Starting Line 1928

Starting Line 1928 is an oral history project documenting the lived experiences of female distance running pioneers

Starting Line 1928 is a history podcast hosted by Running Historians (Various), with 73 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Running Historians (Various) hosts Starting Line 1928, a history show with 73 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #72

  72 | Dusty Rhodes

  Sep 24, 202643 minS3

  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.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #71

  71 | Mary Etta Boitano Blanchard

  Sep 10, 202641 minS3

  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.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #70

  70 | Diane Hawkins

  Aug 27, 20261h 24mS4

  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.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #69

  69 | Bobbi Gibb

  Jul 30, 20261h 10mS4

  Bobbi Gibb didn't wait for permission—she changed history by stepping across a line she was never meant to cross. In 1966, when women weren't allowed to run the Boston Marathon, Bobbi showed up anyway. Denied an official race number simply because she was a woman, she hid near the starting line, slipped into the pack, and ran 26.2 miles on determination alone. She finished in three hours and 21 minutes, faster than many of the men competing, and challenged a long-held belief that women couldn't endure the distance. But Bobbi's story is bigger than one race. It's about questioning limits and reshaping what people believe is possible, not just in sport, but in life.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #68

  68 | Ellen Wessel and Elizabeth Goeke

  Jul 16, 20261h 19mS4

  When Ellen Wessel and Elizabeth Goeke started running in the 1970s, they quickly realized the apparel available wasn't well suited to women's needs. Shorts bunched between the legs, didn't fit right around the waist, chafed in unmentionable areas—and definitely didn't have pockets. Sports bras, let alone those that supported larger breasts, weren't yet available. So they started a company, Moving Comfort, to meet the needs of a growing group of women runners. Though there were plenty of ups and downs along the way, Moving Comfort outfitted women runners with quality apparel for four decades—staying true to the pair's mission, "A fit woman is a powerful woman," along the way.

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Starting Line 1928. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.