Bill Rodgers in 1972-3.

If you can find it, get and read his book Marathoning. My recollection is that he wrote that during early 72 he ran at the YMCA - like 20 laps to the mile - anywhere from 7 to 15 miles a few times per week - before going out to smoke and drink gin at the bars. He also did some weight work there - calisthenics etc. During late 72 and early 73 he started running outside - according to legend because his bike and then his motorcycle was stolen. He eventually built up to 100 miles/week running a few races including a 20 miler in which he trailed Amby Burfoot - passing 10 miles in 49:49 and finishing third in 1:47. He ran this race wearing khakis and black socks!

thank you very much

The only facts I have at my disposal right now is that Bill Rodgers and Amby Burfoot dropped out of Boston at 21 miles in 1973. Bill Rodgers then placed 14th in Boston in 2:19:34 in 1974 and won in 2:09:55 in 1975 so by then he had built his base and honed his speed.

thanks Orville

i was seeking info on how he trained when he got back to running in '72-3

i am ordering that book listed above

Granted, but I figured that what I provided, and what I found interesting, is how he progressed under that training. Good luck in your search.

No question at all. Absolutely not.

I am just curious about the Genesis of his post-college rebound. The early days, as they say in film and lit...

I keep coming away with the sense that he was a natural, who trained to his limits.

I do remember that Bill Rodgers was actually leading the 1974 NYC Marathon, when it was still entirely within Central Park, but he tired in the last few miles. His first really outstanding performance was a third in World Cross Country in Rabat, Morocco in 1975.

World XC champs 1975...Rodgers held off John Walker (believe he was 5th)!!!!

The man strikes many as a nice guy which he is, but once the race is on, he was, and still is, ferocious!!

There was an excellent interview with Rodgers in Runner's World when he set the American record of 2:09 (I believe it was in 1975). I have it somewhere in my pike(!) but I remember reading him saying that the main contributing factor for his breakthrough was running up to 200 miles a week. There was an articule in RW a couple of years ago also with various athletes, including Shorter, Rodgers and Benoit, talking about their training prior to their breakthrough. Rodgers, again, considered running 200 miles a week prior to his breakthrough 3rd finish at the World Cross Country Champs. Make no mistake, however, I doubt he was running 200 miles a week as his main menu all the time but he did do it at that point.

He was of course coached by legendary Bill Squires of Greater Boston Track Club. Coach Squires' training consisted of high mileage, fartlek with race-simulating surges and lots of hills--both ups and downs (especially for Boston). He was also a geneous for simulating particular race condition; much like most Japanese coaches. His new book is supposed to come out very soon. Any aspiring coach and marathon runner should not miss this. He is, without doubt, the greatest distance running coach the US has ever seen (and a bit off-the-wall and a very generous guy too!).

Bill posts here occasionally..maybe he'll answer.

that would be interesting

we all know of his post-75 exploits but it was the very early years I'd be curious to learn about

i wonder if BR really understands that people would be INTERESTED?

If I remember right I believe Bill ran one week of 202 miles (the only time he ever ran over 200) sometime around 1975. I guess the thing about Bill was he took care of himself and was rarely injured, allowing him the stupendous career that he had.

how fast was rogers in college and hs.

According to "Running With the Legends", HS was 2:07/4:28.8/9:36. All it says about college is an indoor 8:58.

In marathoning (excellent book) he talks about pr'ing his junior year in indoor (8:58)then kinda falling off and not really caring much after that. Sub 9 was his goal and he lost motivation. He did some long runs with amby on sunday mornings and amby talks about how Billy would hang with him off minimal training. This was around '68 when amby was training for his boston win so, before the genisis.

so he was basically like a 14:30-40 ability in college?

im just about as fast as rogers was in high school "already."

So were most "decent" HS runners. Join the club. Most of us, me included, either lack the commitment, determination, or consistency to rack up 150+ miles a week like Rogers and Shorter did. Most of us will take a month after the season and run easy, then another month to build up to 100+ miles then stay a month at 100+. These guys were running high mileage YEAR ROUND save for races.

Rodgers trained through some races with those mileages, dude.

He was not called 'King of the Roads' for nothing. He never ducked a challenger either.

Immense.