A pioneering project Dr David Martin recalls how an extraordinary race staged in Atlanta 30 years ago eventually won Olympic status for women marathon runners. On 19 March 1978 - it was Palm Sunday – an event staged in Atlanta dramatically heightened international awareness of women’s distance running and the desire among women runners for their own long-distance events to be included in the Olympic program. It was the Avon International Women’s Marathon. Funded by the well-known manufacturer of health and beauty products, it was the first in a series of seven marathons held annually around the world that provided a global stage for women to demonstrate their talent at distance running. In the late 1970s Dr. Ernst van Aaken organized three international women’s marathon championships in his home town of Waldniel. permitted to run in 1972) was hired behind in the later stages to defeat to develop the concept and oversee a field that had 17 of the world’s the entire Avon running program. top 24 women marathoners. Runner-up was Hungary’s Sarolta Atlanta was selected as the first Monspart, first European under venue because Avon had a large three hours, and the first woman headquarters there. It was logical distance runner from the Eastern for Waldniel to be the second venue bloc of nations to compete in the in honor of Dr. van Aaken’s efforts. West. Third place went to Every race was well attended, Germany’s Manuela Angenvoorth, clearly demonstrating that women’s who was one of Dr. van Aaken’s marathon running was worthy of runners. Olympic status. This was understood by Olympic officials as Unusually warm weather slowed well; it simply needed to be finish times in the Waldniel race. documented. Coach Bryan Smith brought two of his star pupils from the Barnet As local Long Distance Running Ladies Athletic Club: his wife Joyce, Chairman for the USA’s Amateur aged 41 finished more than three In 1981 the International Olympic women’s marathon championships Athletic Union, I served as a liaison minutes ahead of 24-year old Committee announced that a in his home town of Waldniel. The between the national governing American Kim Merritt and 35-year women’s marathon would be part Avon Corporation, the world leader body and the race organizers. I old Barnet teammate Carol Gould. of the 1984 Los Angeles Games in cosmetics, fragrances, and wrote to Monique Berlioux, then program, and there is little doubt fashion jewelry, was keen to Director of the IOC, asking her to In 1980 the Avon race closed down that the first four Avon marathons promote fitness among women as attend the Atlanta race. “I am most central London streets - the first provided particular impetus for this an integral part of the notion that sorry to miss this occasion which I time this had ever been done for an decision. Held in such diverse health and beauty go hand in hand. am certain will prove very exciting athletic event. The race was on 3 locations as Atlanta, Waldniel They decided to organize road and a positive boost to women August, just two days after the (GER), London, and Ottawa these races, at a variety of distances, in athletes,” she wrote on 7 March Moscow Olympic men’s marathon. races drew runners from as many as all the countries in which Avon did 1978, “who – you will forgive me That 27 countries sent athletes, 27 countries on five continents. business. The winners of shorter for adding – are as much, if not spanning five continents, distance races would be eligible for better, suited physiologically than demonstrated the appropriateness Earlier in the 1970s Dr. Ernst van an expenses paid trip to the annual men to long distance running, of Olympic status. The event was Aaken, a coach and physician who extravaganza event – the although to date races for women televised worldwide by both the lost both legs in a running accident, international marathon. Katherine have tended to be fairly short.” BBC and NBC. Despite another had lobbied hard for a women’s Switzer, known as the female warm day, Lorraine Moller ran a 1500m event in the 1972 Munich runner who was almost bounced In the Atlanta race, little-known personal best to win, as Nancy Olympics. In the late 1970s he out of the 1967 Boston marathon Martha Cooksey, 23, running her Conz (USA) was fast closing down organized three international (before women were officially eighth marathon, came from on her. 1 Distance Running Month – Month 2008 The course in Ottawa, for the old as Rothfarb, or as young as 11- fourth edition of the series, started year old Jennifer Amyx, whose and finished near the downtown Ottawa race was her eleventh Parliament buildings. After crossing marathon (she finished 