Jezebel: marathon

The Spring Of Queens

Anna — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:10:00 EST

[New York, November 1. Image via Getty]

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 01: Runners compete in the 40th ING New York City Marathon on November 1, 2009 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Running With Cervixes: Women Overcome Hurdles

Margaret — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:30:00 EST

As recently as the 1970s women were banned from participating in marathons. Now, middle-aged women who were discouraged from the sport when they were younger are taking up running for the first time.

Women were not allowed to run the Boston Marathon until 1972, and female runners faced discrimination throughout the '70s. Nina Kuscsik, the first woman to run in the New York Marathon and the first woman to win the Boston Marathon, tells the Times, "If I went out to run and it rained, the police would stop me ... They thought I was running away from something." Over the years, women have gradually gained respect in the sport, and proven that often they can outrun the men. In 1964 the record for the world's best marathon time was set by a man at 3:27:45, but today Paula Radcliffe holds the world record for women's marathon, with a time of 2:15:25. Many older women running today didn't take up the sport until later in life, like Imme Dyson, who started running when she was 47. Today at 72, she is still runs every day and dominates her age group in races and marathons. [NY Times]

Here's an update on Joy Johnson, 81, who...

Margaret — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:40:00 EST

Here's an update on Joy Johnson, 81, who ran her 21st consecutive New York City Marathon on Sunday. Johnson retained her title in the women's 80-90 year old division, and has won her age group six times since 1997. She completed the 26.2 mile race in six hours, five minutes and 58 seconds, shaving 50 minutes off her time from last year. [The Wall Street Journal]

This Sunday, Joy Johnson, 81, will run her...

Margaret — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EDT

This Sunday, Joy Johnson, 81, will run her 21st consecutive New York City marathon. Johnson is the defending champion in the 80-and-over age group, a title she has held for 5 of the past 11 years. In this Wall Street Journal video, Johnson says that when her time started slipping a year ago, rather than accepting that she was slowing down she decided to train harder. So far, she's shaved an hour off her time. [The Wall Street Journal]

Oldest Women's Marathon Winner Is Woman Of Few Words, Thousands Of Frenzied Fans

Anna N. — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:20:00 EDT

One interesting thing about the marathon, especially if you're used to watching sprints, is how slow the runners seem to be going. The commentators in the clip above — from Saturday's women's marathon in Beijing — confirm this, saying they're "not sure that leg speed makes all that much of a difference after you've run 26 miles." Obviously, this doesn't mean the marathon is easy, it just means it's complicated — there's a lot to think about besides being fast. But 38-year-old Constantina Tomescu makes it look — and sound — simple. The oldest Olympian ever to win the Marathon says her coach told her "if the pace is slow for the first half, you can push. That’s all." (We dare you to tell us the roar of the crowd when she enters Beijing's National Stadium doesn't give you the chills.)

Pussycat Doll Sells Out For Soap; Women's Basketball In Iraq Scores Big With Kurds

maria — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:20:00 EDT

Pussycat Doll takes shilling to high extreme, sings song for Caress body wash. • An Indian man beheaded a woman he believed was a witch. • 18-year-old girl genius makes the natural transition into academia. • "Whether or not we're in a recession, it doesn't matter. That day is the most important day of your life and a memory for a lifetime." —bride-to-be on expensive weddings. • Men undergoing treatment for sleep apnea sleep better when sleeping with their wives. • The U.S. Marine Corps is attempting to recruit women through advertisements in women's fitness mags. • Only 35% of Afghan schoolchildren are female, despite advances in getting Afgani children educated. • A woman sells eggs to fund her Everest climb. • They may be short, but Iraq's female basketball team has dreams as high as mountains! • Fast fashion is out, sewing machines are in! • Don't you know? Asshole male drivers are just getting in touch with their caveman roots. • Awesome 55-year old grandma runs marathons to come to the aid of meth addicts.