The Girl Who Ran

Hopkinton is best known as the starting point of the Boston Marathon, but it is now home to another landmark that tells an important chapter in the race’s history. This bronze sculpture, titled The Girl Who Ran, honors Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run and complete the Boston Marathon.

In 1966, women were not permitted to enter the race officially. Undeterred, Bobbi Gibb hid near the starting line and joined the runners after the race began. She completed the marathon, proving that women could compete in one of the world’s most demanding athletic events. Her determination helped challenge long-held beliefs and paved the way for women to be officially admitted to the Boston Marathon just a few years later.

What makes this monument especially unique is that Bobbi Gibb created it herself. An accomplished sculptor as well as a pioneering athlete, she captured the movement, determination, and confidence of the young woman who quietly changed the history of distance running.

Originally unveiled at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts in 2021, the statue was moved to the Boston Marathon starting line in 2026 to mark the sixtieth anniversary of Gibb’s historic run. Today it welcomes runners from around the world, reminding them that some of the greatest moments in history begin with the courage to take the first step.

I was reminded that history is often changed by ordinary people who refuse to accept the limitations placed before them. Bobbi Gibb did not set out simply to run a marathon.  She helped redefine what generations of women believed was possible.