After crossing the finish line of the Upstander 5K, continue your day of inspiration with Trailblazer & Upstander: A Conversation with Boston Marathon Legend Kathrine
Switzer, at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 29, in Reakirt Auditorium at Union Terminal.
Switzer made history in 1967 as the first woman to officially register and run the Boston Marathon—defying odds, challenging norms, and igniting a global movement for gender equity in sports. Her courage in the face of adversity has inspired generations to take action and stand up for what’s right.
In this compelling conversation, Switzer will reflect on her groundbreaking journey, the power of resilience, and what it means to be an upstander—on and off the racecourse.
This event is part of the Upstander 5K and Family Day, presented by the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center as part of the Cohen Family Upstander Month.
When: Sunday, June 29, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.
Where: Reakirt Auditorium at Union Terminal, Cincinnati, OH
Free with race registration only. Seating is first-come, first-served. This event is brought to you in partnership with Fleet Feet, Cincinnati Museum Center, and Girls on the Run of Cincinnati.
About Kathrine Switzer
An iconic athlete, author, Emmy-award winning broadcaster and advocate for
sports and social causes, Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially
register and run the Boston Marathon in 1967. She was attacked in the race by an
angry official who tried to rip off her bib number (#261) and throw her out of the
race because she was a woman. She finished the 26.2 mile distance anyway and
went on win the 1974 New York City Marathon and to champion women in the
sport globally, most notably leading the drive to make the women’s marathon an
official Olympic event in 1984. Now, 58% of all runners in the USA are women.
To celebrate this social revolution, and to support another on active aging,
Switzer ran the Boston Marathon again, at age 70, on the 50th anniversary of her
iconic run, finishing only 24 minutes slower than she did when she was 20. This
run launched her non-profit ‘261 Fearless’ –named after that famous bib
number–which empowers women globally though running. She has been
honored widely for her achievements including being inducted into the USA
National Women’s Hall of Fame which recognized her for creating positive social
change throughout her storied career.
We’re honored to welcome Jesse Eisenberg—Academy Award–nominated actor, writer, and director—as the celebrity host of the evening. Eisenberg’s latest film, A Real Pain, explores grief, memory, and generational trauma through the story of two cousins traveling to Poland to honor their grandmother, a Holocaust survivor. The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, and was later released by Searchlight Pictures to widespread acclaim. Eisenberg received a BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay and an Academy Award nomination for his work.
