Women’s Running Events to Feature Deena Kastor, Neely Spence Gracey, Amby Burfoot, Dave McGillivray, Bobbi Gibb, Kathrine Switzer, Jonathan Beverly, Roisin McGettigan-Dumas, and Dick and Rick Hoyt
Boulder, Colorado, USA — March 27, 2018 — The John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo, produced and managed by Conventures, Inc., announces that Women’s Running, the world’s largest running magazine for women, will be a presenting sponsor of the seminar series to take place during the 2018 Boston Marathon race weekend. This partnership reflects the shifting demographics in running, which show that women are participating in running, and specifically the marathon and half-marathon distances, at record levels in recent years, according to Running USA race finisher reports.
“Women are the present and future of endurance sports,” said Rebecca Warren, editor-in-chief of Women’s Running. “We’re excited to bring thought-provoking speakers to the Boston seminar series and are thrilled to offer women a friendly face in the crowds during race weekend.” The Women’s Running brand is committed to providing information and resources for women to become confident runners and chase down a variety of goals, from race PRs to finding a good balance between training, nutrition, and mental health. “We meet women wherever they are—in print, online, on their smartphones, and at premier races like Boston—but also whatever their level of fitness and experience,” said Warren.
“Women’s running has a storied history in the city of Boston,” said Dusty Rhodes, President of Conventures, Inc. and founder of the Boston 10K for Women (formerly the Bonne Bell Mini Marathon and Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women). “The first women to officially and unofficially compete in the marathon ran here in Boston. This paved the way for women to see to the sport as a new opportunity and, more importantly, encouraged other women to join them. We’ve been able to keep that tradition alive with the Boston 10K for Women, which is now entering its 42nd consecutive year as one of the premier women’s races in the country.”
“When I became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1966,” said Bobbi Gibb, “it was to disprove the belief of the day that women couldn’t run and finish a marathon. Look at us now!” Gibb finished in the top 25 percent of the field with an unofficial time of 3 hours, 21 minutes, ushering in a new era of women marathoners. She was the first woman to finish three times, in 1966, 1967, and 1968.
The Boston seminar series will offer a wide array of speakers, topics, and backgrounds. “With the wonderful help and support of the Boston Athletic Association in regard to programming, we’ve been able to put together a number of unique and insightful seminars over the past few years and this year is no different,” continued Rhodes. “Topics such as reflections and advice from past champions, as well as a panel of representatives from each of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors races gives the audience a rich sense of history as well as a clear look at the future of the sport.”
As part of the partnership, Women’s Running will emcee the entire speaker series, which consists of sixteen, 45-minute speaker sessions over two days, Saturday, April 14th and Sunday, April 15th. All sessions will take place within the Waterfront Ballroom just off the main expo hall. Notable speakers will include 1968 Boston Marathon champions Bobbi Gibb and Amby Burfoot; Kathrine Switzer, a pioneer in women’s running, who will share her inspiring story about the 1967 Boston Marathon; Dick and Ricky Hoyt and their tales of racing the Boston Marathon and the Ironman® World Championship triathlon; and Dave McGillivray, the veteran Boston Marathon Race Director, who will preview the marathon race course and offer strategies and tactics for runners to run their best race.
Former professional runner and Olympian Roisin McGettigan-Dumas and veteran running journalist Jonathan Beverly will be featured seminar speakers. McGettigan-Dumas is coauthor with Lauren Fleshman of the best-selling Believe Training Journal book series. Her seminar will focus on effective training habits and mental toughness skills. Beverly is author of Run Strong, Stay Hungry and former editor-in-chief of Running Times magazine, a favorite of those striving for a Boston Marathon qualifying time. Beverly’s seminar will focus on the training habits of some of America’s most accomplished marathoners like Deena Kastor, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Colleen De Reuck.
In addition to McGettigan-Dumas and Beverly, Women’s Running will also host Deena Kastor, one of America’s all-time greatest marathoners, for a meet and greet and book signing at the Women’s Running booth #952 in the expo.
The complete schedule of speakers will be available online at womensrunning.com/boston2018, sportsfitnessexpo.com, and on the race website at BAA.org.
About Pocket Outdoor Media
Pocket Outdoor Media is the leading publisher in endurance sports. Pocket Outdoor Media’s brands influence and engage more athletes than any other through a combined print, online, and social audience of 44 million runners, cyclists, triathletes, and swimmers. Our brands include Women’s Running, the world’s largest running magazine for women; VeloNews, the authoritative voice of cycling; Triathlete, the world’s #1 triathlon resource; Competitor.com, the most trusted website for runners; and VeloPress, the world’s leading publisher of books on endurance sports. Pocket Outdoor Media is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado and has an office in San Diego, California. See more at pocketoutdoormedia.com.
Media Inquiries
Felix Magowan, Chief Executive Officer, fmagowan@pocketoutdoormedia.com, (303) 245-2167
Advertising, Sponsorships, and Partnerships
Shannon Standefer, Women’s Running & Competitor.com Sales Director, sstandefer@pocketoutdoormedia.com, (970) 456-2161
Rob Wood, Chief Revenue Officer, rwood@pocketoutdoormedia.com, (303) 245-2102