The Pemberville Mental Culture Club began the New Year on Jan. 9 at the Pemberville Library. President Cindy Lohrbach called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Minutes of the December meeting were approved as read. Treasurer Nedra Sheets reported a balance of $1961, noting that the December in house auction had raised $705.76 in donations for the scholarship fund.
A brief discussion about inviting new members was held. Members were encouraged to talk to friends and acquaintances who might be interested.
Vicki Seifert and Tracey Briggs volunteered to fill vacancies on the scholarship committee.
After the business meeting 13 members answered the roll call telling what kind of exercise or sport they participate in or watch.
Vicki Seifert presented the program for the evening, focusing on the history of running as a women’s sport. 1896 was the first modern Olympics. There were no female runners or female participants in any of the events. The first Boston Marathon was held in 1897. Again, no women. 15 men ran. Ten finished.
In 1922 the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) declared track and field events were open to women.
By 1928 women were only allowed to run in the 100 and 800 meter races. Many people thought that women who did such running would grow facial hair, have their uterus fall out, and other anomalies. Soon after the 800 m was removed from women’s competition. In 1948 the 200m was added.
Some women managed to compete in spite of the rules. In 1966 Roberta Gibb competed unofficially in the Boston Marathon, finishing in 3 hours and 20 minutes. 291 men finished after her.
Gibb had trained for 2 years before running the marathon, sometimes running 40 miles in a day.
In 1967 Katherine Switzer entered the Boston Marathon, registering with her initials K.V. Switzer. There was no question about sex on the form. Although officials tried to forcibly remove her, she managed to finish the race. It was not until 1972 that the Boston Marathon established a women’s marathon – in compliance with the Equal Rights Amendment.
It was not until 1980 that an official statement was made saying that there was no conclusive scientific evidence that long distance running was harmful for women’s health.
Finally in 1996 Roberta Gibb was officially recognized as the female winner of the Boston Marathon in 1966, 1967, 1968.
Today, after many years of struggle, women have sports bras, women’s running shoes and a magazine made for them: “Women Running.”
After the program Vicki served healthy snacks of fruit, yogurt and muffins.
