Keira D’Amato and Joyce Smith both set national women’s marathon records as mothers and at older ages than expected. How has the media portrayed them?
It’s that mum again! – marathons, motherhood and age
read more
Women’s marathon history articles
Margaret Lockley – national marathon champion 1978
The 1970s were an important decade in the history of women’s marathon running. Countries around the world began to lift the ban on women racing long distance. Margaret Lockley was one of the UK’s first top-class women marathoners.
Marathon Blunders
Google “marathon mistakes” and you’ll find lots of articles giving advice about how to avoid things going wrong in a marathon. You shouldn’t overtrain or undertrain, don’t forget to taper, get to the race in plenty of time, don’t get cold at the start, don’t go off...
Women’s History Month – marathon stories
Find out about some of the women who have made their mark in the history of the women’s marathon, from Violet Piercy’s solo run in 1926 to Paula Radcliffe’s world record in 2003.
Women’s marathon history – the 1960s
Imagine a time when women did not run in road races. Imagine a time when women were told distance running would harm their health. Imagine a time when running in a marathon meant risking being jeered at or even assaulted. This time was in my lifetime. I was born in...
The Avon International London Marathon, a first-hand account
On 3rd August 1980, 200 women from 27 countries lined up in Battersea Park in London to run a marathon: the third Avon International Marathon. Maureen Fitzpatrick was one of those women, excitedly waiting at the start and hoping to complete her first marathon at the...
Meeting Mara Yamauchi
In March I was fortunate to have the chance to meet Mara Yamauchi, the UK's second-fastest marathon runner, when she came to Nottingham to talk to England Athletics Run Leaders about coaching and training. Mara Yamauchi was inspired to run by watching the Los Angeles...
The first London Marathon
On a sunny day in August 1980, 200 women from 27 countries lined up in Battersea Park in London to run a marathon. It was the first time the city's streets had ever been closed for a race. It was the 3rd August. Two days before the men's marathon had taken place at...
Jacqueline Hansen & the women’s marathon revolution
American women love to run marathons. In 2014 43% of marathon finishers in US races were women, the highest percentage of any country in the world. In the UK the figure is 34%. And American women love half marathons even more than marathons. They outnumber male...