July 8, 2019 - Boston Marathon cheater Rosie Ruiz dies

Today is Tuesday, July 8, 2025, and on this day in 2019, Rosie Ruiz, the woman who famously cheated her way to a first place finish at the 1980 Boston Marathon, died at the age of 66.

In this episode, we will learn more about Ruiz's life pre-infamy, take a deep dive into her ridiculous "win" in 1980, and find out if she ever made amends with the BAA.

 

This episode was edited and produced by my good friend and confidant, Rob Garcia. Check out his podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rob on the Run on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or on Instagram as @robontherunpod.

 

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share, then connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram as well at @running_up_that_hillary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or check out my website at runningupthathillary.com. 

 

Bibliography:

• ⁠https://www.baa.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/BostonMarathonHistoricalResults.pdf⁠

• ⁠https://www.thesportscol.com/2024/03/this-women-pulled-a-rosie-ruiz/⁠

• ⁠https://www.cbc.ca/sports/the-buzzer-rosie-ruiz-boston-marathon-jacqueline-gareau-1.6426886⁠

• ⁠https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,984407-2,00.html⁠

• ⁠https://time.com/3822577/rosie-ruiz-history/⁠ 

• ⁠https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/rosie-ruiz-dies-boston-marathon⁠

• ⁠https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/west-palm-beach-fl/rosie-vivas-8774911?fbclid=IwAR1YjL5FUf6xsNaBIABRkX-4POTUyI29W77QSmVzGEvJpbuUiXZB-MUFp1A⁠

• ⁠https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a28615122/rosie-ruiz-boston-marathon-dies/⁠

• ⁠https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-21/rosie-ruiz-fakes-boston-marathon-win⁠