Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

Running Legend Kathrine Switzer’s Message to Falk College Students: ‘Go Out and Get It’

Tuesday, November 5, 2024, By Matt Michael
Share
Advisory CouncilFalk College of Sport and Human DynamicsSport Management
Kathrine Switzer at Falk College.

Kathrine Switzer, who has been at the forefront of change in women’s sports for more than 50 years, spent a recent afternoon speaking with students in the Sport Management “Race, Gender and Diversity in Sport Organizations” classes.

When Kathrine Switzer ’68, G’72, H’18 famously became the first woman to officially run in the Boston Marathon in 1967, women in the United States could not apply for, yet alone own, their own credit cards.

In fact, women weren’t allowed to own credit cards until 1974, when the Equal Credit Opportunity Act enabled women and minorities to obtain credit cards and loans. That was a critical time for women in America, and Switzer continued the athletic and social revolution she started in 1967 by winning the New York City Marathon in 1974.

“In the 2024 New York City Marathon (on Nov. 3), there will be 52,000 runners and 27,000 will be women, and you can bet that all 27,000 have their own credit cards and will spend millions of dollars in New York City,” Switzer told students during a recent visit to the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

Kathrine Switzer on 'Cuse Conversations podcast.

Kathrine Switzer will be the featured guest on an upcoming ’Cuse Conversations podcast with host John Boccacino. The podcast was recorded in the Falk College podcast room and is scheduled to air in early December.

Switzer, an emeritus member of the Falk College Department of Sport Management Advisory Council, visited Syracuse and Falk College Oct. 24 for a variety of reasons, including a discussion with Syracuse University Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center about creating a collection of Switzer’s artifacts related to her career and women in running. Switzer discusses this collection, her time at Syracuse, her Boston Marathon experience and more in an entertaining ’Cuse Conversations podcast scheduled for early December.

At Falk, Switzer spent the afternoon speaking with students in the sport management “Race, Gender and Diversity in Sport Organizations” classes taught by Lindsey Darvin, assistant professor of sport management. From breaking barriers in the Boston Marathon to becoming the driving force behind the inclusion of the women’s marathon in the Olympics starting in 1984, Switzer has been at the forefront of change in women’s sports, and she encouraged the students to “let your mind run wild” when thinking of the impact they can make.

“Look at the format of the (2024) Olympic Games in Paris and the events that took place there,” she said. “Whoever heard of half of these (sports), but they’re inspiring and viable. You have so many things you can get involved in and get creative with.

“Things may not be easy,” she added. “You’re going to hit a lot of brick walls, people may laugh at you, but stick with it, finish the job, and try to create something wonderful–and you will.”

Switzer has never stopped running–she is the first woman to run a marathon 50 years after her first one –and she has never stopped advocating for the inclusion of women in sports. In 2017, Switzer launched 261 Fearless as a global nonprofit organization to empower and unite women through the creation of local running clubs, educational programs, communication platforms and social running events.

The number 261 is a nod to her bib number in the 1967 Boston Marathon that the race director tried to take from her. Switzer’s boyfriend, who was running along with her, pushed the director to the side and Switzer finished the race. Like Switzer on that day in Boston, 261 Fearless is focused on women’s empowerment and putting one foot in front of the other to finish the race.

“If you want to lift a woman up, show her how to run,” Switzer said. “We look at all the modern women out there running and there’s thousands and thousands of them, but there are also so many women across the world who are isolated or restricted by religious convention, or social convention, or social mores.”

Since its inception, 261 Fearless has trained and mentored over 500 coaches who have worked with nearly 7,000 women in 14 countries and five continents through education programs and women-only running clubs.

“After getting the women’s marathon in the Olympics Games, I thought that was great for women who can train and compete in a race. But what about those women under a burqa in Afghanistan or enslaved in their home with domestic abuse, how are we going to reach them?” Switzer said. “That’s what inspired us to create 261 Fearless.”

Falk College sport management major Brooke Siket.

Brooke Siket ’25

“Suddenly, that old bib number became a number that meant fearless in the face of adversity,” she added. “From the worst things, come the best things. If something is wrong, there’s an opportunity to change it.”

