Photo courtesy of Kathrine Switzer

It was more than 40 years ago when Kathrine Switzer upset officials at the Boston Marathon by sneaking into the traditionally all-male event under a gender-neutral name. Dozens of marathons and several books later, she speaks to colleges and communities worldwide on the advancements women have made in sports and culture.

The women̢۪s studies program at Fresno State invited Switzer to give a free public lecture in the Satellite Student Union at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7. Kathryn Forbes, Ph.D., professor in the women̢۪s studies program, said the presentation acknowledges a partnership with Fresno̢۪s Eye-Q Two Cities Marathon & Half on Nov. 9. Switzer will be attending the marathon.

“She’s really helped advance what society and what culture thinks that women can do and how they can perform in sports,â€Â Forbes said. “She really does push us to see what women can achieve.â€Â

Forbes noted Switzer is credited with establishing marathons in numerous countries, including the first women̢۪s Olympian marathon in 1984. With her influence, the Title IX Equal Opportunity in Education Act passed in 1972 prohibiting gender discrimination in any educational activity.

She has participated in more than 35 marathons in all, including a first place run in the 1974 New York City Marathon and second in the 1975 Boston Marathon.

Switzer, who was not available for comment, has also pushed the limits of what is tolerable for older athletes, said Forbes.

“She was a runner, she was an athlete and she took it further. She sort of connected her activism with her running,â€Â Forbes said.

Besides her work as a fitness expert, broadcaster, journalist and founder of AtAtlants Sports Promotion, Inc., Switzer has written several books on the subject of running and women in sports.

Her latest work, “Marathon Woman: Running the Race to Revolutionize Women’s Sports,â€Â is currently out of print, but will be available for purchase after her lecture.

Switzer will be signing her book at a health and fitness expo in Clovis on Nov. 8 and 9 in preparation of Fresno̢۪s first full marathon in over a decade. The Eye-Q Two Cities Marathon & Half, which begins at Woodward Park, stretches for 13.1 miles along Shepherd Avenue deep into Clovis and comes back around into Fresno. The full 26.2-mile course continues the path along Friant Avenue north and back to the starting point. Further details can be found at www.trailof2cities.com.

Nancy Talley, one of the marathon̢۪s directors, said more than 1,000 people from 38 countries have entered so far. The marathon awards a $5,100 dollar purse to the winners in the full event and qualifies them for a place in the Boston Marathon. Winners in the half course will receive $350.

“We’ve had a lot of elite runners contact us wanting to run our race,â€Â Talley said. “They want us to [compensate] them and we have decided not to do that. We want this race to be for the runners.â€Â

Although the maximum allowance for the marathon is 3,000 participants, Talley said they expect to increase that number to a possible 10,000 in the next five years. She added that public figures like Switzer and documentary filmmaker Jon Dunham, who will also be at the expo, should help to put Fresno̢۪s stamp on the running world.

Forbes said Switzer̢۪s appearance at Fresno State and at the two-day expo for the Fresno marathon should appeal to a wide audience in the Fresno community, both to college and high school students. She added that Switzer̢۪s presence speaks to the need of athletic education in Fresno and the university̢۪s many athletic programs, particularly those involving women.

“Women’s participation in sports, for example in high school, reduces the risk of pregnancy, reduces the risk of depression and later in life reduces the risk for breast cancer; all kinds of things,â€Â Forbes said. “It also really challenges fundamental ideas about femininity in our culture.â€Â

Opening remarks from Fresno State Associate Provost Ellen Junn will precede Switzer̢۪s presentation on Friday, while a short video will elaborate on Switzer̢۪s experiences and achievements. Switzer will be available afterwards to answer questions and autograph her latest book.

Eye-Q Two Cities Marathon & Half

The first marathon will be held on Nov. 9.

̢ۢ Participants can run a marathon, half marathon or relay marathon.

̢ۢ Participants must register by Nov. 8. online or in person at Sierra Running Co.

̢ۢ Online registration ends today at 11:59 p.m.

̢ۢ Registrations fees: Marathon, $75; Half, $55; Relay, $180.

̢ۢ For more information, visit the Two Cities Web site at: www.trailof2cities.com