A Short History of the Mini

On June 3, 1972, New York Road Runners staged the world's first road race exclusively for female participants, the 6-mile Crazylegs Mini Marathon. In 1972, distance running was a fringe activity practiced by a few dedicated souls. In most road races the number of female finishers could be counted on one hand. In fact, not a single woman finished the first New York City Marathon, 1970, and only three women crossed the line in the race's second running.

In April 1972, women were permitted to officially enter the renowned Boston Marathon for the first time. In June, President Nixon signed into law the landmark Title IX legislation, which mandated equal funding for women's sports programs that receive federal aid. In Munich in September, the women's 1500 meters was run for the first time at the Olympic Games.

In New York City, Nina Kuscsik, Kathrine Switzer, and New York City Marathon co-director Fred Lebow decided to launch a women-only road race. Lebow signed on Johnson's Wax as the race's sponsor. The company which made a women's shaving gel called Crazylegs, had contacted him about putting on a women's marathon, but Lebow talked them into a more manageable 6-mile "mini" marathon, named after the miniskirt, then the height of fashion. The Crazylegs Mini Marathon drew 78 women, a huge turnout for the time. The race was won by Jacqueline Dixon of California in 37:02, with Kuscsik third and Switzer sixth.

The Mini has been on the NYRR annual calendar ever since. The event has been a model for women's road races around the world. It has attracted Olympians, World Champions, and world record holders and has been the site of several world-best performances. Winners have come from Australia, Canada, England, Kenya, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, and the United States.

The 2004 Mini saluted American Olympians and was won by Deena Kastor, who went on to win a bronze medal in the Athens Olympic marathon. Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands won the 2005, 2006, and 2007 Mini, and Hilda Kibet of the Netherlands won in 2008. Rose Kosgei won in 2009.

This year, the Mini once again welcomes an international field of the world's best distance runners. As always, the Mini is an event for all women of all ability levels. The world's original women-only road race continues its tradition of celebrating all that women's running has to offer.

Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands has won the Mini 10K three times (2005, 2006, 2007).