46th in the Ottawa River into French- 3:02:58)? speaking Quebec, the route returned to Ottawa and went out- Both of these women entered races and-back alongside the 150-year for fun, as a celebration of fitness old tree-lined Rideau Canal. rather than a competition against Runners appreciated the shade but time, which may explain their lack temperatures still reached the 20C, of injuries. However, the potential with 80% humidity thwarting problem of injury from repetitive attempts at personal bests. Nancy impact stress to the growth plates Conz, a 24-year old running shoe of the lower limb bones among sales clerk took the lead at 5km and runners under 18 remained of won with 2:36:46. As she slowed concern. A paper by IMMDA (the towards the finish Joan Benoit came medical affiliate of AIMS) in the within half a minute of catching fall of 2001 recommended that race her. Third place went to an directors prohibit runners under 18 Runners could hardly help unknown 19-year old from from entering marathons. Cincinnati, Julie Isphording, who but be amazed at the progress made later represented USA at the After the Ottawa race, and the IOC inaugural Olympic women’s announcement, other women’s-only in opening up the world marathon in Los Angeles which championship-quality marathons of distance running to women. Benoit won. Every competitor had started up, and increased the racing reason to celebrate as this was the opportunities for both developing first all-women’s marathon since the and experienced women the Golden Gate Bridge but made whose 2:33:24 at age 34 was a IOC voted (on 23 February 1981) marathoners. Three weeks after the course too hilly to achieve fast personal best in a career spanning to include a women’s marathon in Ottawa came the first women’s-only times. Avon London winner more than a decade, in which she the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. European Marathon Cup Lorraine Moller won an exciting beat 2:40 28 times. Marianne competition in Agen, France (won struggle over Ireland’s Carey May, a Dickerson, in third (2:33:44) At the post-race party 80-year old by Zoya Ivanova in 2:38:58). The 22-years-old computer science improved by 10 minutes and went Ruth Rothfarb of Miami Beach first Osaka International Ladies major at Brigham Young University. on to win a silver medal in Helsinki took to the dance floor with Marathon was staged in January Rules still did not permit direct in 2:31:09. surprising energy after her 5:39:57 1982 and was won by Italy’s prize money, but “developmental marathon debut. She became the Margherita Marchisio in 2:32:55. money” was available to be placed The finale of the Avon International oldest woman ever to have finished This was the third major women’s- in a trust fund, and Moller earned Marathon Circuit came in Paris, a marathon. An interesting only race staged annually in Japan, $15,000 for her victory. three weeks after the Los Angeles outgrowth from this marathon was after Nagoya and Tokyo. Olympic marathon for women the onset of an extensive polemic in The 6th Avon International became a reality. Lorraine Moller running magazines about age limits. The 5th Avon Women’s Marathon Marathon was greatly enhanced by raced through the dense parkland Is a marathon too risky in terms of Championship in San Francisco incorporating the US open and of the Bois de Boulogne – the site of musculoskeletal injury for people as featured the grandeur of crossing masters championships for 1983 the 1900 Olympics - to capture her and acting as the US selection race third Avon title a scant 18 days for the first-ever IAAF World after finishing 5th in Los Angeles. Athletics Championships in Helsinki. It was also a rehearsal All the runners could hardly help over much of the Olympic but be amazed at the progress made Marathon course in Los Angeles in opening up the world of distance and attracted over 1000 entrants. running to women. The Avon Favorable racing terrain, good program infused enormous amounts conditions (it started at 06.30), and of both money and enthusiasm to the Olympic spirit brought personal help the governing bodies of sport bests by the dozen. carry out their mandate to provide sporting opportunities for all. Julie Brown, who had dropped out of the Atlanta race, set the fastest time ever in a women-only race, THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN winning in 2:26:26. In the third THIS ARTICLE ARE THOSE OF THE fastest time of 1983 she finished AUTHOR AND DO NOT more than seven minutes ahead of NECCESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF AIMS OR IAAF Germany’s Christa Vahlensieck Distance Running Month – Month 2008 2.