Women’s Running editor Esther Newman is on an impressive shortlist of movers and shakers for the inaugural K.V. Switzer Awards to be announced in New York on 1 November.

Newman’s nomination in the Global Connector category presented by Beyond Finance puts her alongside Tegla Loroupe, the Kenyan marathon legend and peace activist; Paul Sinton-Hewitt, creator of the super-successful Parkrun movement; Thom Gilligan, founder of Marathon Tours & Travel and the man who conceived the World Marathon Majors Six Stars medals; and Stephanie Case, American human rights lawyer who created Free to Run, taking running to women in areas of conflict like Afghanistan and Iraq.

“I’m overwhelmed to be nominated alongside such incredibly talented and impressive people. Kathrine Switzer has been a good friend of Women’s Running, and she will join Holly and me to talk about the awards on our podcast. I’m just happy to be associated with her name!” Esther said.

The awards are created by 261 Fearless Inc, which empowers and educates women through running. They are named for its co-founder, the iconic women’s running pioneer Kathrine Switzer. When an angry official at the 1967 Boston Marathon tried to rip off her race number 261, the photo-news images and Switzer’s undaunted response were the spark that ignited the women’s running movement. She won the New York City marathon in 1974, and placed fifth in her age-group at the London Marathon in 2018. Switzer will present the new awards the day before this year’s New York City Marathon.