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.* A few years later in coastal Maine; young Joan Benoit would stop her workouts to pretend she was picking roadside flowers; embarrassed that her neighbors might spot her running.First Ladies of Running tells the inspiring stories of these and other fiercely independent 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. First Ladies of Running is a beautiful and long-overdue tribute to the pioneers of women’s running; and a gift of empowerment for female runners everywhere.
#819851 in Books Aquila Polonica 2010-11-16Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.39 x 1.29 x 6.56l; 1.80 #File Name: 1607720043368 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. TOTALLY Unsung Heroes – What a loss!By reiningldyPlainly written; easily read book about the unsung heroes of the Battle of Britain. I bought this for my husband who is usually a slow reader. He read the dust jacket; he read the forward; the introduction; then got into the book. He finished in two days which is totally unheard of for him. Great story!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Maria KayI read it when i was young and now my 13 year old son absolutely loves it.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Very Nice BookBy BlackBearI bought this because I enjoyed W.S. Kuniczak's "Valedictory" so much and wondered how accurate it is. The writing in 303 Squadron could best be described as "breathless;" which is understandable; given the history and purpose of the book; which was to comfort and inspire Mr. Fiedler's countrymen. In other words; it's propaganda. But it's also some great story telling and a beautiful book; with a lavish collection of photographs. If you haven't read Valedictory; you're in for a treat. It has brilliant edge-of-your-seat descriptions of aerial combat; including the Poles last stand during the German invasion. In fact 303 Squadron inspired me to reread it; and if anything I enjoyed it more the second time.
