Lauren HollandBy Lauren Holland

Updated November 2026

The first woman marathon runner in the modern sense is generally recognized as Kathrine Switzer, who ran the 1967 Boston Marathon as a registered entrant under the initials K.V. Switzer. Women had run marathon distances before, but Switzer was the first to complete a major race as an officially numbered woman entrant. Her finish, and the attempt to remove her from the course, became a turning point for women in distance running.

Why the Question Is Harder Than It Sounds

Historians point out that women covered marathon distances well before 1967. In 1926 Violet Piercy ran a distance of about 26 miles in England, and in 1928 Melpomene Bonnie Hanna completed a women’s race in Boston that was not sanctioned by the official race. The first woman marathon runner question depends on what you count: a sanctioned race, an official entry, or a finish recorded by the organizers. Switzer’s case stands out because she was a numbered, registered entrant in a major event that did not allow women to enter.

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Race rules at the time limited the field to men. Switzer registered and was given a bib, which made her entry legitimate by the race’s own paperwork. When officials tried to pull her from the course, her coach and boyfriend, Tom Miller, and other runners shielded her, and she finished the race.

What Made the 1967 Race a Turning Point

Several factors came together to make Switzer’s run significant:

  • Official entry: She registered as K.V. Switzer, so her participation was documented rather than unofficial.
  • Public visibility: Photographs of the attempt to remove her circulated widely, which drew attention to the rule.
  • Rule change: The Boston Athletic Association and other race bodies later opened events to women, and women’s marathons were eventually added to the Olympic program in 1984.
  • Personal persistence: Switzer went on to run the New York City Marathon and to advocate for women’s distance running for decades.

How to Research or Cite the Story Accurately

If you are writing about the first woman marathon runner, check your sources carefully. Race records, contemporary newspaper coverage, and Switzer’s own memoir are useful starting points. Note the difference between “first woman to run a marathon” and “first woman to complete a major race as a registered entrant.” The two claims lead to different answers.

Practical steps for researching this topic:

  1. Start with the original race results and entry records from the event you are covering.
  2. Compare dates, bib details, and finishing times across at least two independent sources.
  3. Separate unsanctioned early races from officially entered ones.
  4. Credit Switzer’s registration and the 1967 context when describing her achievement.

For more on the 1967 story and related history, see Who Was the First Woman to Run a Marathon? Kathrine Switzer's 1967 Race and First Woman Runner in Boston Marathon: Who Was She and When?. Readers interested in the broader origins of the event may also find Who Was the First Marathon Runner? The 490 BC Story Explained useful.

What We’d Use

For readers who want to dig deeper into this history, a well-reviewed women’s running history book is a solid place to start: View on Amazon. For a companion read on women pioneers in endurance sport, consider: View on Amazon.

FAQ

Who is considered the first woman marathon runner?

Kathrine Switzer is widely credited as the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a registered entrant in 1967, which is often cited as the first official women’s marathon finish in a major race.

Did women run marathons before 1967?

Yes. Earlier women covered marathon distances in unofficial or unsanctioned events, including races in the 1920s, but these did not carry official entry status in major events.

Why did the 1967 Boston Marathon matter?

It exposed the rule barring women from entering, sparked public debate, and helped pave the way for women’s inclusion in major marathons and, later, the Olympic marathon in 1984.

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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.