This programme was first broadcast on 13th of January 2021. There was a time when running a marathon was the bastion of men and allowing women to compete in the 26. The pioneer runner became the first woman to officially compete at a marathon. She went on to campaign for women’s official inclusion in the Boston Marathon in 1972, helped create the first women’s road race, and was instrumental in making the women’s marathon an official Olympic event in 1984. Kathrine Switzer wearing 261 attacked by a race official from behind at the 1967 Boston Marathon. Photos of that moment went across the world, and changed Kathrine’s life and the future of the sport.

Kathrine was 20 when she signed up for the world famous Boston Marathon using only her initials, but when she was spotted by race official Jock Semple he attacked her, outraged that a woman was running in the men-only event. When Kathrine Switzer opted to run the Boston Marathon in 1967, her coach Arnie Briggs - an esteemed marathon runner and mailman at Syracuse University - said she couldn’t do it: No dame.

Back then there was a belief that women were physically incapable of doing such long distances, and it could even be dangerous for their health. Kathrine Switzer is a US runner whose dream - back in 1967 - was to be allowed to run a marathon.

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