His deed did not produce an uproar in the world of sports. In his life either. It took 50 years for

Arlene Pieper

to learn that she had made history in the world of athletics. On August 7, 1959, she completed the

Pikes Peak Marathon

, a grueling mountain run in

Manitou Springs Colorado

that no other woman had completed. She ascended 8,000 feet to the 14,000-foot summit and descended the same way in 9 hours and 16 minutes, becoming the first woman to complete a licensed marathon in the United States.

After Pieper finished the descent, his marathon run ended. In the years that followed he went to California to live and what he had accomplished at Pikes Peak was largely forgotten.

Ron Ilgen

, president of the marathon, began looking for her in the early 2000s, after more than forty years. Their relocation and name changes made the search even more difficult. Ron Ilgen even ran an ad in the local newspaper with a reward for whoever found it. It was the genealogist,

Linda Vixie

, who located Pieper and the person who broke the news to her.

His partner was the one who brought him closer to the world of athletics.

They both opened a gym, and to promote it her husband suggested that she promote her business by competing in the Pikes Peak race, and she did so for the first time in 1958. But she stopped after reaching the top and was disqualified.

"That bothered him a lot and that's why he tried it again the following year," says his daughter

Kathie Pieper

.

Arlene Pieper didn't stop until she made history, although she didn't know at the time what she was accomplishing.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

    More sport Ultramarathon, the mental challenge to run 158 km without stopping: "I think about whims: a paella, a sandwich"

    AthleticsThe new "monk life" of Bruno Hortelano: "I had very deep fears and toxic relationships"

    Athletics TAS confirms Ruth Beitia bronze at London 2012 Games

    See links of interest

    • 2021 business calendar

    • Home THE WORLD TODAY

    • Real Madrid - Anadolu Efes, live

    • Real Madrid - Chelsea, live