#96 - Julia Chase-Brand - The first U.S. woman to officially finish a major road running race

In episode 96, I speak with Julia Chase-Brand a true pioneer of U.S. running. So let’s go back. In 1960, women weren't allowed in races longer than 880 yards. The popular opinion of the time considered that distance running was harmful to reproductive organs. Let’s go further back, so in 1928 American and British papers falsely reported on the women finalists in the Olympic 800 meters. Both the photos and the story were faked, yet they provided the justification for a 30-year ban on women’s middle distance running in the United States. Aged 19 on Thanksgiving Day in 1961, she became a pioneer in women’s running as she became the first woman in the U.S. to officially finish a major road running race, which was the 4.7-mile Manchester Road Race. Julia made a specific point as shown in the photos to be seen as a female runner, she wore her college gym suit dress. She started the race a block behind the men to avoid the officials. In the final part of the race, spectators cheered her to the finish, and she di