Merry Lepper

Merry Lepper (born December 31, 1942)[1] is a former American long-distance runner from California who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set a world best in the marathon on December 16, 1963, with a time of 3:37:07 at the Western Hemisphere Marathon in Culver City, California.[2][3][4][nb 1]

In the early 1960s, Lepper trained with Lyn Carman (also from California)[nb 2]and the pair began to run unofficially in road races.[7] At the 1963 Western Hemisphere Marathon, the two women hid along the sidelines then joined the men just after the start.[7] A race official attempted to remove them from the course and Carman reportedly yelled, "I have the right to use public streets for running!"[7][8] The women were timed by a sympathetic AAU official; Carman eventually dropped out around the 20 mile mark, but Lepper finished with a time of 3:37:07 .[7][9][10]

Carman would eventually win the Santa Barbara Marathon in 1966, 1969, and 1970, and the World Masters Marathon in 1969.[10]

The book "Marathon Crasher: The Life and Times of Merry Lepper, the First American Woman to Run a Marathon" (2012), by LA-based sports journalist David Davis, tells of Merry Lepper's 1963 marathon.[11][12] However, in 1959, Arlene Pieper (also an American) became the first woman to officially finish a marathon in America when she finished the Pikes Peak Marathon.[13][14] Davis's book states, "Without discounting her [Pieper's] achievement, Pikes Peak marathon is considered to be more of an endurance climb, with much walking involved, as opposed to a competitive marathon race." [15]

In 2013, Lepper received a commendation from Culver City.[2] The commendation reads in part: "Now, therefore, the City Council of the City of Culver City, California, hereby congratulates and commends Merry Lepper, a shining example of how one person can overcome tremendous hurdles to fulfill a dream and, in the process, pave the way for generations to come." [2]