The Boston 10K for Women celebrates its 50 th anniversary this year, making it one of the oldest women’s road races in the country. But in 1977, when founder Dusty Rhodes dreamed up the event, no one could have predicted that it would endure for generations—not even Dusty. In her fascinating interview with Starting Line 1928, Dusty gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at what it took to create such a historic event. She discusses keeping her confidence in the face of adversity, creating space for elite and recreational athletes alike to shine, and adapting the race to changing times.

No one today would recommend that a six-year-old child run a marathon. In fact, most major marathon organizers set a minimum age limit of 18, primarily due to safety, liability, and the physiological strain that extreme distance running puts on growing bones and joints. Back in 1969, however, Mary Etta Boitano Blanchard ran her first marathon at age six–she attempted a marathon at age five but dropped out at Mile 20–finishing in 4:27:32. At age ten, she ran a 3:01:15. By the time she was 12, Mary Etta had completed 50 marathons. At age 5, she was the first female finisher at the iconic Dipsea Race, a grueling 7.4-mile run along the rutted, rocky trails of Muir Woods in Mill Valley, California. She has since run Dipsea over 35 times, and today she participates alongside her husband and sons. Her legacy extends beyond her race times. She and her mother worked tirelessly to persuade the AAU to allow women to compete in distances longer than 1500 meters. They were determined to end the era when female runners had to sneak into races or register using only their initials to disguise their gender. At 63, Mary Etta still logs 40 to 50 miles a week, gardens, loves to cook, and continues her tradition with the Dipsea. 

For Diane Hawkins, running began as a way to relieve stress from an intense career as an actress, but the sport became much more, opening doors and introducing her to people around the world. She set a goal to run the New York City Marathon and found that the training helped her be more focused and confident in auditions. She went on to run the New York City Marathon six times, the Boston Marathon 11 times, and countless other races, including ultramarathons. She won the U.S. women’s 50-mile championship four times in the mid-1980s and was named Ultramarathoner of the Year three times in a row.