when were women allowed to run marathons

Direct answer: Women were first officially allowed to compete in major marathons in the early 1970s, with the Boston Marathon opening to women on April 17, 1972, and the same year marking official inclusion in New York. Earlier unofficial participation occurred in the 1960s, notably Kathrine Switzer entering the 1967 Boston Marathon with bib 261, which helped spur change leading to official inclusion in the 1970s. The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics then featured the first women’s marathon as an official Olympic event. These milestones reflect a gradual shift from unofficial participation and restrictive rules to formal inclusion and recognition in major international marathoning.