:41:05,640 --> 00:41:08,720 Speaker 2: I was destined for that moment in the Boston Marathon 766 00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:12,960 Speaker 2: in nineteen sixty seven, And that is such baloney. You know, 767 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:17,359 Speaker 2: that was a moment of incredible coincidence. And what I 768 00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:21,160 Speaker 2: say is destiny is really finishing the job. And destiny 769 00:41:21,280 --> 00:41:26,400 Speaker 2: is also not ignoring the responsibility that once you take on, 770 00:41:26,400 --> 00:41:29,120 Speaker 2: once you take on a project or you made a 771 00:41:29,160 --> 00:41:31,400 Speaker 2: decision to do something, you need to stay the course, 772 00:41:31,480 --> 00:41:34,960 Speaker 2: stick it out and make it good as much as 773 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:36,160 Speaker 2: good as you possibly can. 774 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:39,920 Speaker 1: I love that, all right. Well, the question I always 775 00:41:39,960 --> 00:41:42,880 Speaker 1: wind down with here on the podcast. You have the 776 00:41:42,920 --> 00:41:46,320 Speaker 1: opportunity right now to give the Catherine running that race 777 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:49,600 Speaker 1: one piece of advice, looking back on that Hurtle moment 778 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:52,360 Speaker 1: right now, what would you tell. 779 00:41:52,160 --> 00:41:56,600 Speaker 2: Her, Well, it wouldn't be on looking on that one 780 00:41:56,880 --> 00:42:02,040 Speaker 2: moment in the race. She did exactly what she should 781 00:42:02,080 --> 00:42:04,440 Speaker 2: have done, which is to put her head down and 782 00:42:04,560 --> 00:42:07,799 Speaker 2: finish the race. And that's exactly what I would tell 783 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:10,960 Speaker 2: people to do. But over the course of my life, 784 00:42:11,040 --> 00:42:14,040 Speaker 2: the one thing I would tell Catherine, the young Catherine 785 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:17,560 Speaker 2: is you don't have to make it quite so hard. 786 00:42:18,320 --> 00:42:20,560 Speaker 2: You know, you have a lot more gifts than you 787 00:42:20,600 --> 00:42:23,439 Speaker 2: think you do, and also you have a lot more 788 00:42:23,480 --> 00:42:26,839 Speaker 2: resources out there with other people where you can talk 789 00:42:26,880 --> 00:42:30,440 Speaker 2: about things and share this burden. For so long I 790 00:42:30,480 --> 00:42:34,200 Speaker 2: thought it was just me and without much support, and 791 00:42:34,239 --> 00:42:37,399 Speaker 2: actually there are so many wonderful people who would are 792 00:42:37,440 --> 00:42:40,279 Speaker 2: always happy to share the burden. So that's I think 793 00:42:40,320 --> 00:42:41,920 Speaker 2: what I would tell her now. 794 00:42:42,600 --> 00:42:46,080 Speaker 1: Amazing, Well, Catherine, thank you so so much for your time. 795 00:42:46,120 --> 00:42:48,440 Speaker 1: I know you're quite busy this time of year, and 796 00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:51,000 Speaker 1: I wish you so much luck in that five k 797 00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:55,000 Speaker 1: and obviously a wonderful day out there on marathon Monday. 798 00:42:55,040 --> 00:42:56,760 Speaker 1: It's truly special. 799 00:42:58,120 --> 00:43:00,319 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, and thank you for joining us 800 00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:01,720 Speaker 2: at the Boston America. 801 00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:04,000 Speaker 1: Please take a moment and leave a quick review by 802 00:43:04,000 --> 00:43:07,000 Speaker 1: clicking the link with the description to this episode. We 803 00:43:07,040 --> 00:43:09,600 Speaker 1: all face multiple hurdles in life, and I want to 804 00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:12,080 Speaker 1: hear about yours. Reach Out to me at Emily at 805 00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:15,400 Speaker 1: hurdle dot us. Connect with the podcast on Instagram and 806 00:43:15,480 --> 00:43:19,400 Speaker 1: Twitter at Hurdle Podcast Catherine. Where do they find you 807 00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:21,880 Speaker 1: on social How do they keep up with you wherever 808 00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:22,360 Speaker 1: you may be? 809 00:43:22,800 --> 00:43:27,759 Speaker 2: Please go to two six one fearless dot org. That's 810 00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:28,359 Speaker 2: the best way. 811 00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:30,880 Speaker 1: Awesome. Thank you so much. You can find me on 812 00:43:30,960 --> 00:43:35,600 Speaker 1: Instagram at Emily Abadi. Another hurdle conquered. Catch you guys 813 00:43:35,600 --> 00:43:36,040 Speaker 1: next time.