Podcast Summary: "Rosie Ruiz and the Marathon Women"

Podcast Information:

• Title: You're Wrong About
• Host/Author: Sarah Marshall
• Episode: Rosie Ruiz and the Marathon Women with Maggie Mertens
• Release Date: August 5, 2024

Introduction: Revisiting Miscast Stories

In the August 5, 2024, episode of You're Wrong About, host Sarah Marshall delves into the intriguing and controversial story of Rosie Ruiz, a woman who famously won the 1980 Boston Marathon under dubious circumstances. Joining her is Maggie Mertens, author of Better, Faster: How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women. Together, they explore not only the scandal surrounding Ruiz but also the broader cultural implications for women in long-distance running.

Sarah Marshall [00:00]: "Every week she reconsiders a person or event that's been miscast in the public imagination."

The Evolution of Women in Marathons

Maggie Mertens provides a historical backdrop, highlighting the significant barriers women faced in long-distance running. She explains how the Boston Marathon only began officially sanctioning female runners in 1972, despite the race's origins dating back to 1897. By 1980, women constituted a mere fraction of participants, reflecting societal skepticism about women's physical capabilities.

Maggie Mertens [07:05]: "I think it's 100% about keeping this gender binary intact as we allowed women to take part in sports."

Marshall and Mertens discuss the persistent cultural notion that endurance sports were inherently masculine, reinforcing stereotypes that women should remain petite and feminine even as they engaged in strenuous activities.

The 1980 Boston Marathon: Enter Rosie Ruiz

The focal point of the episode is Rosie Ruiz's controversial victory in the 1980 Boston Marathon. Mertens recounts the events, describing Ruiz as she crossed the finish line wearing a laurel wreath and achieving a remarkable time of 2 hours and 31 minutes.

Maggie Mertens [15:20]: "She didn't appear as fatigued. She wasn't. She didn't have sweat stains on her face or anything."

However, suspicions quickly arose due to Ruiz's absence from multiple checkpoints and the improbably significant improvement from her previous marathon time. Marshall shares her recollections of the media's fascination with Ruiz's audacious attempt to deceive.

Sarah Marshall [16:22]: "There is something that people generally, and Americans especially, find very charming about extremely brazen attempts at cheating."

The Investigation and Media Frenzy

Mertens details the ensuing investigation, noting the lack of modern tracking technology, which made it easier for Ruiz to manipulate her participation. The Boston Marathon organizers eventually invalidated Ruiz's victory after reviewing extensive photographic evidence and confirming her absence from the New York Marathon.

Maggie Mertens [33:08]: "He gives her the, like, okay, we don't believe you to her face."

The media's relentless scrutiny intensified Ruiz's predicament, portraying her as both a cunning fraud and a figure embodying societal anxieties about women exceeding traditional roles.

Maggie Mertens [41:14]: "And she was, you know, a woman who got away with a con. And I think people typically are more fascinated in women doing things like this."

Broader Implications for Women in Sports

Beyond Ruiz's personal story, Marshall and Mertens discuss the impact of such scandals on the perception of women athletes. They argue that Ruiz's deceit inadvertently highlighted the growing presence of women in marathons, contributing to the eventual inclusion of the women's marathon in the 1984 Olympics.

Maggie Mertens [74:14]: "The next year, 1981, is when, you know, the IOC finally accepted the women's marathon into the Olympics."

Mertens emphasizes how Katherine Switzer's advocacy and incidents like Ruiz's helped professionalize women's long-distance running, fostering a more supportive environment for female athletes.

Maggie Mertens [75:03]: "It made the race officials really mad. So it made them actually have to care about the race and, like, making it more professional."

Rosie Ruiz's Later Life and Legacy

The conversation shifts to Ruiz's life post-scandal, detailing her struggles with fraud, legal issues, and personal turmoil. Mertens reflects on the media's persistent fascination with Ruiz, even years after the incident, and her eventual death in 2019.

Sarah Marshall [72:00]: "You can't take anything away from them because they actually did run that race."

Marshall and Mertens contemplate the ethical considerations of media coverage and public obsession with figures like Ruiz, questioning the balance between accountability and compassion.

Conclusion: Lessons from the Marathon Scandal

Wrapping up, Marshall and Mertens underscore the Rosie Ruiz story's relevance in understanding the challenges and stereotypes women face in sports. They highlight how societal prejudices can overshadow genuine achievements and the importance of recognizing and supporting female athletes' integrity and dedication.

Sarah Marshall [77:08]: "If you become a figure of, like, this much entertainment for the American people, then, like, you deserve leniency."

The episode invites listeners to reflect on how narratives around women in sports are constructed and the lasting effects of one woman's attempt to challenge those narratives through deceit.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sarah Marshall [04:07]: "And I feel like you've just been touring and I feel like you've been listening to people describe your book incorrectly for like two months or something."

• Maggie Mertens [20:40]: "One of the people that actually is paying the closest attention is Katherine Switzer."

• Sarah Marshall [24:54]: "But she also says she's queer. Like, that's confirmed later in life."

• Maggie Mertens [42:01]: "But in this case, I think it's something that you can probably need to keep escalating because you're never actually fulfilled by it because it's not yours."

• Sarah Marshall [58:22]: "Like, the road race is very white, but, you know, potato patata."

About Maggie Mertens

Maggie Mertens, the episode's guest, is an accomplished author and feminist writer. Her book, Better, Faster: How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women, explores the intersection of gender, society, and sports. Mertens is active on Instagram and Substack, where she discusses feminism and daily life.

Maggie Mertens [77:55]: "People can totally find my book, hopefully in any bookstore that is close to them that they love."

Final Thoughts

"Rosie Ruiz and the Marathon Women" offers a compelling examination of a notorious sports scandal through the lens of gender and societal expectations. By intertwining Ruiz's story with broader themes, Sarah Marshall and Maggie Mertens provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of how individual actions can reflect and influence cultural narratives.