Posted: November 23, 2004

Athletics: Julia Chase, First Woman to Run the Manchester Road Race

Here’s a Manchester Road Race Record that'll never be Broken -- First Woman to Run the Race

It’s a story that’s been told before, first as it happened, then later as her story became a bit of history and Manchester ’s Road Race gracefully aged into one of the nation’s oldest races. Julia Chase-Brand, now a doctor at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey reflected back on some of the Nation’s headlines:

“She wants to Chase the boys.”

“Coed likes to Run, yet Burley Males Object”

“Move over Marathoners. Women Horning in.”

“Why does Julia run after Men.”

The story started a year before as Julia Chase, a Smith College coed decided to run the Manchester Road Race . Then as now, Manchester was a New England tradition. Not only a tradition, it was also the center of the distance running world as Southeastern, Connecticut stalwarts John Kelly and George Terry set the standards and toed the line in races all over the world yet called Connecticut home.

“What makes great runners?”

“Other great runners.”

It was that group of guys, and it was only guys, that became a second family to Julia Chase. Running was of course only a guys’ sport as even the head of the Women’s AAU would explain years later to Julia referring to a National class female 880 runner (880 was the longest Olympic distance at the time) “Julie, do you see her. She used to be so pretty until she took up distance training. Don’t let that happen to you.” In 1960, running was enigma to women stereotypes.

She ran since kindergarden, but in 1957 joined up with the John Kelley group to run the roads and trails of Groton, Connecticut. She was the New England champion 880 yard runner with a 2:41. And in 1960, Manchester Road Race was nearby and was a tradition and was a big deal and why wouldn’t a runner wish to join in with the boys? She was however turned away at the registration table because she didn’t have “her paperwork in order.” Taking “no”temporarily for an answer, her coach and mentor, George Terry prepared the stage for 1961.

This is by the way the same George Terry of Boston University All American fame; the same 2 time New England champion Gordon Terry and the same Gordon Terry who toed the line in the 1957 Boston Marathon as he rallied his U.S. team: "Lads," he began, "I think one of us will take it” Jock Semple recounted in “Just Call me Jock.”

Coach Terry quietly campaigned; Julia ran. A year passed. As Thanksgiving, 1961 approached, Julia readied herself with a race in Chicopee (the Chicopee, Mass Veterans Day Road Race ) as insurance that she could in fact finish, for to fail to cross the finish line would simply prove them right--women are simply too delicate to complete any distance over 880 yards. In the meantime, George Terry concluded that the population of male road runners had no objection to allowing women. Julia’s paperwork was all in order.

The race was particular large in 1961 as perhaps 150 runners entered. Julia was joined at the starting line by Diana Lechausse and 1960 Olympian from England, Chris McKinsey McKinsey wouldn’t finish, for to do so would ensure the wrath of a governing body for violating the rule of “running without a chaperon.” The three women decided to start slowly and to run together.

In the days before Thanksgiving and following her race in Chicopee, the press took up the story. Reporters from Sports Illustrated followed her prior to the race and the Boston Globe and New York Times reported the outrageous behavior. The 19 year old Smith College coed had become a celebrity.

As the Thanksgiving crowd of runners and spectators gathered, the three women runners were denied entry. “Poor [ race director] Pete Wigren,” Dr. Chase-Brand chuckled. “He had to do the dirty work.” He blocked the three women at the start. Together they went behind the spectators and joined the race at the back of the pack, veering past the official into the race . Once afoot, the rest was easy. “It was so sweet. We started out slowly because we simply had to finish, but as we ran we would pass some of the men and they’d say ‘go girls’ or ‘congratulations.’ They were so nice.” Julia Brand finished ‘midst a throng of photographers so thick she had to ask them to move so she could reach the finish line. Unofficially, she was 128th in 33:40.

Chase left Smith College after her Junior year and continued to train, this time for the 1960 Olympic Games and the 880 yard race . Training 80 miles per week under the coaching of Mihaly Igloi, she lowered her time to 2:18, a time that placed her in the top five times in the U.S. A knee injury eliminated her chances at the Trials and Chase stepped back to reflect on future plans. She decided it was time for another phase of her life.

After time spent in Africa, Chase returned to the U.S. to finish her degree at Smith College then her PhD in Physiology at University of Indiana (she was by the way the U of Indiana ping-pong champ!) . Following post-doctoral work at University of Pennsylvania and Princeton, Chase, at age 49, entered Medical School at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She now practices at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey and lives with her husband. She has two kids and two grandchildren at age 61, still runs.

“Any plans to run Manchester again?”

“I’ll return to Manchester . Maybe in 2011 for the 50th anniversary of my run.”

Julia Chase’s story appeared in Runners World, February, 1982. Before I spoke with Dr. Chase-Brand, I was unaware of the 1982 article written by Amby Burfoot. Dr. Chase-Smith alerted me to the article and was kind enough to supply a copy to me following our phone conversation.

From: --G.Bridgman www.pixel-run.com