Space Marathon

Published: April 12, 2023, 4 a.m.

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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\\u2019s true purpose in life, i.e., the bringing forth of strong children." Through a series of steps, stumbles \\u2014and one epic tackle\\u2014 running pioneers like Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb and Kathrine Switzer blazed the trail for women marathoners who followed, including Sunita Williams \\u2014 the first person to run the Boston Marathon IN SPACE!

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Guests:

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Sunita Williams, astronaut

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Jennifer Levasseur,\\xa0curator, Smithsonian\'s National Air and Space Museum

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

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Bobbi Gibb,\\xa0first woman to run the Boston Marathon

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Kathrine Switzer,\\xa0first women to officially run the Boston Marathon

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