 Kathrine Switzer spoke from her New Zealand home this past week with Race to Stop the Silence Co-Director, Sharon Simone, about the importance of breaking down barriers. "One of the biggest things about child sexual abuse is that nobody wants to talk about it. They are embarrassed. Always remember: this is how successful breast cancer events began, by using the word BREAST. Now the same approach is being taken with other types of cancer and health issues. So you guys are onto something much needed and also more emotional. Go for it!"
In 1967, Kathrine Switzer "went for it" and broke the sports gender barrier and changed the face of sports for women forever when she registered as K. Switzer for the all-male run Boston Marathon. When an official tried to physically bully her out of the race by yanking her to the sidelines she fought him off and ran the distance to become the first woman to wear a number and "officially" finish the Boston Marathon.
Switzer went on to pave the way for much equality in sports when she lobbied tirelessly to get the women's marathon event included officially in the Olympics Games. Much of her running and lobbying were also influential in the title IX struggle for women's equality in our schools and universities.
Race to Stop the Silence is proud to have a giant of Switzer's stature cheering us on, and more, giving us tips and encouragement for taking this campaign to Stop the Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse around the globe. She said to Race Director, Pamela Pine, and to Sharon Simone, "Okay, you two go-getters! You're there. I'm impressed. I endorse this Race and your campaign. Tell the world I said so!"
We are grateful for the "hand up" from this remarkable woman who in 2000 was named one of the visionaries of the Century by Runner's World Magazine. Her accomplishments include: running 35 marathons, winning the 1974 NYC Marathon and in 1975 being ranked 6th in the world and 3rd in the United States in women's marathon running. Ms. Switzer was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame Inaugural Class in 1998 and into the International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame in 2003. She is the author of Running and Walking for Women Over Forty: The Road to Sanity and Vanity (1998).
Switzer is no stranger to global efforts that leave their mark on thought and culture. She created the Avon International Running Circuit for cosmetics giant Avon Products, Inc. more than twenty years ago. This worldwide series of women's events opened the door for public acceptance of women's sports in many countries where few, if any existed before. In fact, she catalyzed a revolution that began with her refusal to accept a barrier that denied the right to use her body to run, compete, excel!
We are in need of that kind of revolution, in the United States and in the world, to Stop the Silence surrounding child sexual abuse. The changes required are no less sweeping as the ones Switzer faced thirty years ago. It's good to have her with us. At the close of our conversation she said: "If I wasn't doing the TV commentary for the Boston Marathon the weekend of your race, I'd be there running it. Keep me in the loop!"
Kathrine Switzer may be contacted through her website at www.kathrineswitzer.com.
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