Welcome to episode 281 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running.

This is a very special Christmas Day episode, that we’ve been secretly waiting to launch on you for weeks now. In this, we talk to the legendary Kathrine Switzer, famously the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an officially registered competitor in 1967. She tells us the story of that day, including how she coped when she was nearly pulled off the route by the race manager, and the highs and lows of a historic achievement that has paved the way for so many of us. We absolutely love Kathrine, and hope you enjoy this incredibly special podcast.

Now, if you aren’t a patron yet do join us on Patreon for just £2 a month, through which you can join our forum and listen to podcasts ad-free. You also get to come along to our Live Pods! Just head to patreon.com/womensrunning and join us for just £2 a month.

• Get expert coaching with the Coopah app. Use the code WOMENSRUNNING for two weeks free, plus 20% off a year’s coaching. Just head to coopah.com/womensrunning
• Find out more about 261 Fearless, the organisation set up by Kathrine
• And take on board her brilliant marathon training tips
• Subscribe to Women’s Running – and you can save 50%
• Get tickets to our live event ahead of the Bath Half 2026!
• Setting up your own podcast? Try Zencastr – we’ve been using it for ages and LOVE IT
• Do join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunning
• Email us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.