Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb's love of running began when she was a young child. She felt it was a way of living and seeing the world."I just wanted to experience life and running was a time when I felt the life force of the universe," Gibb, who is now 80 years old, said.Gibb, a native of Winchester, Massachusetts, is a legend in the sport of distance running, as she is the first woman to ever run and complete the Boston Marathon.In 1966, the Boston Marathon was still an all-men's race, but Gibb applied to run in it anyway. She received a letter back in response to her application that denied her entry and read: "Women are not physiologically able to run marathon distances. We can't take the medical liability.""I crumpled it up and threw it away," Gibb said. Gibb, who was living in San Diego, California at the time, ran out her door after tossing the rejection letter and raced up the beach for 20 miles to release her anger.After that run, she decided that she would find any way to run the Boston Marathon that year. Gibb convinced her initially reluctant mother to drive her to the marathon start line on April 19, 1966."This — that people think is impossible — is going to throw into question all the other misconceptions and false beliefs about women," Gibb said she told her mother.On race day, Gibb ran around Hopkinton, which is located around 30 miles from Boston, for 40 minutes to warm up for the marathon and find a place where she could sneak into the field of runners. She eventually hid behind a forsythia bush that was near the start line and joined the race pack shortly after the starting gun.Gibb was wearing her brother's Bermuda shorts, a hoodie and boy's sneakers in an effort to disguise herself, but runners around her eventually started to figure out that they were racing against a woman."At first, they didn't realize that I was a woman," Gibb said. "Then, I could feel this studious silence behind me and I could hear the guys behind me talking. 'Is that a girl? Is that a girl?' I turned around and they said: 'It is a woman! Wow, this is fantastic!'" Gibb said the runners around her also told her that they would not let her get kicked out of the race, as word that there was a woman competing in the Boston Marathon quickly spread."The guys were really supportive. They said. 'We won't let them throw you out. It's a free road,'" Gibb said. Gibb recalled the press showing up to her parents’ home, asking about her competing in the race. She took the attention to be a positive aspect of her run."This is what I wanted to do. I wanted to stop the stupid war between the sexes and show men and women can share all of life," Gibb said.Gibb went on to have a working career, which not many women had back in those days, first as a lawyer and later as an artist. She continues to create paintings and sculptures today.She also continues to run: as much as 10 miles through local trails and on the beach. Her artwork is often influenced by her running journey because, for Gibb, running was always about the world she saw along the way."When I run I feel — I still do — when I’m racing down the beach: 'Wow, I’m alive! I’m alive!'" she said.
ROCKPORT, Mass. — Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb's love of running began when she was a young child. She felt it was a way of living and seeing the world.
"I just wanted to experience life and running was a time when I felt the life force of the universe," Gibb, who is now 80 years old, said.
Gibb, a native of Winchester, Massachusetts, is a legend in the sport of distance running, as she is the first woman to ever run and complete the Boston Marathon.
In 1966, the Boston Marathon was still an all-men's race, but Gibb applied to run in it anyway. She received a letter back in response to her application that denied her entry and read: "Women are not physiologically able to run marathon distances. We can't take the medical liability."
"I crumpled it up and threw it away," Gibb said.
Gibb, who was living in San Diego, California at the time, ran out her door after tossing the rejection letter and raced up the beach for 20 miles to release her anger.
After that run, she decided that she would find any way to run the Boston Marathon that year. Gibb convinced her initially reluctant mother to drive her to the marathon start line on April 19, 1966.
"This — that people think is impossible — is going to throw into question all the other misconceptions and false beliefs about women," Gibb said she told her mother.
On race day, Gibb ran around Hopkinton, which is located around 30 miles from Boston, for 40 minutes to warm up for the marathon and find a place where she could sneak into the field of runners.
She eventually hid behind a forsythia bush that was near the start line and joined the race pack shortly after the starting gun.
Getty ImagesFred Kaplan/Sports Illustrated via Getty
Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb in action during the end of the 1966 Boston Marathon on Boylston Street in Boston, Massachusetts. Gibb became the first woman to run and complete the race on April 19, 1966.
Gibb was wearing her brother's Bermuda shorts, a hoodie and boy's sneakers in an effort to disguise herself, but runners around her eventually started to figure out that they were racing against a woman.
"At first, they didn't realize that I was a woman," Gibb said. "Then, I could feel this studious silence behind me and I could hear the guys behind me talking. 'Is that a girl? Is that a girl?' I turned around and they said: 'It is a woman! Wow, this is fantastic!'"
Gibb said the runners around her also told her that they would not let her get kicked out of the race, as word that there was a woman competing in the Boston Marathon quickly spread.
"The guys were really supportive. They said. 'We won't let them throw you out. It's a free road,'" Gibb said.
Getty ImagesFred Kaplan/Sports Illustrated via Getty
Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb on Boylston Street after completing the 1966 Boston Marathon. Gibb was the first woman to run and complete the race on April 19, 1966.
Gibb recalled the press showing up to her parents’ home, asking about her competing in the race. She took the attention to be a positive aspect of her run.
"This is what I wanted to do. I wanted to stop the stupid war between the sexes and show men and women can share all of life," Gibb said.
Gibb went on to have a working career, which not many women had back in those days, first as a lawyer and later as an artist. She continues to create paintings and sculptures today.
She also continues to run: as much as 10 miles through local trails and on the beach. Her artwork is often influenced by her running journey because, for Gibb, running was always about the world she saw along the way.
"When I run I feel — I still do — when I’m racing down the beach: 'Wow, I’m alive! I’m alive!'" she said.
