Match race: Bill Rodgers Vs. Henry Rono

Didn't they both do the Midland 15K where Lindsey beat Viren? I think Henry ran poorly, perhaps jet-lagged or undertrained?

Bill Rodgers-he is at heart a racer not just a runner.You have to get shorter for Bill to be vulnerable

Um, I'd say Aqua man could win cuz he could summon all the flying fish to knock batman out of his plane then the sharks could eat him thereby destroying Batman...

What is it with all the "Could Joe Suck beat Pete Jones at a 5k in different eras even though it was in high humidity?" questions?

Its like a meeting of Dungeons and Dragons minds.

We'll never know, so don't worry about it.

The sound you hear in the background is me banging my head on my keyboard because of all these stupid ? versus ? threads..............

Rono and Rodgers went head-to-head at the Feb. 1978 San Blas Half Marathon in Cuomo, Puerto Rico. Classic course, both men at their peak. Rono had two or three other Kenyans with him from WSU. They led, then Rodgers pulled back each Kenyan one by one as the course climbed its impossibly steep hill through mid-race. After catching Rono on the big hill the two champions battled over the final three mile downhill back into town, Rodgers pushing hard trying to break Henry, as downhill running was Bill's forte.

Coming down into the final mile, though, Rono got away just enough to win by :09. Rodgers was a little under the weather in the week leading up to the race, as it was deep into winter in Boston. Plus, as always it was hot and humid in Puerto Rico and Bill was never at his best in the heat. But that said, it was the two best at their trade at the time going mano a mano with Henry getting the better of it.

This original question is a joke, right? Bill Rodgers was very good, but Henry Rono was the greatest legal (stress LEGAL) distance runner in the world. Do you really think ANYONE has ever run faster times than Rono ran without, uh, pharmaceutical assistance?

Well, I phrased it in terms of a race longer than Rono's range, and shorter than BR's best distance. I totally forgot about BR vs. Rono that Toni Reavis mentioned, guess i sorta got my answer. It's just a fun game to imagine--BR vs. Rono at 10 miles, 20K, and 30K races, on varying courses, over the course of a few weeks, in 50 degree weather. Imagine....

Rono ran well at San Blas He could handle 30K.

I was at the San Blas race in 78 and Billy was obviously less than 100%. It was a hard race with the heat and humid but hardest part for me was all the barbecues burning beside the road as we crested the final hill. Smoke from burning flesh isn\'t my idea of prime breathing.

Billy had a fever going into the race, but he didn\'t complain about it. He ran a great race, but Rono had the better day. I think Rono ran just hard enough to win, so who knows what would have happened if Billy had been 100%.

Rono had a lot of bad days on the roads after that. I finished ahead of him at least twice in 1980 and I wasn\'t in his class in the 15K range were I beat him (Midland Run and Cascade Runoff). I think for him the roads were just a pay-check and maybe a workout. The track was his focus.

Henry\'s best road race that I remember (from personal experience) other than San Blas was the 1982 Bloomsday 12K. He buried us that day wearing training flats.

Ron also raced Rodgers in a road race in his comeback year of '86 or '87. That time I think it was cool and rainy and I believe he won again. Rodgers was older and on the downward slide at that point.

How about a 25K, Rodgers of 1981 Vs Henry Rono of 1983 on a 45 degree day with calm winds, overcast. Let's say that Rodgers had only done a semi-taper, whereas Rono hadn't run a step in 12 days. But Rono was super motivated about the race whereas Rodgers was using it mostly as a test of fitness for an upcoming hypothetical 12K involving himself, Steve Prefointaine and a domesticated kangeroo. Rodgers had slight hamstring tenderness on a run 3 days prior while Rono had two broken phalanges in his right hand after punching a wall the week before. Also, the night before the race, Rodgers had a bowl of rice with a cup of unsweetened tea and Rono had 8 light beers, a gin and tonic, and two cuban prostitudes.

Okay people, who wins?

Oh, forgot to mention that Carol Lewis is doing the commentary.

Domesticated kangaroos are f'n pussies and Pre was dead, so should that be considered a time trial instead?

This changes everything.

Love it! That's a DVD I'd buy!

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How about a 25K, Rodgers of 1981 Vs Henry Rono of 1983 on a 45 degree day with calm winds, overcast. Let's say that Rodgers had only done a semi-taper, whereas Rono hadn't run a step in 12 days. But Rono was super motivated about the race whereas Rodgers was using it mostly as a test of fitness for an upcoming hypothetical 12K involving himself, Steve Prefointaine and a domesticated kangeroo. Rodgers had slight hamstring tenderness on a run 3 days prior while Rono had two broken phalanges in his right hand after punching a wall the week before. Also, the night before the race, Rodgers had a bowl of rice with a cup of unsweetened tea and Rono had 8 light beers, a gin and tonic, and two cuban prostitudes.

Okay people, who wins?

Oh, forgot to mention that Carol Lewis is doing the commentary.

wineturtle wrote:

Bill Rodgers-he is at heart a racer not just a runner.You have to get shorter for Bill to be vulnerable

Exactly...if Henry trained for and raced a few 20ks he could beat Bill, but maybe never, ever at the marathon distance...Bill was great but should have trained primarily for the Olympics. Lets face it --- he was a road whore. We Could have had Shorter and Rodgers as Olypmic Goldsters.....

The Peanut Prez put that to rest!!B]grip it and rip it wrote:

wineturtle wrote:

Bill Rodgers-he is at heart a racer not just a runner.You have to get shorter for Bill to be vulnerable

Lets face it --- he was a road whore. We Could have had Shorter and Rodgers as Olypmic Goldsters.....[/quote]

I'm sure BR thinks of himself as a road "highly compensated courtesan" not a whore.;)

I'm sure BR thinks of himself as a road "highly compensated courtesan" not a whore.;)[/quote]

Yeah, and the five dollar hookers in Tijuana think they're all Marilyn Monroe. Does Dollar Bill have an Olympic medal?

[quote]Jerky Boy wrote:

Um, I'd say Aqua man could win cuz he could summon all the flying fish to knock batman out of his plane then the sharks could eat him thereby destroying Batman...

Well, it works in football betting......Steelers can take birds (seehawks).....

They actually raced another half marathon in Texas again in 1991, when Rodgers was 43 and I believe Henry was in his late thirties and well into alcoholism. Anyway, Henry somehow got into shape enough to pull out a 65:0something half and outkick Bill again. Awesome stuff, two old guys duking it out like that.

tacomafan wrote:

This original question is a joke, right? Bill Rodgers was very good, but Henry Rono was the greatest legal (stress LEGAL) distance runner in the world. Do you really think ANYONE has ever run faster times than Rono ran without, uh, pharmaceutical assistance?

I realize this was written a year ago, but what?!

Henry ran 13:06.20 in 1981. He currently is about 104 or so on the 5k AT list.

Are you saying in the last 26 years that you think no one has run faster without the aid of drugs?

I reckon drug usage is a huge problem, but lets not get delusional.