As part of Hearst's FutureRising, we're highlighting trailblazers Marilyn Bevans, Shauna Anderson, and marathonmom55.
Black Women Marathoners on Trailblazing, Breaking Molds, and Putting Themselves First
Since Bevans stormed the streets of Boston, 24 American-born Black women have joined her in that exclusive sub-3 club when it comes to 26.2 miles. But, the numbers are growing quickly as more Black women see their opportunity in non-competitive recreational running. Some recent additions include Kayla Grahn at the 2021 Los Angeles Marathon and recent Stanford grad Jordan Oakes, who won the 2021 Seattle Marathon.
At 72, Bevans still runs, but instead of putting up 10 to 20 miles a day to train for a marathon, she sticks to three to five miles three to four times a week—the sweet spot for comradery and catharsis.Long-distance running has always been predominantly characterized in the media as thin and white, especially in the United States. And by the time Shauna Anderson got started in 1994, change was still slow. Being plus-sized and Black has made her stand out in many races.
She hopes that people will be inspired by her running journey, despite not fitting the mold of the typical runner. She explains that people often hear about her experiences and proclaim that they don’t have what it takes to do the same. Since that time, Cain has run Boston seven times, and she’s qualified over a dozen more. Her fastest Boston time was 3:45:40. Around 2013, she finally began to connect with other Black runners. “That’s the first time that I actually met the National Black Marathoners Association,” she says. “I’ve met a lot of great people during my journey—Black and white—and I have seen an uptick or an increase in the number of Black women that are making our way to unicorns,” Cain added.
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