Atalanta Sports Promotions Inc.

The ancient Greek myth of Atalanta tells the story of the strong swift woman who could better any man in sports. She was outrun only when her future husband slowed her by throwing three gold apples in her path.

Today, Atalanta runs on, unequalled in sports promotions and events marketing…and only occasionally deterred by golden apples.

The above words are on the letterhead of Atalanta Sports Promotions, Inc., the company Kathrine Switzer founded in 1982. Switzer chose the name "Atalanta" because she found the myth emblematic of her career both as an athlete and as a businesswoman. In both areas-distance running and sports/event marketing, she forged a place for herself and other women in undiscovered areas, or those previously considered male-dominated and often "too tough" for women. Like Atalanta, Switzer believed equality could be achieved without succumbing to male strength or relinquishing female values. "Both sets of traits and values can work well together and foster a very happy and productive equality," Switzer comments. "That is what I hope to achieve in sports, my work and my relationships." (The Myth of Atalanta is an interesting read; be sure to see the new translation by clicking on the Greek myth of Atalanta link above!)

Kathrine Switzer's career is a varied and colorful one. When she was just 20 years old, she first achieved notoriety when she broke the gender barrier when she wore official numbers while running in the male-only Boston Marathon and was attacked by an official for doing so. Instead of being daunted by this experience, Kathrine used it to fuel her drive to go on to run 35 marathons including winning the New Your City Marathon, achieving a world ranking and being named Female Runner of the Decade by Runner's World Magazine.

While still running every day, she then turned her energies to organization and communication and staged over 300 races around the world for women and led the drive to get the women's marathon included in the 1984 Olympic Games. Her events still continue in nine countries, and Runner's World has now named her one of six Running Visionaries of the Century.

In addition to being the President of her own company, Atalanta, where she consults on all aspects of event management, sports promotions, public relations and destination tourism, she is a powerful speaker, an author and also a network sports television commentator. She annually covers the Boston, New York and Los Angeles Marathons, as well as having covered the Olympic, Commonwealth, Goodwill and Asian Games, and hundreds of other track and road races around the world. She won an Emmy for her work in the 1997 LA Marathon.

In her forthcoming book, K.V. Switzer (working title) she weaves a dramatic story of her life, showing again and again how her work and her passions are inseparable. That is how Switzer does business: with vigor, creativity, impact, thoroughness, reliability, dedication, value, quality and on-time delivery.

If you would like to contact Kathrine regarding any business opportunity, please complete the simple request form and she will be back to you shortly.

Atalanta Sports Promotions and Kathrine Switzer personally are available for:

• Consultation on concept, design and execution of special events. Women's running and fitness are particular specialties, but Atalanta has undertaken everything from destination tourism to product launches to weddings.
• Consultation or undertaking of sports marketing programs, promotion and sponsorship
• Consultation or conceptualizing of publicity, public relations and promotional campaigns
• Conduction of daylong or half-day event promotion workshops/ classes
• Personal media counseling
• Spokespersoning and product representation
• Expert sports television commentary for running and track and field events.
• Speaking: motivational, fitness, health, and women's sports history, for corporations, universities, dinners, clubs, and clinics.
• Fitness clinics-hands on how-to fitness clinics for men, women and children of all ages and levels of experience.