NY Roadrunners NY Women's Mini Marathon

Stories by Leslie Turchetti (top) and Nicole Saint-Louis (below)

Leslie's Story:

On Saturday June 9th, Nicole and I skipped the regular Saturday Morn'n Fun Run and headed up to New York City to run the 35th New York Roadrunners NY Women's Mini Marathon, the oldest women-only road race in the world. The story behind the race is pretty inspiring. Here is the condensed version:

The year was 1972. Women had just been allowed to enter the Boston Marathon (April), and distance running was still seen as an erratic activity taken on by the strangest of the strange. The New York City Marathon had been run only twice, with 55 people competing the first year (1970) and 164 people competing the second year (1971). President Nixon had just signed Title IX into law. In Munich in September of that year, the women's 1500m was run for the first time.

Despite all of these happenings, many running events still did not officially recognize women. Many people - including Olympic officials - did not believe that women were physically capable of running long distances. Yet in New York City, change was under way. Nina Kuscsik (1972 Boston Marathon winner), Katherine Switzer (famous "illegal" Boston Marathon runner), and Fred Lebow (NYC marathon director) decided to hold a women-only road running event.

A company called Johnson's Wax signed on as the race sponsor. They had contacted Lebow about the possibility of putting on a women's marathon, and Lebow talked them into hosting a 6-mile race instead, thus allowing for more women to run (or come out to try the less intimidating distance). At the time, Johnson's Wax produced a women's shaving gel called Crazylegs. They called the race a "mini" marathon, named after the then-popular miniskirt. Thus, the Crazylegs Mini Marathon was born.

78 women from all around the country signed up to participate in the race that first year. This year, 5,000 women toed the line for the 35th running of the race, and Nicole and I were two of them. It was super hot and humid, and the Central Park course was pretty hilly, but the scenery and the crowds were amazing. As we were running along Central Park West, one society lady even shouted out, "TODAY IS WOMEN'S DAY!" I fully agreed.

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Nicole's Story:

The day began promptly at 5am with the first leg of our journey to the NY Women's Mini Marathon. We arrived in NYC with time to get situated. The race had woman of all fitness levels and I enjoyed being in my favorite city. We lined up for the start with anticipation. As the runners started to move we were mesmerized by the sea of women. Later we were told that 5000 women had entered the race and 3500 women completed it. We were cheered on by spectators, especially enthusiastic women yelling “good job ladies!” These cheers permeated our thoughts as we turned into the park at West 91st Street. We were feeling good despite the ever present humidity and heat. I was glad to have my sunglasses as the sun began to peak through the formerly grey sky. Leslie donned her 26.2 pink running hat and we took in the sites. We had an interesting experience at a water stop when the woman running in front of us was yelled at by a volunteer, "can't you use a garbage can?" We chuckled as we worked our way up the next hill anticipating the crest and the inevitable descent.

As we reached mile 3-4 we noticed that the park goers had increased and we watched their faces as we went down and they went up. Leslie and I were especially intrigued by a woman on a kneeling bike that used her arms to propel this seemingly enormous machine up and down the hills for several loops around the park. We were amazed at the enormity of Central Park and the plethora of activities held within its borders, such as tennis courts, a little league field, restaurants, and even a carnival stand with authentic music, treats and paraphernalia. I have to confess miles 4 through 6 were a little more difficult but we pressed forward. I was beginning to feel pain in my knee and I knew that it was my iliotibial band, but I was determined not to let it ruin a perfectly wonderful experience. I was looking forward to our Starbucks stop after the race. As I yearned for my Mocha Light Frappuccino, I realized that we had done a good distance and I was still feeling great. I never had a running partner before and that was the most wonderful part of the whole experience. I had only had the company of my walkman before joining the Wanderers and I now have a whole new love affair with running. Leslie said that she has taken the motto she found on a t-shirt at the Boston Marathon and I think it speaks volumes about our day -"we run at the speed of chat." I look forward to many more adventures with Leslie and the Wanderers.

Event Photos

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