Several years ago Lenore and I became better acquainted with Kathrine Switzer at the Victoria Marathon in British Columbia, Canada. As we prepared for the 2014 Yakima River Canyon Marathon (YRCM) on April 5, 2014, our first choices for speakers were Kathrine and her husband Roger Robinson. We were excited when they accepted our invitation and knew that it would make our 14th annual YRCM “extra special.”
 |
| Bob and Lenore Dolphin |
The contribution of this “Dynamic Duo” to the Running Sport is unique. Kathrine is the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a registered runner….wearing bib #261. She did this at the 1967 race in just over four hours. In 1974 she was the first overall woman finisher in the New York City Marathon. In a return visit to the Boston Marathon in 1975, she was the second woman overall to finish with a fast time of 2:51:37. In 1977, Avon Products agreed with her to sponsor a women’s marathon. This pioneer event was successful, so an international women’s running program was instituted. As her influence grew, she authored books, provided running commentary by radio and television at races, was in demand as a guest speaker and became a perennial running and racing leader.
alf Marathon returned. In true Portland fashion, a cool morning drizzle led to alternating periods of sunny skies and rainy downpour as the last of the more than 10,000 entrants finished.
