Boston, MA
Boston, MA
Posted on Mar 4, 2023
Honoring Bobbi Gibb – First Women to Run the Boston Marathon
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“When she applied to run in the Boston Marathon in 1966 they rejected her saying: “Women are not physiologically able to run a marathon, and we can’t take the liability.”
On the day of the marathon, Bobbi Gibb hid in the bushes and waited for the race to begin. When about half of the runners had gone past she jumped in.
She wore her brother’s Bermuda shorts, a pair of boy’s sneakers, a bathing suit, and a sweatshirt. As she took off into the swarm of runners, Gibb started to feel overheated, but she didn’t remove her hoodie. “I knew if they saw me, they were going to try to stop me,” she said. “I even thought I might be arrested.”
It didn’t take long for male runners in Gibb’s vicinity to realize that she was not another man. Gibb expected them to shoulder her off the road, or call out to the police. Instead, the other runners told her that if anyone tried to interfere with her race, they would put a stop to it. Finally feeling secure and assured, Gibb took off her sweatshirt.
On the day of the marathon, Bobbi Gibb hid in the bushes and waited for the race to begin. When about half of the runners had gone past she jumped in.
She wore her brother’s Bermuda shorts, a pair of boy’s sneakers, a bathing suit, and a sweatshirt. As she took off into the swarm of runners, Gibb started to feel overheated, but she didn’t remove her hoodie. “I knew if they saw me, they were going to try to stop me,” she said. “I even thought I might be arrested.”
It didn’t take long for male runners in Gibb’s vicinity to realize that she was not another man. Gibb expected them to shoulder her off the road, or call out to the police. Instead, the other runners told her that if anyone tried to interfere with her race, they would put a stop to it. Finally feeling secure and assured, Gibb took off her sweatshirt.
Honoring Bobbi Gibb – First Women to Run the Boston Marathon
Posted from stationhypo.com
Running
Marathons
Boston
Distance Running
American History
Posted 1 y ago
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She certainly proved a woman could run a marathon and did so. I remember Her running that Marathon. My brother had actually run the Boston Marathon Himself six times and was always in the top 500 finishers. As I recall one of the times We went to see Him run He came in at 2 Hours, 41 Minutes and 11 seconds. he could do something I've never been able to do or even try, run a Marathon. My longest run without stopping was Ten Miles. I had run a few times with My brother but only five or six miles. I was Co-Captain of My College Cross Country team and the events were all Five miles there which took Me around 29 minutes to run.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb is the first woman to ever run the Boston Marathon. That was in 1966, before it was officially allowed. It would be another six years before that ban was overturned. Gibb’s brave efforts were foundational to opening up the world of competitive running to women. This episode covers Gibb’s entire running journey through to how she continues to be honored today, as well as how her fight to break gender barriers didn’t stop with running.
This is a very special episode, honoring a momentous anniversary. April 18th, 2022, is the 50th anniversary of women finally, officially, being allowed to run the Boston Marathon. Many women’s brave efforts contributed to this liberating change and undeniably one of the most influential is Bobby Gibb. Her bravery reverberates through to today.
We are honored to feature the story of a woman whose intense curiosity and strength has challenged gender barriers, not only in sport but also, as you’ll hear, in just about every single facet of life that Bobby had an interest in exploring. Over the course of her almost 80 years, Bobbi has remained true to pursuing her potential, and it all began quite literally with her very first steps."...
..."Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb is the first woman to ever run the Boston Marathon. That was in 1966, before it was officially allowed. It would be another six years before that ban was overturned. Gibb’s brave efforts were foundational to opening up the world of competitive running to women. This episode covers Gibb’s entire running journey through to how she continues to be honored today, as well as how her fight to break gender barriers didn’t stop with running.
This is a very special episode, honoring a momentous anniversary. April 18th, 2022, is the 50th anniversary of women finally, officially, being allowed to run the Boston Marathon. Many women’s brave efforts contributed to this liberating change and undeniably one of the most influential is Bobby Gibb. Her bravery reverberates through to today.
We are honored to feature the story of a woman whose intense curiosity and strength has challenged gender barriers, not only in sport but also, as you’ll hear, in just about every single facet of life that Bobby had an interest in exploring. Over the course of her almost 80 years, Bobbi has remained true to pursuing her potential, and it all began quite literally with her very first steps."...
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