Thank you! Women’s History Month 2023
Kick off to women's history month 2023
Happy Women’s History Month! Thank you to all the women who challenged and broke barriers of the past so we can continue to build on their progress for the future. Although it’s a small part, I want to recognize just a few who have fought for the opportunity and rights of women in running and around it.
Bobbi Gibb
The first woman to run the Boston Marathon, Gibb embodies the spirit of running for the love of the sport. Fighting absurd beliefs that women “couldn't physically race more than 1.5 miles,” she helped take down prejudices that had limited women in road races for generations. Facing rejection from the AAU to enter the 1966 Boston Marathon, Gibb ran anyway and finished ahead of ⅔ of the men's field doing it. Along Kathrine Switzer, who famously ran the marathon in 1967, Gibbs actions helped lift the AAU’s ruling in 1972 so that all women could compete in marathons.
Allyson Felix
One of the greatest athletes and Olympians, Felix has accomplished more than any other runner on the track. But she’s had an even greater impact on women's rights in sports business. While negotiating a new contract with her primary sponsor, Nike, the company offered her a 70% pay cut while she started the next phase of her life; start a family. Not wanting to guarantee her salary out of fears and prejudices towards postpartum athletics, Felix brought the company into the spotlight by speaking out about her experiences. She blazed her own path by joining Athleta (the company’s first sponsored athlete) and creating her own brand, “Saysh” to embody the standards of equality for all athletes. Her work, along with the voices of other athletes like Kara Goucher and Alysia Montaño, has lead to maternity protections and guarantees from major athletic sponsors like Nike for future generations.
rabbit
The apparel company that’s setting the pace for running gear, rabbit was founded by Monica DeVreese and Jill Deering in 2015. Monica and Jill, who were teammates on their local Santa Barbara running team, were fed up with the lack of selection for running apparel at the time. The industry was dominated with athleisure wear and running clothes from big shoe brand companies that didn't fit the needs of runners and racers. Now rabbit is filling that need by providing high quality running gear with a culture of inclusion and community at all levels of the sport. Through it’s community team program (Radrabit), elite team for hopeful pros (rabbitElite), and pro team (rabbitPro); rabbit is helping promote positive vibes and support for runners looking to get fitter, improve their mental health, or make it to the tops of the pro ranks.
