Renowned female marathon runners to speak on empowerment at UCI

EVENT: UCI will host a presentation called “Running for Her Life: How Kathrine Switzer and Elizabeth Gray Broke Barriers, Created Social Progress & Found Empowerment Through Running,” in which the two women share their inspirational stories. A reception and book signing will follow.

WHEN/WHERE: 3-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in the Student Center’s Crystal Cove Auditorium (bldg. 113, grid E8 on campus map: https://communications.uci.edu/documents/pdf/UCI_16_map_campus_core.pdf)

INFORMATION: This event is free and open to the public. Parking is available for $10 in the Student Center Parking Structure (grid D9 on campus map). Media planning to attend should contact Pat Harriman at 949-824-9055 or pharrima@uci.edu. Parking is complimentary for media who RSVP in advance.

BACKGROUND: Speaker Kathrine Switzer is an iconic athlete, advocate, author and Emmy Award-winning television commentator. In 1967, she was the first woman to officially run in what was then the all-male Boston Marathon, infuriating one of the event’s directors, who attempted to violently eject her. But Switzer escaped his clutches and finished the race, advancing gender equality and forever changing the face of sports. She has been honored widely for her achievements, including being inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame for creating positive social change. At the UCI event, Switzer will sign copies of a 50^th anniversary edition of her memoir, Marathon Woman: Running the Race to Revolutionize Women’s Sports.

The other speaker, Elizabeth Gray, had the courage to leave an abusive marriage and was inspired to run her first marathon, something she had dreamed about for years. Recently featured in Runner’s World, she now shares her experiences to help other abuse survivors and participates in marathons in each state to raise awareness of domestic violence.

This event is co-sponsored by UCI’s Initiative to End Family Violence, Center for Biotechnology & Global Health Policy, and Exercise Medicine & Sport Sciences Initiative. Further information is available on the UCI Initiative to End Family Violence website, at http://endfamilyviolence.uci.edu/event/running-life-switzer-grey.