Tag: The Girl Who Ran

1966 Bobbi Gibb First Woman to Run Boston Marathon a top 100 Massachusetts / New England sports history moment at Logan Airport terminal b

Posted on by Catherine

1966 Bobbi Gibb | First Woman to Run Boston Marathon

photos: c. ryan, 2021 | The Great Hall, Terminal B, Boston Logan International Airport was renovated in 2019. New additions feature “exhibits that celebrate New England athletes, sports teams, and special moments in the region’s sports history.” Read more here (Massport PR June 20, 2019)

The 2022 Boston Marathon celebrates the 50th anniversary of women runners’ official inclusion in the race. Eight entered and finished the 1972 race:

  • Nina Kuscsik, New York (3:10:26)
  • Elaine Pedersen, California (3:20:25)
  • Kathrine Switzer, New York (3:29:51)
  • Pat Barrett, New Jersey (3:40:29)
  • Sara Mae Berman, Massachusetts (3:48:30)
  • Valerie Rogosheske, Wirginia (4:29:32)
  • Ginny Collins, Massachusetts (4:48:32)
  • Frances Morrison, Texas (5:07:00)

Six years prior, Bobbi Gibb from Massachusetts ran the Boston Marathon in 3:21:40 (April 19, 1966), the top female athlete, faster than 2/3 of the field. She was 23 years old. She won again in 1967 and 1968. Gibb is a long time fine artist and Cape Ann resident. It’s a thrill to see this recognition!

more Logan Airport design details

Gloucester and Bobbi are incorporated into other designs at Logan. The parking terminal elevator icons and floor feature the Fisherman at the Wheel (Level G) and a Boston Marthon runner (Level 3) — Bobbi (imo).

photos: c. ryan, 2014

Logan Airport photos: c. ryan, 2014

Looking back – Popular Cultural context 1972

Mary Tyler Moore – Also 50 year anniversary of season 3, episode 1 (aired September 6, 1972 ) at the office Mary discusses her salary with Murray, then Lou. Mary makes less than her predecessor despite doing better (excerpt: 3:47)

Classic trio scene: Mary talks about a job promotion with Phyllis and Rhoda

“who’s in charge here?” season 3, ep. 3 Sept 1972 written by Martin Cohan

“Oh, don’t look at me. I was one of those cute little girls who always got dolls to play with…”

Phyllis (Cloris Leachman 46 yrs. at the time)

“Phyllis: When she gets her life together, will she need batteries?”

Rhoda

“It’s exactly what I do now.”

Mary

Bobbi’s milestone prompts personal stories. My mother in law shared one about winning a college competitive event as part of a two women team circa 1950 and feeling certain to repeat the feat only to have the contest reconfigured and split into men and women categories the following years to avoid that happening again.

Kirkus review and book launch at Charles Fine Arts for the new children’s story about Bobbi Gibb, first woman Boston Marathoner and artist

Posted on by Catherine

IMG_20170608_150512.jpgLast chance | last week to visit current group exhibition at

Charles Fine Arts 

Flowers and Elegant Objects

closes June 16, 2017

 

Group show features Bobbi Angell,   Liz Ayer,   Stephen Bates,   David Bareford,   Lorrie Berry,   Eli Cedrone,   Geoffrey Teale Chalmers,   Anne Winthrop Cordin,   Traci Thayne Corbett,   Yhanna Coffin,   Fran Ellisor,   Bobbi Gibb,   Paul George,   Ellen Granter,   Marjorie Hicks,   Christine Molitor Johnson,   Bonita LeFlore,   Nella Lush,   Marija Pavlovich McCarthy,   Tracy Meola,   Carole Porter,   Judith Monteferrante,   Katherine Richmond,   Jan Roy,   Rosalie Sidoti,   Tony Schwartz,   Charles Shurcliff,   Deb Wolf

Special Event June 13

Charles Fine Art is hosting a book launch Tuesday June 13 for the new children’s book about Bobbi, The Girl Who Ran, by Kristina Yee and Frances Poletti with illustrations by Susanna Chapman. The event is co hosted by Sawyer Free Library and The Book Store. Here’s the Kirkus Review:

Bobbi Gibb page

The Girl Who Ran kristina yee

IMG_20170608_150752 (1).jpg“In cooperation with Gibb herself, Poletti and Yee tell the story of the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, questioning authority with her feet.

The Boston Marathon had been taking place for 70 years when Bobbi Gibb, a white woman, steps illegally to the starting line in 1966, a hoodie covering her hair. Her road there is strewn with the land mines of bias, everything from “So unladylike” to the official comments on the rejection to her application: “Women cannot run marathons. It’s against the rules.” Poletti and Yee neatly evoke the joy some find in running, simply running. Gibb “ran with her pack, going higher and higher, / the world whooshing by, like the wind in the fire.” Such couplets are found every few pages, the last four words the refrain. Readers gain a sense of the experience through Chapman’s artwork, the light-footed energy of the watercolors slipping outside the pen’s fine line, a veil of wind trailing behind Gibb. Halfway through the race her ruse is up. She is boiling in her hoodie and confides to a fellow marathoner, a black man, that she is afraid of ejection. “We won’t let anyone throw you out; it’s a free road.” Well-told and illustrated, Gibb’s story speaks to not only women’s fight for equality, but the power of community.”