The Avon International Marathon was an annual women's marathon event that was held at various locations from 1978 to 1984. Sponsored and organised by Avon Products, a beauty and household goods company, it was the longest distance race within the Avon International Women's Running Circuit, which was created with the aim of promoting elite and grassroots road running for women.Hamilton, Michelle (2014-03-18). Kathrine Switzer Launches Race Series. Runner's World. Retrieved 2020-07-19. The circuit was headed by former runner Kathrine Switzer, whose efforts had led to the formal acceptance of women at the Boston Marathon.Cunningham, John (1980-08-01). Avon calling as 200 runners join women-only marathon . The Guardian. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
The International Olympic Committee required the participation of a minimum of 25 countries in international competition in order to accept new events to the Olympic schedule, thus Avon focused on attracting runners from many nations.Avon, Women & the Olympics: Driving a Marathon Revolution. CSR Wire (2012-07-31). Retrieved 2020-07-19. The series was successful in its aim of establishing the marathon as a women's discipline, led by the International Runners' Committee,The first London Marathon. Run Young 50. Retrieved 2020-07-19. with the inaugural women's marathons at the 1982 European Championships and 1983 World Championship preceding the first women's Olympic marathon in 1984.Cooper, Pamela (1998). The American Marathon. Syracuse University Press. . The 1983 Avon International Marathon took place in Los Angeles, where the Olympic marathon race was hosted the following year.
Although the Avon marathon was exclusively hosted in North America and Western Europe, its international focus was a boost to elite women's running outside of these regions – the Tokyo International Women's Marathon was established as the first women's race to receive sanction by the International Amateur Athletic Federation in 1979.
The competition was one of several initiatives for women's sport by Avon during the period, which also included the Avon Futures Tennis Championships.
Past events EditionYearDateParticipationLocationWinnerTime (h:m:s)1st1978 19 March 136, 9 nations1978 Avon International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2020-07-19.Atlanta, United States2:46:262nd1979 22 September 250+, 25 nations1979 Avon International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2020-07-19.Waldniel, West Germany2:36:273rd1980 3 August 1551980 Avon International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2020-07-19.London, United Kingdom2:35:114th1981 23 August 3401981 Avon International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2020-07-19.Ottawa, Canada2:36:465th1982 6 June 4771982 Avon International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2020-07-19.San Francisco, United States2:36:136th1983 6 June 9361983 Avon International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2020-07-19.Los Angeles, California2:26:267th1984 23 September 1984 Avon International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2020-07-19.Paris, France2:32:44
References
Editions International Marathons. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2020-07-19. Avon Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 2020-07-19.