Merry Lepper (born December 31, 1942)[1] is a former American long-distance runner from California who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set a world best in the marathon on December 16, 1963, with a time of 3:37:07 at the Western Hemisphere Marathon in Culver City, California.[2][3][4]["nb" 1]

In the early 1960s, Lepper trained with Lyn Carman (also from California)["nb" 2]and the pair began to run unofficially in road races.[5] At the 1963 Western Hemisphere Marathon, the two women hid along the sidelines then joined the men just after the start.[5] A race official attempted to remove them from the course and Carman reportedly yelled, "I have the right to use public streets for running!"[5][6] The women were timed by a sympathetic AAU official; Carman eventually dropped out around the 20 mile mark, but Lepper finished with a time of 3:37:07 .[5][7][8]

Carman would eventually win the Santa Barbara Marathon in 1966, 1969, and 1970, and the World Masters Marathon in 1969.[8]

The book "Marathon Crasher: The Life and Times of Merry Lepper, the First American Woman to Run a Marathon" (2012), by LA-based sports journalist David Davis, tells of Merry Lepper's 1963 marathon.[9][10] However, in 1959, Arlene Pieper (also an American) became the first woman to officially finish a marathon in America when she finished the Pikes Peak Marathon.[11][12] Davis's book states, "Without discounting her [Pieper's] achievement, Pikes Peak marathon is considered to be more of an endurance climb, with much walking involved, as opposed to a competitive marathon race."[13]

In 2013, Lepper received a commendation from Culver City.[2] The commendation reads in part: "Now, therefore, the City Council of the City of Culver City, California, hereby congratulates and commends Merry Lepper, a shining example of how one person can overcome tremendous hurdles to fulfill a dream and, in the process, pave the way for generations to come."[2]

References

  1. ^ Rabe, John. "Fifty Years Later, A Celebration For Merry Lepper's Historic Marathon". Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  2. ^ Rabe, John (2013-12-12). "50 years later, Culver City honors first female marathoner". Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  3. ^ "12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009.". Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2009. p. 653. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  4. ^ Noakes, Tim (2003). The Lore of Running. Fourth ed. Oxford University Press. p. 675. ISBN 0-87322-959-2.
  5. ^ Kuscsik, Nina (1977), "The History of Women's Participation in the Marathon", Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 301 (The Marathon: Physiological, Medical, Epidemiological, and Psychological Studies): 862–876, Bibcode:1977NYASA.301..862K. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1977.tb38253.x. S2CID 84881172
  6. ^ Anderson, Ruth (1978). The Complete Woman Runner. World Publications.
  7. ^ "The Fight To Establish The Women's Marathon Race". www.marathonguide.com. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  8. ^ "Santa Barbara Marathon". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  9. ^ Rabe, John (2012-06-05). "Merry Lepper, first American woman to run a marathon: 1963, Culver City". Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  10. ^ Marathon Crasher: The Life and Times of Merry Lepper, the First American Woman to Run a Marathon. Thomas Dunne Books. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 2019-06-17. – via www.amazon.com.
  11. ^ "First woman to run marathon in US - PPM". Archived from the original on 2017-02-11. Retrieved 2014-09-19.
  12. ^ "House put - Arlenepieper". Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  13. ^ Davis, David (2012-06-05). Marathon Crasher: The Life and Times of Merry Lepper, the First American Woman to Run a Marathon. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9781466817104.
  1. ^ According to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians, the course for the Western Hemisphere Marathon was short in 1962 and 1963.[14] The ARRS also notes the date of the race as December 14, 1963.[14][15]
  2. ^ Carman has been reported as also being in her early 20s, however, data compiled by the Association of Road Racing Statisticians indicates that she would have been 27 years old.