Joan Benoit Samuelson to Run Boston Marathon 40 Years After Historic Victory – runnersworld.com

It’s been 40 years since Joan Benoit Samuelson took the first steps in her pivotal role within American women’s distance running. And she’s celebrating by returning to the race that started it all.

In April 1979, Samuelson competed in her first-ever Boston Marathon, where she made history as the national and course record holder. Clad in her Bowdoin College singlet and Red Sox baseball cap, the 21-year-old runner crossed the finish line in 2:35:15.

On April 15 of this year, Samuelson, now 61, will toe the line again with the goal of running within a respectable time of her first victory.

“My goal is to run within 40 minutes of my time 40 years ago, which would be sub-3:15:35,” Samuelson said in Boston Athletic Association press release. “I might as well celebrate during an anniversary year, while I’m still able!”

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After her first Boston win four decades ago, Samuelson went on to claim another title at the 1983 race in a then-world record of 2:22:43. A year later, she made history as the first woman to win gold in the inaugural women’s Olympic marathon at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Samuelson continued her historic streak by setting the American record at the time to 2:21:21 at the 1985 Chicago Marathon.

As a masters runner, Samuelson has set her sights on breaking barriers for her age group. At age 50, she ran 2:49:08 to place 90th at the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials, also in Boston. When she was 53 years-old, Samuelson set a record for her age when she ran 2:47:50 at the 2010 Chicago Marathon. She returned to Boston again in 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Watch: Samuelson had a similar time goal for the 2018 Chicago Marathon.