Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to run the Boston Marathon with an official race number. It was 1967, a time when women were not given space at the starting line. Switzer registered under the name ‘K.V. Switzer’ and ran the race despite attempts by race officials to physically remove her from the course. She finished anyway. *hair flip*
As the oldest annual marathon, first held in 1897, the Boston Marathon carries prestige that endures to this day. For many runners, it remains a kind of pilgrimage. A Mecca for runners, as they put it. What happened in 1967 and the decision five years later to officially allow women to compete did more than change the rules of one race. It changed how endurance sports would be viewed for generations.
When we look at the achievements of women across fields such as sports, politics, education, and STEM, it can feel as if we are finally living in a world that is more equal and equitable. Personally, my social media feed is filled with running, outdoor adventures, memes, and an algorithm that celebrates women empowerment. I studied in an all-girls school, took several subjects on women’s empowerment, and have worked on research centered on women’s issues. From that vantage point, it sometimes feels easy to believe that we are winning.
Yet the broader social landscape often reminds us that progress is uneven.
Just this month, during International Women’s Day and the wider celebration of Women’s Month, national discussions revealed how fragile that sense of progress can be. Public debates, commentaries, and social media exchanges exposed how women continue to be portrayed, expected, and objectified even in an age where information is readily accessible. Data and advocacy have been presented repeatedly by scholars and activists, and yet deeply rooted patriarchal ideas and attitudes continue to resurface.
The recent controversy surrounding remarks made by Representative Suntay drew widespread attention not only because of the political climate but also because of how women were framed in the conversation. While such objectification is not new, what was particularly concerning was the tone of the public response. Online discussions became polarized, revealing how persistent misogynistic narratives still shape public discourse despite decades of gender equality movements. Moments like these make one pause and ask: Have we really come as far as we think?
It is within this broader social context that women’s participation in sports takes on deeper meaning.
All Women’s Ultramarathon 2026: The Rise of Women in Running and Why It Matters
When Switzer began her running journey, doctors at the time warned her that running was dangerous for women. Some claimed it would make women’s legs too muscular, prevent them from having children, or even cause hair to grow on their chests (Melbourne Podiatry Clinic, 2022). These ideas reflected the gender norms of the period, discouraging women from participating in endurance sports and reinforcing expectations about how women’s bodies should behave.
Switzer continued running anyway because the sport made her feel strong, fit, and empowered. Decades later, science has proven how misguided those fears were. Research has shown that physical activity is associated with decreased risks of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes (Watkins et al., 2023). Women with conditions such as PCOS are often encouraged to engage in aerobic or resistance exercise because of its metabolic benefits (Mussawar et al., 2023). Pregnant runners are increasingly reassured by medical professionals that continuing to run does not negatively affect birth weight or increase the risk of preterm delivery (Kuhrt et al., 2018).
Looking back at those earlier misconceptions raises an important question. How many other norms have been institutionalized simply to restrict women’s movement?
I remember a conversation I once had with my father about adultery and concubinage laws in the Philippines. The burden of proof and the penalties imposed on women have historically been far more stringent than those imposed on men. Discussions like that inevitably lead to deeper questions. Who created these laws? Who approved them? Were women even present when such decisions were made?
This is why representation and participation matter. Decision-making spaces should reflect the diversity of the people they affect. The pursuit of gender equality is not about elevating one gender over another. Rather, it is about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate, contribute, and benefit from social progress. This idea is reflected in global commitments such as the CEDAW, which emphasizes that equality requires structural participation and shared responsibility across society.
Sport, interestingly enough, has become one of the spaces where these shifts can be clearly observed.
Within the running community, women are no longer merely welcomed. They are celebrated and supported. Events are increasingly designed with women in mind, recognizing both their participation and leadership.
One example is the All-Women’s Ultramarathon X, held from February 28 to March 1 in Cebu City. The tenth edition of this premier women’s running event challenged participants to complete a 50-kilometer route from Cebu City to Cordova, onward to Lapu-Lapu City, and back again via the Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway, the country’s longest bridge.
Returning after a seven-year hiatus, the event drew women from various professions, age groups, and walks of life. What stood out most was not only the runners themselves but also the community that supported them. Volunteers staffed aid stations with hydration and food. Friends and family members cheered from the sidelines. Organizers and marshals ensured safety throughout the course. Together, they created a space where endurance, camaraderie, and solidarity could thrive.
Over the years, AWUM has become one of the pioneering events in Cebu that champions women in endurance sports. Its influence can be seen in other running and trail events that now actively encourage women’s participation and leadership.
My AWUM X Experience
Having spent much of my time around people who enjoy outdoor activities, I had heard about AWUM even before I started hiking. I once received an AWUM shirt as a gift. At the time, I did not even know what the event was. I was simply happy to have a new drifit shirt for what soon-to-be an outdoor life I would embrace.
That shirt stayed with me for years. I wore it during major climbs, day hikes, and even a few running events. I still wear it today (because why not HAHA). Eventually, when a fellow runner asked whether I had ever joined AWUM before it went on hiatus, my curiosity was finally sparked.
So, when the organizing team announced that the event would return, I registered immediately. Work and personal commitments had taken up most of my time in 2025, and I only managed to join one marathon that year. I told myself that perhaps 2026 could be a small redemption arc. My last ultramarathon had been in 2024, so I knew training would be necessary. My legs needed to remember the distance, and my feet needed to remember the pain.
Age, of course, adds its own reminders. Knees and joints no longer cooperate with muscle memory the way they once did. Recovery takes longer, and stretching becomes less optional and more necessary. To prepare, I integrated deep stretching into my routine and committed to LSDs every weekend leading up to the race. The goal was not only to arrive before the cutoff but, most importantly, to avoid injury. If possible, keep my knees from complaining.
Was it a success? With the support of aid station volunteers who provided hydration, nourishment, and even entertainment, the marshals who ensured everyone’s safety, and the organizers who constantly reminded us of key race details, the experience became far more manageable. Fellow runners also carried the energy of the night, sharing stories, laughter, and encouragement from 9 pm until sunrise.
We crossed the finish line in less than nine hours, comfortably before the cutoff and, thankfully, without injuries. My knees may have quietly protested, but they held up.
Running Forward
Events like AWUM, GURL, HER, and GRIT remind us that progress often happens through both symbolic and practical actions. To some, running long distances might be a test of endurance, but events like these serve as a quiet affirmation of how women continue to claim spaces that were once denied to them.
Equally important is the reminder that the movement toward equality is not carried by one gender alone. It is sustained through collaboration. The male pacers, marshals, police officers, barangay tanods, aid station crew, photographers, and race directors all contributed to making the event safe and meaningful for everyone involved. Their support reflects how social change often happens collectively rather than individually.
To the organizers, volunteers, and runners who made AWUM X possible, thank you for keeping the community vibrant and supportive. Special thanks to Mme. G and Sir Tony for introducing me to this event, and to Nat for keeping me awake through the 50-kilometer route with stories, encouragement, and a steady playlist of Olivia Dean and 90s throwback music.
Back in 1967, Switzer ran the Boston Marathon simply because she loved running and believed she belonged there. Nearly six decades later, women continue to run not because they have something to prove, but because they can, they want to, and they deserve the space to do so.
If anything, events like AWUM show that the real victory lies not only in finishing the race but also in ensuring that the road remains open for everyone who wishes to run it.
So, see you on the road? Or probably on trails? See upcoming running events in 2026 here!
Dakilanglaagan 