52 | Kathrine Switzer

Say the name Kathrine Switzer and many people aren’t sure who she is. Say, “the woman who
was accosted during the 1967 Boston Marathon because she was running in an event for men
only,” and it’s an image people recognize and remember. Kathrine had no idea what a historic run Boston would be; it became the spark for her life path. She went on to work at Avon and develop Avon Global Women’s Running, then advocated to have the women’s marathon included in the Olympics. She has also written books, commentated for major races, spoken to groups all over the world, and was the honorary starter for the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics in 2024. Her number in the 1967 Boston Marathon, 261, became an inspiration for women and then the namesake of 261 Fearless, a non-profit Kathrine co-founded in 2015. She continues to open doors for women, encouraging them through running and helping them feel empowered, no matter their circumstances.