Long before Roberta Gibb and Sara Mae Berman unofficially ran the Boston Marathon (1966 and 1969 respectively), Arlene Pieper Stine became the first woman to officially finish a sanctioned marathon in 1959, when she ran the Pikes Peak Marathon—ascent and descent—in 9:50:20 when she was 29. She was accompanied by twelve men and a horse. Pieper Stine ran in the men's category and was not given a special category or fanfare for her historic finish. She never ran another marathon and her pioneering accomplishment fell into obscurity until 2009.

Upon turning 50 years old, Yolanda Holder decided to do something different for her birthday. While others in her circle of family and friends opted for elaborate parties, expensive experiences or trips, or even purchasing long-desired goods, Yolanda, on the other hand, set out to walk 50 marathons in 50 weeks. She didn't just meet that goal—she crushed it, completing 66 marathons in 52 weeks. And she never stopped. Now 67, Holder has become one of the most accomplished ultra-endurance athletes in the world. She has set Guinness World Records, all while breaking barriers as a race walker in a runner's world. Yolanda is also the first African American woman to achieve numerous milestones in multi-day racing. 

Nina Kuscsik began running in the 1960s after discovering Bill Bowerman's Jogging while waiting for a bike tire repair. Born in Brooklyn in 1939, she was a natural athlete who became New York State champion in roller skating, ice speed skating, and bike racing in 1960. After taking a break to raise her three children, running reignited her competitive spirit. She unofficially ran the Boston Marathon in 1969 and 1970, then won it in 1972 when it first officially accepted women, finishing in 3:10:26. A pivotal moment came in 1970 when she was turned away from a two-mile race simply for being a woman—an experience that transformed her into a fierce advocate for women's running rights. At the 1972 New York City Marathon, she led a protest against the separate start rule for women, sitting at the starting line until the ban was lifted. During the 1970s, she likely ran more marathons than any other woman, completing over 80 marathons and winning 15. Her advocacy helped establish women's marathon running, and she witnessed Joan Benoit become the first Olympic women's marathon champion in 1984. As her son remembered, despite all her victories and advocacy work, Nina simply "ran for the pure pleasure of it" and loved "the freedom that running gave her."