“In that moment I thought like the world is never going the same again. A pivotal moment… I had open the gates of prison and let (women) out” – Roberta Gibb

If you know some of your women’s running history, you might familiar with Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb. She was the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon. In 1966, she was 23 when he popped out of the bushes near the starting line of the race and joined the all-male field of runners. In this episode, you’ll hear her tell that story and what it was like being in that pack as she made her way to the finish line. It was still a time when women were not accepted as official entrants but she took it upon herself to be a pioneer for future generations. It would not be until 192 that the Boston Marathon officially accepted female entrants.

Beyond running, you’ll also get to know Bobbi’s curiosities as a kid. You’ll get an understanding of her free spirit that inspires her work as a contemporary artist and Renaissance woman.

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Support for this episode comes from Inside Tracker. I’ve been using them for about two years now as a professional runner to help understand how I can perform my best in practice and races. They’re an ultra-personalized nutrition system that analyzes your blood, DNA and lifestyle to help optimize your body to reach your goals. Go to info.insidetracker.com/earlyaccess to be the first to hear about InsideTracker’s BEST DEAL of the year.

SEASON 2: Episode 1, Michelle Sammet | Episode 2, Porscha Dobson |Episode 3, Roberta Gibb

SEASON 1: All 12 episodes are available to download and stream. Guests included Molly Seidel, Alison Wade, Nia Akins, Mary Cain and more.

Show Notes and Quotes

– “If you do something way outside of the social norm people can be threatened and hostile. Then people started to cheer and scream, ‘Oh it’s a woman!’”

– “Women are still being disappeared out of history. Brilliant scientists and psychologists and mathematicians are just dropping off the rolls. Women need to get together and preserve these stories, these truths, these brilliant women who have done so much.”

– “They said I was too pretty to go to medical school. I obviously was just going to get married and have a bunch of kids and then started asking me what my boyfriend did for a living… that was 1969. This was what I was trying to overcome”

– “I said I was the first woman to run the Boston Marathon and he said you are hired!”