On October 22, 1978, something extraordinary unfolded at the New York City Marathon — something nobody saw coming. A Norwegian schoolteacher by the name of Grete Waitz, a virtual stranger to the American running scene, stepped up to the starting line for her very first marathon. When she crossed the finish in Central Park just over two and a half hours later, she had shattered the world record with a time of 2:32:29.8, beating the previous mark by a full two minutes.

In that single race, she permanently transformed the landscape of women's distance running.

An Unknown Outsider

Nobody expected Grete Waitz to take the victory. Finishing strong wasn't even on most people's radar for her.

She had earned a reputation in track and field for her blistering speed at middle distances — two world records in the 3,000 meters, Olympic experience, and a European medal to her name. Yet she had never covered more than 12 miles, not once, not even during training.

Race director Fred Lebow extended a last-minute invitation to her, intended less as a serious competitive opportunity and more as a chance to pace. She said yes. She and her husband, Jack, flew to New York, approaching the whole thing like a vacation. Her bib number — F1173 — placed her deep within the pack, far from the spotlight.

Shocking the Field

All eyes were on Christa Vahlensieck, the German who held the world record, as the favorite in the 1978 women's race. Yet by the midway point, a woman wearing red shorts and a plain white top had surged ahead of her. It was Waitz.

There was no media fanfare surrounding her. No elite bib pinned to her chest. Just a tall runner in pigtails, steadily building an enormous gap over the field.

When it was all over, Vahlensieck had dropped out entirely. Waitz crossed the line more than ten minutes ahead of anyone else.

On her very first attempt at the distance, she had demolished the world record.

A Grueling Triumph

The decisive margin of victory told only part of the story — the experience itself was punishing. Those final miles took a savage toll on Waitz. Physically wrecked by the effort, she hurled her shoes at her husband in sheer frustration when he offered congratulations at the finish line.

That, however, would be the last time she lost her composure during a race. What began that day between Waitz and the New York City Marathon blossomed into a relationship defined by mutual devotion.

A Legend Is Born

Grete Waitz's marathon reign launched from that 1978 performance. Over the years that followed, she would claim victory at the New York City Marathon nine times — a record that remains unbroken.

Three times during her career, she rewrote the world record. But her impact reached far beyond personal achievements. She flung open doors for women in a sport that had only barely started to welcome them.

Her influence expanded alongside her growing fame. Waitz evolved into a cherished ambassador for running, particularly in New York. Following her retirement from competition, she threw herself into promoting youth fitness and eventually cofounded AKTIV Against Cancer, leveraging her platform to help patients through exercise-based care.

A Moment That Mattered

At a time when women were still battling for legitimacy in long-distance racing, Grete Waitz didn't merely enter the marathon — she completely redefined what was possible.