At this year’s New York City Marathon–the 50th anniversary of Switzer’s win in the event–261 Fearless created The Fearless 50, a team of 50 runners who are passionate about supporting women and understand the transformative power of running. As part of this initiative, The Fearless 50 hosted a fundraising brunch on Nov. 2. Falk College was a proud sponsor of that event, and Switzer was the featured speaker. The Falk College logo was also be featured on the bibs worn by The Fearless 50 runners.

Brooke Siket ’25, a sport management major in Falk and marketing minor in the Whitman School of Management, was one of the volunteers who worked at The Fearless 50’s events. Siket, who currently works as a facilities and game management intern for Syracuse University Athletics, was notified of this opportunity with The Fearless 50 through Internship Placement Coordinator Beth Perez and was offered the internship after an interview with Kim Chaffee, 261 Fearless’ administration and communications manager.

“I was invited to attend all their weekend events, including a panel with Peloton, a panel with Kathrine Switzer, the brunch to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her victory at the New York City Marathon and a cheer zone between Peloton and 261,” said Siket, who is a Falk College peer advisor and ambassador and a member of the Charity Sports Auction team and the Sport Management and Women in Sports and Events (WISE) clubs.

“I am looking forward to marathon weekend as I will be able to interact with other volunteers, Kathrine Switzer and others,’’ Siket said before heading to New York City.

During the weekend, Switzer repeated various versions of the inspiring message that she gave to Falk College students during her visit when one asked about the best piece of advice Switzer had for them.

“Show up! Nothing happens when you stay at home,” Switzer told the students. “What’s out there may be scary, but you have to face it and that’s what opportunity is. When the world won’t give it you, you have to go out and get it.”

In 2018, Switzer delivered the Commencement address at Syracuse and was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. To learn more about Switzer’s history and ongoing advocacy work, visit her marathonwoman.com website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Author

Matt Michael

  • Recent
  • Arts and Sciences Hosts Inaugural Scholarship and Research Gala
    Friday, May 9, 2025, By Sean Grogan
  • Chancellor Kent Syverud Honored as Distinguished Citizen of the Year at 57th Annual ScoutPower Event
    Thursday, May 8, 2025, By News Staff
  • New Maymester Program Allows Student-Athletes to Develop ‘Democracy Playbook’
    Thursday, May 8, 2025, By Wendy S. Loughlin
  • From Policy to Practice: How AI is Shaping the Future of Education
    Thursday, May 8, 2025, By Christopher Munoz
  • Kohn, Wiklund, Wilmoth Named Distinguished Professors
    Thursday, May 8, 2025, By Wendy S. Loughlin

More In Campus & Community

Arts and Sciences Hosts Inaugural Scholarship and Research Gala

The College of Arts & Sciences (A&S) kicked off a new tradition for recognizing A&S faculty excellence and achievements from over the past year with its inaugural Scholarship and Research Gala. The May 1 event was held in the Schine…

Chancellor Kent Syverud Honored as Distinguished Citizen of the Year at 57th Annual ScoutPower Event

Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud was recognized by Scouting America, Longhouse Council, as the Distinguished Citizen of the Year at the organization’s 57th annual ScoutPower dinner. The annual fundraiser is one of the biggest scouting events in the nation and…

Kohn, Wiklund, Wilmoth Named Distinguished Professors

Three Syracuse University faculty members have been named Distinguished Professors, one of the University’s highest honors. The designation is granted by the Board of Trustees to faculty who have achieved exceptionally distinguished stature in their academic specialties. The newly named…

Syracuse Athletics Records Highest APR Score in 4 Years

Syracuse University Athletics continues to demonstrate its commitment to academic excellence, as shown in the latest release of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Academic Progress (APR) data. The University earned a single-year score of 989 (out of 1,000) for the…

SOURCE Enables School of Education Undergraduates to Research, Explore Profession

Through a research project funded by the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE), School of Education (SOE) seniors Denaysha Macklin ’25 and Emma Wareing ’25 are continuing research to investigate barriers women of color face in advancing…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.