Photo by: Tom Connelly
Eagles to Host “Runner in Red Essay Competition”
March 22, 2018 | Women's Track & Field
Runners are invited to share their experiences at open mic event
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Boston College women's track and field team will host an open microphone session for collegiate female runners on Tuesday, March 27. The event is inspired by the "Runner in Red," a Boston Marathon legend which contends that a woman wearing red slipped into the Boston Marathon in 1951, 15 years before history recorded the first woman runner. Athletes will be asked to share how running has positively contributed to their lives. The event will take place in the Murray Room in the Yawkey Athletics Center from 5:30 to 7 p.m and no reservation is required.
The "open mic" session will kick off the BC women runners' collaboration with the Human Resiliency Institute at Fordham to introduce a "Runner in Red Essay Competition" for college women runners to express the joy of running. The essay contest is open to all women who currently run on college track teams and will run until April 20.
The project has been inspired by a real-life Boston Marathon legend – "The Runner in Red" – and a book by that title by Tom Murphy, author of "Just Call Me Jock," a history of the Boston Marathon as seen through the eyes of Jock Semple, the race co-director. The heroine in "The Runner in Red" is a Boston College runner and it explores the legend which was inspired by Canadian runners in 1951 who insisted they spotted a woman "wearing red" slip into the race. The funds raised from the book will support a cure for lung cancer in memory of Murphy's late wife, Barb, a Boston Marathon runner. Funds from the novel will also support Kathrine Switzer's charity to empower women, "261 Fearless."
All women runners who participate in the kick-off session will receive a free copy of the novel.
Judges for the competition will be Joann Flaminio, former Chairwoman of the Boston Athletic Association and the first woman chair, Gina Caruso, former B.A.A. Treasurer and first woman COO, Bobbi Gibb, recognized as the first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1966, and Cathy Utzschneider, Ed.D, eight-time National Track and Field Age Group Champion.
Focusing on the joy of the "Now" against the backdrop of the Runner in Red era of "Then" when women were not allowed to run, the essay competition will give college women runners a chance to express in 300 to 700 words how running enhances their lives, including developing strong relationships and enhancing self-esteem.
Runners can submit their essays at http://runnerinred.com.
After the competition closes on April 20, an awards event will be held on May 4 to announce a first, second and third place winner. The three winners will have their essays published on runnerinred.com and be invited to read their essays for a sports media podcast.
The "open mic" session will kick off the BC women runners' collaboration with the Human Resiliency Institute at Fordham to introduce a "Runner in Red Essay Competition" for college women runners to express the joy of running. The essay contest is open to all women who currently run on college track teams and will run until April 20.
The project has been inspired by a real-life Boston Marathon legend – "The Runner in Red" – and a book by that title by Tom Murphy, author of "Just Call Me Jock," a history of the Boston Marathon as seen through the eyes of Jock Semple, the race co-director. The heroine in "The Runner in Red" is a Boston College runner and it explores the legend which was inspired by Canadian runners in 1951 who insisted they spotted a woman "wearing red" slip into the race. The funds raised from the book will support a cure for lung cancer in memory of Murphy's late wife, Barb, a Boston Marathon runner. Funds from the novel will also support Kathrine Switzer's charity to empower women, "261 Fearless."
All women runners who participate in the kick-off session will receive a free copy of the novel.
Judges for the competition will be Joann Flaminio, former Chairwoman of the Boston Athletic Association and the first woman chair, Gina Caruso, former B.A.A. Treasurer and first woman COO, Bobbi Gibb, recognized as the first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1966, and Cathy Utzschneider, Ed.D, eight-time National Track and Field Age Group Champion.
Focusing on the joy of the "Now" against the backdrop of the Runner in Red era of "Then" when women were not allowed to run, the essay competition will give college women runners a chance to express in 300 to 700 words how running enhances their lives, including developing strong relationships and enhancing self-esteem.
Runners can submit their essays at http://runnerinred.com.
After the competition closes on April 20, an awards event will be held on May 4 to announce a first, second and third place winner. The three winners will have their essays published on runnerinred.com and be invited to read their essays for a sports media podcast.
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