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This day on TODAY in 1983: Revisiting the first woman to run the Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon goes back to 1897, but until Roberta Louise "Bobbi" Gibb came along in 1966, no woman had ever run in the storied race. She was not sanctioned to run, so Gibb hid in the bushes at the beginning of the race, then jumped into the pack, and was welcomed by the male runners around her. She finished the marathon in 3 hours and 20 minutes. History was made.In 1983, 17 years after her
17 years after her first Boston Marathon, Bobbi Gibb trained to run the race again in 1983.
17 years after her first Boston Marathon, Bobbi Gibb trained to run the race again in 1983.TODAY / Today

The Boston Marathon goes back to 1897, but until Roberta Louise "Bobbi" Gibb came along in 1966, no woman had ever run in the storied race. She was not sanctioned to run, so Gibb hid in the bushes at the beginning of the race, then jumped into the pack, and was welcomed by the male runners around her. She finished the marathon in 3 hours and 20 minutes. History was made.

TODAY / Today
Newspaper headlines after Bobbi Gibb's historic Boston Marathon run in 1966.
Newspaper headlines after Bobbi Gibb's historic Boston Marathon run in 1966.TODAY / Today

In 1983, 17 years after her historic run, Bobbi Gibb spoke to TODAY as she trained to run the Boston Marathon again.

Gibb revealed that running made her feel "connected to the world" and that "runners and running hold a mystical quality."

17 years after her first Boston Marathon, Bobbi Gibb trained to run the race again in 1983.
17 years after her first Boston Marathon, Bobbi Gibb trained to run the race again in 1983.TODAY / Today