Match race: Bill Rodgers Vs. Henry Rono

Thanks, Benji. It's really nice when runners of your generation who were there weigh in on these sorts of questions. It's sad that your genuinely informative post got buried under the same old same old LR pile. Thanks, in any case, for your enlightening post. Some of us do hear you.

both at their peak....at 20k......Rono wins in a walk....Rono and Rodgers could meet next year in some Masters races, if Rono can ever get his act together on his 'comeback', now in progress for over a year and lose 25 lbs.

Bill would of won Gold in 1980 if it wasn't for Carter. He took the Gold away from Boston Billy. He was at the top of his game. Even drug cheat Chierpenski( however you say his name) would not of beat Billy.

BTW, Frank Shorter should be given the gold Medal from 76,

he was robbed by a known drug cheat!

I think a Frank Shorter movie would be excellent!

I was in the 1978 race also. The race included Olympic Champion Lassie Viren of Finland, Craig Virgin who just set an American record for a track 10K, and a plethora of world class runners. Because I represented Haiti (I was their coach and ran with their team) at that time, I was given a seeded number. It was never reported what happened to Bill Rodgers at the beginning of that race. Since I was seeded, I started in the second row of runners, directly behind Rodgers. We were jammed together like cattle - maybe 20 across the narrow road. When the gun went off, at least 2 dozen local runners jumped in from the crowds on either side of the road. A number of runners went down, including Bill. I picked him up and by the time we started running again, there were at least 50 runners ahead of us. Rono was long gone. I figure we ran that first mile somewhere around 5:30 (we ran side by side at that pace because there was no room to go faster). Rodgers was at least 30 seconds behind Rono at the mile mark. After that, the crowd thinned somewhat and Rodgers took off and pulled away from me. Rodgers was on a long winning streak and I remember saying to myself, "well, that streak is over - there's no chance Bill is gonna catch the leaders now". I actually was shocked to find out that Bill lost to Henry in a sprint down that last steep hill to the finish. As for me, I finished somewhere around 1:15, my personal triumph was passing a dying Ikaanga in the last few yards. Toughest 1/2 marathon I ever ran. Yes, Benji, I agree. The burning flesh on the side of the road was probably worse than the incredibly difficult course.

Matt Cucchiara

Matt Cucchaira, Virgin ran the 1980 HM not the 1978 version. Otherwise your commentary is appreciated! Is it true the crowd spays rum at the runners?

grip it and rip it wrote:

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

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

Do you think that he cares what you think?