South Asia’s first ever women’s only marathon to return in 2014

The Malaysia Women’s marathon will be back in 2014 for its second running.

In 2013 the marathon was the first women’s only running event in southern Asia. The event is focused around the marathon and a female keynote speaker who has had a positive effect on empowering women. Last year the event featured Kathrine Switzer. She will be back again in 2014, but there will also be another speaker yet to be announced.

Switzer was the first women to run the Boston Marathon with a bib number in 1975 and in 1978 teamed up with Avon to organize women’s races. She still has connections with Avon, who is sponsoring the Malaysian event.

In 2011, 43 per cent of marathon finishers in the United States were women, and the number today is estimated to be above 50. The explosion in recreational running has been largely fuelled by women.

Instead of shirts, the marathon will hand out finishing skirts.

Men can run but only as a pacer for a female who invites them to come along.

The event is on March 16 in the city of Selangor.