Better Faster Farther

How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women

De: Maggie Mertens

Narrado por: Maggie Mertens, Lauren Fleshman - introduction

“From foot-binding to corsets, patriarchal societies have found ways to immobilize women, but now, marathoners and Olympians are proving that women can run like the wind!” —GLORIA STEINEM

"A look behind the curtain that all women who love running and sport should read.” —KARA GOUCHER, Olympic runner and New York Times-bestselling author of The Longest Race

More than a century ago, a woman ran in the very first modern Olympic marathon. She just did it without permission. Award-winning journalist Maggie Mertens uncovers the story of how women broke into competitive running and how they are getting faster and fiercer every day—and changing our understanding of what is possible as they go.

Despite women proving their abilities on the track time and again, men in the medical establishment, media, and athletic associations have fought to keep women (or at least white women) fragile—and sometimes literally tried to push them out of the race (see Kathrine Switzer, Boston Marathon, 1967). Yet before there were running shoes for women, they ran barefoot or in nursing shoes. They ran without sports bras, which weren’t invented until 1977, or disguised as men. They faced down doctors who put them on bed rest and newspaper reports that said women collapsed if they ran a mere eight hundred meters, just two laps around the track. Still today, women face relentless attention to their bodies: Is she too strong, too masculine? Is she even really a woman?

Mertens transports us from that first boundary-breaking marathon in Greece, 1896, to the earliest “official” women’s races of the twentieth century to today’s most intense ultramarathons, in which women are setting all-out records, even against men. For fans of Good and Mad, Born to Run, and Fly Girls, Better Faster Farther takes us inside the lives and the victories of the women who have redefined society’s image of strength and power.

"An essential read to normalize women's existence, excellence, and humanity within the sport of running.” —ALISON MARIELLA DÉSIR

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Maggie Mertens (P)2024 Algonquin Books

Reseñas de la Crítica

“From foot-binding to corsets, patriarchal societies have found ways to immobilize women, but now, marathoners and Olympians are proving that women can run like the wind!”—Gloria Steinem

"It is hard and frustrating—and ultimately inspiring—to read about how women have continually been dismissed throughout our sport's history. This book shows and credits so many of them, who hurdled roadblocks and continued to fight for their place. Better Faster Farther is a look behind the curtain that all women who love running and sport should read.”—Kara Goucher, Olympic runner and New York Times-bestselling author of The Longest Race

“Better Faster Farther traces the history of scrutiny over women's bodies and capabilities as runners at the intersections of race, gender identity, and sex development making clear just how little we actually know (and care to know) about them. An essential read to normalize women's existence, excellence and humanity within the sport of running.”—Alison Mariella Désir, author Running While Black

“With her evocative prose and ever-present attention to detail, Maggie Mertens has written a much-needed examination of women's running. Better Faster Farther is a blistering examination of how sexism, racism, and transphobia have so deeply impacted a sport that should be the ultimate democratizer. This book has the potential to change the sport as we know it.”—Frankie de la Cretaz, co-author of Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women's Football League

Incorrect assumptions about women running

I liked the history of the difficulty that women have had in becoming competitive runners. And I am glad that they broke down the barriers because, though I'm a casual runner, we raised 4 daughters, one of which is an avid runner.

Well researched, covered vast history and viewpoints

Enjoyed the storytelling and data driven back up notes. Glad to see attention being brought to these tremendous athletes

Loved it!

The history is fascinating and the book is empowering. I will be reading this one again!

Great detail

Maggie did a remarkable job of researching this topic and writing a very detailed and enjoyable book.