What an honor to speak with three-time Boston Marathon champion (1970, 1971, and 1972), Sara Mae Berman, and her husband/coach/running and ski orienteering partner, Larry Berman.  Sara Mae won the Boston Marathon as an unofficial winner from 1969 to 1971 before women were allowed to officially enter the race in 1972.  She was also the first and only woman with three children to win the Boston Marathon.  She achieved her personal best time in 1971 in a time of 3:05, and she shares how she achieved that time with Larry's support (he ran a personal best of 2:38).  In addition to winning Boston three times, Sara Mae placed third at the NYC Marathon in 1971 in a time of 3:08, and placed fifth at Boston in 1972 (her first race as an official entrant) and 1973.  In addition to running, Sara Mae was and continues to be an avid participant in ski-orienteering and cross-country skiing.  Sara Mae and Larry founded the Cambridge Sports Union in 1962, which remains one of Boston's premiere running and ski clubs.  

Sara Mae and Larry share how she began her career at a five mile road race in Marlborough, Massachusetts, after Larry challenged her to run an 8 minute mile.  For years, Sara Mae and Larry worked to convince the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to allow women to participate in races.  They share the barriers she overcame to eventually have the opportunity to race officially with a bib number.

To learn more about Sara Mae and Larry and the other pioneers of women's running, check out Amby Burfoot's book, the First Ladies of Running.

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