Women in Business Supporting Women in Sports Careers

I was on the field at Dick's Sports Stadium in Denver last night as one of four women honored during the 3rd Annual Women's Soccer Celebration. I had been nominated by an amazing woman, Amy Snider, founder and CEO of the Colorado Force Professional Women's Soccer Team. It was half-time in the game between the Colorado Force and the NJ/NY Sky Blue, and the stands were filled with fans of women's soccer. Amazing.

I was struck by how far women have come in sports. The women of the Colorado Force were making a career, earning a living, playing a game they loved. Awesome.

But it made me remember back to when I had just started my senior year at Colorado State University. All the buzz was about how a 20-year old woman, Katherine Switzer, had tried to run in the Boston Marathon. It was 1967, and you see, women were not allowed to enter that prestigious race. Katherine didn't try to hide her gender, but the race application didn't ask. In those days, it was assumed that everyone entering the grueling race was a man.

About three miles into the race, the press truck caught up to Katherine . When the photographers noticed a woman in the race with an official number, a race official jumped off the truck and ran at Katherine in an attempt to tear off her number. The official was heard to shout, "Get the H---- out of my race...you're in a lot of trouble."

Katherine managed to finish the race, and word spread like wildfire. I was stunned. They tried to pull her off the course because she was a woman?

Women from all walks of life across the country voiced their protests, but it was not until 1972, the same year that Title IX was passed, that a woman could officially enter the Boston Marathon.

As I stood on the field at Dick's, I realized that hundreds of women like Katherine Switzer broke the rules, defied authority, lobbied, pleaded, and pounded on desks to get those "No Trespassing" signed ripped away from the world of amateur and professional sports. The fight's not over: Amy Snider worked for 14 years to make the Colorado Force a viable professional team. But I was filled with hope. Progress is slow but it is happening. I am so proud that little girls in the stands might actually achieve their dream to be on the field some day, being paid to play a game they love. Wow, Katherine Switzer, did you have any idea what your were starting?