By Lauren HollandUpdated November 2026
The first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1966 was Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb, who finished the race unofficially in about 3 hours and 21 minutes. She had no bib number because women were not permitted to enter, so she hid in the bushes near the start in Hopkinton and joined the field once the gun had gone off. Her run is a key part of the story of women’s access to distance running.
Who Was Roberta Gibb?
Roberta Gibb was a Massachusetts runner who had been training seriously for distance races. At the time, the Boston Athletic Association, which organized the race, limited official entry to men. Women were widely believed to be physically unable to handle 26.2 miles, and many race officials and doctors of the period repeated that view. Gibb, who had already run long distances in training, decided she wanted to test the race for herself.
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On race morning in April 1966, she left her clothes in the bushes at the start area, which allowed her to blend in with the other runners. She began running with the field and was not stopped during the race. Spectators and some runners reportedly noticed her, and her finish was recorded without official standing because she had no registration.
Why the 1966 Run Was Unofficial
The main reason Gibb’s finish was unofficial is that the Boston Marathon at that time had a strict men-only entry rule. Race organizers did not recognize women as eligible competitors, so no official result was given to her. Her time still circulated widely, and it has been cited ever since as a milestone. Four Week 5K Training Plan: Run Your First 5K in 28 Days goes further into this.
Several factors shaped the situation:
- Entry rules: Official registration was limited to men, and bib numbers were issued only to those who qualified under that policy.
- Medical assumptions: Many people believed that long-distance running was harmful to women, a view that the sport’s governing bodies had not yet challenged.
- Lack of race-day checks: Runners were not screened as they joined the field, so someone without a number could start with the crowd.
- Limited coverage: Media attention to women’s running was minimal, which meant Gibb’s run did not get immediate broad recognition.
What Happened Next for Women at Boston
Gibb’s run was a notable step, but the race did not open to women immediately. In 1967, Kathrine Switzer registered for the Boston Marathon using her initials, K.V. Switzer, and became the first woman to run it with an official number. During that race, an official tried to pull her off the course, and she finished with her teammates’ support. Her experience drew significant press attention and helped push the race toward accepting women as official entrants.
The Boston Athletic Association did not formally allow women to enter as registered runners until 1972. Gibb’s 1966 finish, Switzer’s 1967 race and the years of pressure in between all contributed to that change.
How to Learn More About the Story
If you want to understand the context of the 1966 run, it helps to look at the broader history of women’s distance running and the rules that governed races at the time. The following steps can help you research it accurately.
- Check the Boston Athletic Association’s historical materials, which cover the race’s rule changes over time.
- Read contemporary newspaper coverage from April 1966 and 1967 to see how the press framed the events.
- Look at accounts from Roberta Gibb herself, who has described her run in interviews and writing.
- Compare the 1966 and 1967 races to understand why one was unofficial and the other drew official sanction.
- Note that finish times for unofficial runners are often reported differently across sources, so verify any specific time against more than one reliable record.
Related questions
For more background on the history and the people involved, see First Woman to Run in Boston Marathon: Who Was She and When? and Who Was the First Woman to Run a Marathon? Kathrine Switzer's 1967 Race. You can also read Who Was the First Female Marathon Runner? History and Key Facts for a wider view.
Did Roberta Gibb officially finish the 1966 Boston Marathon?
No. She finished without an official bib or registration, so her time was never recorded as an official result.
Why did women have to run unofficially in 1966?
The Boston Marathon limited entry to men at that time, so women could not register legally and were not given bib numbers.
Who was the first woman to run Boston with an official number?
Kathrine Switzer ran in 1967 under the initials K.V. Switzer and is generally recognized as the first woman to run with an official bib.
When did women become official entrants at Boston?
The Boston Athletic Association opened official entry to women in 1972, after years of pressure following earlier runs like Gibb’s and Switzer’s.
Is it safe for women to run marathons?
Women can run marathons safely when they train progressively and listen to their bodies. Anyone with a health condition should consult a doctor before starting a marathon training plan.
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About Lauren Holland
Lauren Holland is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our marathon & half-marathon guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.
