Bobbi Gibb used to run with through the woods of her Boston neighborhood when she was a young girl. Unlike most of her friends, she didn't give up running once she got older. And, in 1966, she became the first women to run the full — 26.2 miles — of the Boston Marathon.
The race horse in me wants to be out there running. On the other hand... I kind of made my point 50-years ago...and I want to still be running when I'm 90-years old, so now I take it easy.
On Monday, Apr.17, Gibb will once again return to the Boston Marathon. This year, she is the co-grand marshal of the race. The timing is significant as 2017 marks the the 50th anniversary of her second of 3 marathon wins.
Gibb is recognized by the Boston Athletic Association as the pre-sanctioned era women's winner in 1966, 1967 and 1968. It wasn't until 1972 that women could officially compete in the race. So Gibb is now included in what's known as the womens' pioneer runners.
"I don't know where all the years went," Gibb said during an interview with WGBH News. "The race horse in me wants to be out there running. On the other hand... I kind of made my point 50-years ago...and I want to still be running when I'm 90-years old, so I kind of take it easy."
Running is therapeutic, she added, noting that she still runs because she loves nature and being surrounded by the beauty and the patterns of the road.
The first time she ran the race, she was the only woman. She trained for two years. Her goal wasn't just to finish. She also wanted society, which in 1966 didn't allow women to compete in long-distance races, to know that women could run. She felt that breaking one false stereotype could pave the way for women to break down others.
I appreciate the people who quietly and privately go about their lives and running without thought or possibility of winning marathons but whose balance, courage and perseverance is heroic.
Gibb, who studied at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University School of Special Studies, is an artist. She is in the process of creating a sculpture that she hopes will be placed along the Boston Marathon route to honor all of the women who run the race.
"I appreciate the people who quietly and privately go about their lives and running without thought or possibility of winning marathons but whose balance, courage and perseverance is heroic," she said.
To listen to the entire WGBH Morning Edition interview with Bobbi Gibb click on the audio file above.
