How Trailblazer Kathrine Switzer ’68, G’72, H’18 Uses Running to Motivate and Inspire Women Around the World

'Cuse Conversations

Instead of wallowing in what could have potentially been the lowest moment of her life, Kathrine Switzer ’68, G’72, H’18 used the adversity from her historic run at the Boston Marathon as fuel to inspire women around the world to get into running. After her triumph in Boston, Switzer would go on to complete more than 40 marathons, including winning the New York City Marathon in 1974. Switzer played an instrumental role in getting the women's marathon included in the Summer Olympics, and in 2015, along with four of her friends, Switzer launched 261 Fearless, a global non-profit that empowers women through running, helping thousands of women around the world discover their self-worth and their potential through customized education and running opportunities. On this "'Cuse Conversation," Switzer discusses making history as the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, her drive to get women around the world into running, the life-altering benefits of running, what it means to be a Syracuse University alumna and how her running career was launched as a student on campus.