• Marathon Woman

  • Running the Race to Revolutionize Women's Sports
  • By: Kathrine Switzer
  • Narrated by: Kathrine Switzer
  • Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (200 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Marathon Woman  By  cover art

Marathon Woman

By: Kathrine Switzer
Narrated by: Kathrine Switzer
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

A new edition of a sports icon's memoir, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Kathrine Switzer's historic running of the Boston Marathon as the first woman to run.

In 1967, Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially run what was then the all-male Boston Marathon, infuriating one of the event's directors who attempted to violently eject her. In one of the most iconic sports moments, Switzer escaped and finished the race. She made history - and is poised to do it again on the 50th anniversary of that initial race, when she will run the 2017 Boston Marathon at age 70. Now a spokesperson for Reebok, Switzer is also the founder of 261 Fearless, a foundation dedicated to creating opportunities for women on all fronts, as this groundbreaking sports hero has done throughout her life.

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

©2017 Kathrine Switzer (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"A thoughtfully written memoir...[Switzer is] still running strong; she's headed back to Boston this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her 1967 pioneering run, making this a perfect time to brush up on running history." (Mother Runner)

"Kathrine Switzer is the Susan B. Anthony of women's marathoning." (Joan Benoit Samuelson, first Olympic Gold Medalist in the women's marathon)

What listeners say about Marathon Woman

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    177
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    150
  • 4 Stars
    18
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    158
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing - truly amazing!

As a woman runner for 8 years I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to discover this book. I am in completely in awe of this woman and am so glad to know this amazing piece of our herstory! This book is amazing - listen to it now!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

Highly recommend this book to all runners! Kathrine's story is so inspirational! Loved it so much!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Must read for any sports fan

If you think you know the story of Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run a marathon, chances are you only know the beginning. This book, and the performance by Katherine herself was sensational. A must listen to get her full energy! I’m a high performance athlete and business professional who has read/ listened to so many sports bios and started to feel there was a shocking lack of women telling their stories. Katherine not only tells the story of her running career leading the way for more female runners but also details how she dedicated her professional career to advance gender equity across sport ( in general) and sports sponsorships. An incredible story told by an incredible person... this won’t be the only time I listen to this one. Thank you K. Switzer!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Unbelievable how recent womens' running started!

Takes me back to why I like running. Great running struggles and stories and I could relate.

Also it is amazing how unaware I was of the "controversy" over girls and women running--I didn't think twice about it! All thanks to the women pioneers who forged this sport. Cross-country as a freshman in high school in 1990 put me on a fantastic trajectory in life that is still unfolding (and I am still running 25 miles a week!)

As a shout out to the guys: I always felt I had encouragement from them for being able to run longer distances. Men and guy friends always have offered a compliment, even yesterday from my retired neighbor when I finished (sweaty) in front of my home. Run like a girl everyone! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Kathrine Switzer!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Marathon Woman Has It All

I absolutely loved every story that Kathrine Switzer shared about running!
She shared trials and tribulations of the era of women’s running! One of the best books to motivate one to run a marathon! Running has come a long way from the 1970’s or really 1967!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Go girl power

I had never connected the dots in some of these events. It was a great history of women basically from our marathon beginnings. Kathrine was a key player in legitimizing women’s distance running, who knew she wasn’t just the girl Boston tried to take of the course in that famous photo.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

I loved it from the first page. Interesting to hear how far woman’s running has come

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great read for all

Fantastic story and wonderful achievements. But as a runner and as a sports administrator trailblazer. Well worth a listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I love everything about this book

I'm a Huge History Nerd, And a Huge running nerd, And.. . . Well .. . . This book just pushed all my happy buttons.

You should read this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Friend

Great story about a pioneer who my wife Cindy and I became friends with during the historic women’s running movement. It is awesome that we were a part of it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!