Lauren HollandBy Lauren Holland

Updated November 2026

The first woman to run a marathon in an official, numbered race was Kathrine Switzer, who ran the 1967 Boston Marathon as a registered entrant. Women had run marathon distances before that, but they were not officially allowed to enter most major races, so their runs went unrecorded. Switzer’s race changed that conversation for good.

Why the Question Is Harder Than It Sounds

People often ask about the first woman to run a marathon as if there were a single clear answer. The reality is messier. Women had been covering marathon distances for decades before 1967, usually in informal or unsanctioned events. Some ran the Boston course unofficially in earlier years, and women’s distance running clubs existed in Europe and elsewhere. The problem was not ability. It was that governing bodies and race directors did not permit women to register, and so there was no official record to point to.

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Because of this, the honest answer depends on what you count. If you mean the first woman to complete a marathon at all, the answer is lost to the record. If you mean the first woman to run a marathon as an officially entered, numbered competitor in a major race, the answer is Switzer in Boston in 1967.

What Happened in Boston in 1967

Switzer registered using only her initials, K.V. Switzer, which was a common practice at the time to avoid gender-based rejection. She ran the Boston course with a small group of male training partners. Partway through the race, a race official, Jock Semple, tried to pull her off the course. Her boyfriend and fellow runners shielded her and kept her moving, and she finished the race. Photographs of the moment became widely published and helped push the sport toward opening its doors to women.

Her finishing time was about four hours and twenty minutes. That result matters less as a benchmark than as proof that women could complete the distance in a sanctioned event. For context on how marathon times have shifted since then, see our guide to Average First Marathon Time: What Most Beginners Run and Why.

Why the Rules Mattered and What Changed

Several factors kept women out of official marathons for most of the twentieth century. Medical and physiological assumptions were widely and wrongly held, including the belief that the distance was harmful to women. Race organizers cited limited resources and tradition. Governing bodies did not sanction women’s events at this distance. Switzer’s entry and the public reaction to it pushed organizers to reconsider, and the Boston Marathon officially opened to women in 1972. The women’s Olympic marathon followed in 1984, and the story of that race is covered in First Women's Olympic Marathon Winner: Joan Benoit and the 1984 Race.

Understanding this history also clarifies why early women’s records are hard to verify. Many performances were never timed under official rules, so they cannot be compared directly with modern results.

What It Means If You Are Training Today

The history is useful if you are planning your own first marathon. Women now run marathons in large numbers, and the same preparation principles apply regardless of gender: build weekly mileage gradually, include one long run per week, and taper before race day. The distance demands respect, but it is not reserved for anyone.

  • Register for a sanctioned race with published rules and timing, so your result is officially recorded.
  • Build mileage gradually, usually no more than about 10 percent per week.
  • Schedule long runs that reach 18 to 20 miles at peak training, adjusted to your experience.
  • Practice fueling during long runs so you know what your stomach tolerates.
  • Taper for two to three weeks before race day to arrive rested.
  • Consult a doctor before starting a new training program, especially if you have a medical condition.

If you are still choosing a race, our overview of Best First Marathon to Run: How to Pick the Right Race for Your Debut covers course profile, logistics and field size.

Did women run marathons before 1967?

Yes, women ran marathon distances before 1967, but usually in unofficial events or outside sanctioned races. Those performances were often not timed or recorded under standard rules.

Was Kathrine Switzer the first woman to finish the Boston Marathon?

She was the first woman to run Boston as an officially entered competitor in 1967 and to finish it while registered, though women had run the course unofficially in earlier years.

When did women become officially allowed in the Boston Marathon?

The Boston Marathon officially opened its field to women in 1972, five years after Switzer’s race.

Why did Jock Semple try to remove Kathrine Switzer?

Semple, a race official, objected to a woman being on the course because women were not permitted to enter the race at that time. Switzer continued running with help from her companions.

Is there an official record of the first woman to complete any marathon?

No single official record exists for the first woman to complete a marathon at all, because early women’s runs were rarely timed or recorded under sanctioned rules.

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Lauren Holland

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.