Marathon & Lifestyle Travel Specialists – On 30 March 2014, the first 261 Women’s Marathon and 10k will be held in Mallorca, Spain,

We will be Posting some memorable event and travel shots on Instagram over the holidays so keep an eye out!    And remember…. when you think of travelling to an event, think about travelling with the marathon and lifestyle travel experts.    

Fran Seton & Dave Cundy 

RunFun Travel | runfuntravel.com

261 Women's Marathon – Another FIRST! 

In 1967, using only her initials "KV Switzer", twenty year old Kathrine Switzer signed up for the famous Boston Marathon. When a race official saw her, he tried to remove her bib number and force her off the course. Thanks to her boyfriend, who bounced the official off the course, Kathrine continued on and finished the race. Her bib number was 261. 

You need to keep in mind that this was a time when women were not permitted to enter marathons and the furthest they were allowed to run in the Olympics was 800m!

Kathrine Switzer was instrumental in the inclusion of the women's marathon the Olympic Games (the first women's marathon was only in 1984) and she has championed the cause of women's running for decades.

Some facts about Kathrine:

• She ran Boston eight times, with her best time 2hrs 51mins in 1975
• This time then ranked her the 3rd fastest American woman and 6th fastest in the world
• She ran the NYC Marathon four times and won it in 1974 on a 100 degree day in 3:07
• Her 27 minute winning margin over the next woman will stand forever as the biggest margin of victory in the history of the race
• She is still the last New York woman to have won the New York City Marathon
• First class of inductees into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame
• Named one of the Visionaries of the Century (2000), a Hero of Running (2012) and Runner of the Decade (1966-76) by Runners World Magazine
• Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2011
• Emmy award winning TV Commentator
• Founder, Avon Running Global Women's Circuit

Kathrine has long been one of running's most iconic figures. When she was inducted into the USA National Women's Hall of Fame last year, it was not just for breaking barriers but also for creating positive global social change. Because of her, millions of women are now empowered by the simple act of running.

On 30 March 2014, the first 261 Women's Marathon and 10k will be held in Mallorca, Spain, signalling a new era for women's running worldwide. The marathon, named after Kathrine's famous bib number, will present a challenging, inspirational, empowering and welcoming opportunity to women everywhere.

Kathrine changed women's lives in 1967 and will continue to do it! 

261 is growing into a world wide movement of women using running to communicate to each other. 261 clubs, events, charms and simple messages are being started as a way to reach out to women, many of whom live in fearful situations and need fearless friends.

Kathrine Switzer is a long term friend and we are enormously proud to be associated with the 261 series. RunFun Travel is an International Travel Partner for the 261 Women's Marathon and we very much look forward to an ongoing association with this and other 261 events. 

The timeline for the event is short – 30 March next year – but we would love to hear from women who wish to be a part of this history making event.

Contact Fran for further information.  

The 261 Women's Marathon will be an annual event and if you can't join us in 2014 perhaps jot it down in the diary for 2015.

261 Women's Marathon  30 March 2014  

100m World Record… in Stilettos!

How difficult could it be to sprint 100m in less than 15 seconds, all while wearing your high heels?

Julia Plecher, of Germany, recently broke the world record for running the fastest 100m in high heels, in 14.531 seconds. Plecher is a 22yo student, studying to become a PE teacher, and a habitual contestant in high heel running running competitions. And before you tsk, tsk this away as being a non-sport, Plecher picked up a tidy 10,000 euro for a recent win in Berlin. Plenty of Jimmy Choos in that prize purse!

And no, the world record is not ratified by the IAAF, it is a Guiness World Record.

IAAF Athletes of the Year

Usain Bolt (JAM) and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) were named the IAAF Male and Female World Athletes of the Year for 2013.

If was the fifth time Bolt has won the award and the athletes were presented at the IAAF World Athletics Gala dinner recently. Both athletes receive a prize of US$100,000. 

Bolt successfully regained his 100m title and won the 200m at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, winning the latter final in a 2013 world leading time of 19.66. He also anchored the gold medal Jamaican 4x100m relay team. Bolt won 10 out his 11 100m races and was unbeaten in his five races over 200m.

Fraser-Pryce regained her 100m title at the World Champs, winning in 10.71 which remained the fastest time of the year. After having run the fastest time of the year in the 200m, 22.13 in June, she went on to win the gold medal in this distance at Moscow. She also anchored the the Jamaican 4x100m team to victory in a national record and the second fastest time in history.