Applications for the 2027 Boston Marathon Charity Team are now closed

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The ABCs of a 261 Coach


Nine 261 Fearless coaches, seen from behind, stand with arms around each other's shoulders.

A – She enjoys an ACTIVE lifestyle.

You don’t have to run marathons to be someone who enjoys and active lifestyle. Hiking, biking, swimming, kayaking, snowshoeing, skiing, stand-up paddle boarding, yoga-ing… you get the idea. A 261 Coach enjoys being active and understands the tremendous benefits of moving her body daily.

B – She BELIEVES in the transformational magic of running.

      In her book, Marathon Woman, Kathrine Switzer describes the moment she discovered magic (spoiler… it’s running) and how it gave her the confidence to try new things. A 261 Coach understands that running boosts self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth, and builds both mental and physical strength. Simply put: Running is the gateway to the best of your life.

C – She’s a CHEERLEADER for fellow women (pom-poms optional).

Give me a Y! Give me an E! Give me an S! What’s that spell? YES!

Ok, you don’t have to be this kind of cheerleader to be a 261 Coach but telling other women, “Yes, you can!” is an important part of the job. A 261 Coach supports, inspires, and roots for other women to step outside their comfort zone and live a healthy, empowered life through running.

If you have the A-B-Cs then we want Y-O-U!

Be the spark for positive change in YOUR community!

Learn more about becoming a 261 Coach at our info session.

More News


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    60 Years. One Number. One Race. Run the 131st Boston Marathon® presented by Bank of America as a Charity Runner with 261 Fearless!

    *Update: Applications are now closed to join 261 Fearless Team Boston 2027 Honestly, we can’t think of a better year to run Boston with 261 Fearless. In 1967, Kathrine Switzer ran the Boston Marathon wearing bib number 261. She made history, broke barriers, and helped open the door for generations of women who came after…

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    At 261 Fearless, we believe volunteering is a powerful way to empower women. We provide volunteering opportunities for women to gain skills, knowledge, and confidence that can be used in all areas of their lives. Over 600 women have certified as 261 Coaches to become leaders and share the transformative power of running with women in…

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    There are some experiences that are easy to describe. And then there are the ones that are almost impossible to put into words. The magic that happens when the 261 Fearless community comes together is one of those things. You can talk about the running. You can talk about the learning. You can talk about…

  • This is 261 Fearless

    This is 261 Fearless

    Every movement begins with a moment. For 261 Fearless, that moment happened nearly 60 years ago when Kathrine Switzer lined up at the 1967 Boston Marathon wearing bib number 261. She simply wanted to run, but when she refused to step off the course, she challenged far more than a race. She challenged the belief…