Episode description

Until the 1970s, women were barred from competing in U.S. marathons because of the belief that the "violent movements" would wreak havoc on their reproductive system, "thus defeating a woman’s true purpose in life, i.e., the bringing forth of strong children." Through a series of steps, stumbles —and one epic tackle— running pioneers like Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb and Kathrine Switzer blazed the trail for women marathoners who followed, including Sunita Williams — the first person to run the Boston Marathon IN SPACE!

Guests:

Sunita Williams, astronaut

Jennifer Levasseur, curator, Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

Peter Sagal, marathoner; host of NPR's Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!

Bobbi Gibb, first woman to run the Boston Marathon

Kathrine Switzer, first women to officially run the Boston Marathon