NYRR Celebrates Women's History Month
This year, we continue to highlight the historical milestones achieved by women in running and share the stories of women at all levels from all backgrounds for our annual celebration of Women's History Month.
We recognize too, that more women are needed in positions of power and influence in running, and that the accomplishments of women runners need to be recognized as much as those of men. BIPOC women runners remain underrepresented, and trans women and nonbinary runners struggle for recognition.
Running Books by Women Writers
Looking for a good book by or about a woman runner? There are many to choose from! Check out this inspiring list, and happy reading during Women's History Month and all year long.
Grete Waitz: In Her Own Words
Grete Waitz was a nine-time New York City Marathon champion and the founding chairwoman of the NYRR Foundation, which has evolved into NYRR Community Impact. Her accomplishments—both as an athlete and as an advocate for health and fitness opportunities for all—were extraordinary, and yet she was known for her grace and modesty as much as for her competitiveness and grit.
Grete’s own words speak to what made her special, both on and off the roads.
Changing the Game: Women of Color Run Coaches Redefining the Industry
As Vanessa Peralta-Mitchell started getting more involved with the running industry, she realized that few, if any, women of color (WOC) were leaders in the sport.
“I started to play back all the instances of my run journey, identifying who was in these leadership roles and it made me curious, ‘What if I created something that highlighted a different type of run leader—women of color,’” Vanessa said.
Who Inspires the Women of NYRR Contributors Circle?
For Women’s History Month, we asked the members of our NYRR Contributors Circle to answer three questions about women who have inspired them and the importance of running in their lives.
Women Runners in the NYRR Hall of Fame
The New York Road Runners Hall of Fame honors legendary figures in our sport, who through their triumphs and contributions have made NYRR and the TCS New York City Marathon what they are today. Of the 42 inductees into the NYRR Hall of Fame, 17 are women.
A Timeline of NYRR Women's Running History
As we celebrate Women's History Month, we highlight historical milestones achieved by women runners in and around NYRR events and programs and in the running community.
Women's Participation in Running: Where We've Been, Where We Are, Where We're Headed
When NYRR was founded in 1958, all 47 members were men. The earliest records of women members and women finishers in races occur about a decade later. Today, women make up about half of all members of NYRR, and they outnumber men in the younger age brackets. Women also make up about half of all finishers of NYRR races at all distances.
NYRR's History of Women in Leadership
NYRR has a history of women in leadership roles stretching back to our early days. Throughout our history, all of our leaders have worked and advocated for equal opportunities and recognition for women runners.
Mini Moments
The Mastercard New York Mini 10K began in 1972 as the first women-only road race, known as the Crazylegs Mini Marathon. We share five "Mini Moments” that define the history of the Mini.
Community, Representation, and More with Cheryl Donald
NYRR Contributors Circle member Victoria Fortune shares a conversation with Cheryl Donald, a runner, psychotherapist, and member of several NYC run clubs, who has run all six Abbott World Marathon Majors.