First Ladies of Running Audiobook By Amby Burfoot, Shalane Flanagan - foreword cover art

First Ladies of Running

22 Inspiring Profiles of the Rebels, Rule Breakers, and Visionaries Who Changed the Sport Forever

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First Ladies of Running

By: Amby Burfoot, Shalane Flanagan - foreword
Narrated by: Elizabeth Wiley
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About this listen

Today, millions of women and girls around the world enjoy running and entering races. It wasn't always so:

- In 1961, when Julia Chase edged to the start of a Connecticut 5-miler, officials tried to push her off the road.

- At the 1966 Boston Marathon, Roberta Gibb hid behind a forsythia bush, worried that police might arrest her.

- The next year at Boston, Kathrine Switzer was assaulted mid-race by a furious race organizer.

- In the mid-'60s, Indianapolis high schooler Cheryl Bridges was told not to run anywhere near the boys' track team because she might "distract" them.

- When Charlotte Lettis signed up for the University of Massachusetts cross-country team in the fall of 1971, she was told to use the men's locker room.

First Ladies of Running tells the inspiring stories of these and other runners who refused to give up despite the cultural and sports barriers they faced. Legends such as Doris Brown, Francie Larrieu, Mary Decker, Jackie Hansen, Miki Gorman, and Grete Waitz are chronicled by Runner's World editor Amby Burfoot. Burfoot even runs the 1994 Marine Corps Marathon with Oprah Winfrey, whose successful finish opened the floodgates for other women runners.

©2016 Amby Burfoot (P)2022 Tantor
Running & Jogging Sports History Women Outdoor Boston
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Nice Overview of Many Greats

This is a great overview of some of the pioneers that enabled women's running to evolve to what it is today. It's important to have books like this so we can remember and honor their important contributions, sacrifices, and perseverance that empowered us to run today.

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Inspirational

I learned a lot listening to this. It made me more grateful for the opportunities I have

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Great Listen. Wish More Diverse Women Were Included

This was a fascinating listen as it takes us through the genesis of women's distance running. The narrator kept the subject matter upbeat and engaging. I wish they added more diverse women.

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