Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967, recalls facing physical and verbal attacks during the race. Her determination led to the inclusion of women in the marathon starting in 1972, and she continues to empower women through her nonprofit, 261 Fearless.

• 01Kathrine Switzer faced aggressive attempts to remove her from the race during the 1967 Boston Marathon.
• 02Her historic run led to women being officially allowed to compete in the Boston Marathon starting in 1972.
• 03Switzer continues to run 30 to 40 miles a week at age 79 and promotes women's empowerment through running.
• 04She founded the nonprofit 261 Fearless to create a global community for women runners.
• 05In 2017, Switzer celebrated the 50th anniversary of her historic run by participating again in the Boston Marathon.

Switzer's efforts have opened doors for women in athletics, inspiring future generations to participate in sports and promoting gender equality in competitive running.