Training video of Bill Rodgers from the 70s

Is that his wife? Should of titled the subject as footage of 197× Boston Marathon. I only watched the first minute of the video when I posted it in my defense. Is that Billy squire in the suit in the beginning of the video?

Just finished watching it, highly recommend it. I wish there was more footage like this from the 70s.

Ok began bagging on the wife at the beginning

But she actually did a fantastic job!

Awesome video

SandDunes wrote:

Just finished watching it, highly recommend it. I wish there was more footage like this from the 70s.

Thanks for posting that. Good quotes from Bill at the end. "I'll be a spectator in Boston on these hot days".

The crowds are insane. Fair weather spectators these days.

Great stuff. I spotted John Pagliano (RIP) in there.

Great video! thanks for posting!

Bless this video.

His girlfriend is so sweet to him!

Makes me think back to the one that got away.

juamarti wrote:

Great video! thanks for posting!

You're welcome.

Mostly Boston wrote:

SandDunes wrote:

Just finished watching it, highly recommend it. I wish there was more footage like this from the 70s.

Thanks for posting that. Good quotes from Bill at the end. "I'll be a spectator in Boston on these hot days".

The crowds are insane. Fair weather spectators these days.

You're welcome, the crowds were more chaotic back than weren't they.

SandDunes wrote:

Is that his wife? Should of titled the subject as footage of 197× Boston Marathon. I only watched the first minute of the video when I posted it in my defense. Is that Billy squire in the suit in the beginning of the video?

Should OF?

SandDunes wrote:

Just found it on YouTube, I thought y'all would be interested.

https://youtu.be/ac9SvCYapI8

Thanks for sharing this. Capturing moments that have inspired us all in some way. My Dad and I were talking about the running boom of the 70s after my Half Marathon this past spring. We were sitting around eating brunch and he can recall the quirky stereotypes runners had back then, and he said to see where the running community has grown to is just incredible. Great to hear Bill is in good health at 70 and active in the running community.

moments in time wrote:

SandDunes wrote:

Just found it on YouTube, I thought y'all would be interested.

https://youtu.be/ac9SvCYapI8

Thanks for sharing this. Capturing moments that have inspired us all in some way. My Dad and I were talking about the running boom of the 70s after my Half Marathon this past spring. We were sitting around eating brunch and he can recall the quirky stereotypes runners had back then, and he said to see where the running community has grown to is just incredible. Great to hear Bill is in good health at 70 and active in the running community.

I just emailed letsrun (no reply- yet) about having a history section. This video was great!

Last night an old running buddy and I were reminiscing about the "old days".

Thanks for posting.

SandDunes wrote:

Is that his wife? Should of titled the subject as footage of 197× Boston Marathon. I only watched the first minute of the video when I posted it in my defense. Is that Billy squire in the suit in the beginning of the video?

That's his first wife. That's Squires in the loud jacket on the old track at Boston College stadium. Early shot of the group is beers at the Eliot Lounge, now gone.

It is Instructive to note Bill's nonchalance with his poor Boston performance. This set the stage for his rebounding into the history books with subsequent Boston and NYCM victories. Learn from your bad races, but don't let them weigh you down.

The video reminds me of another factor that has contributed to the diminishing/shrinking cache of running as a spectator sport.

It was unique that world class events, like big city marathons, could be so informal with the public rubbing elbows with famous athletes, kids riding their bikes on the course during the race, the elites warming up in the same gym as the hackers and the family members and neighborhoods responsible for the aid stations.

It's become so remote, slick and packaged.

The Indy 500 was also like that 20 years ago(it may still be, I don't know) where you could buy a ticket just before the race, carry in a cooler and sit on a grassy knoll to watch the best in the world risk life and limb - and I never saw one fight in the infield in all the years I attended.

Thank you for posting this!

thx much for this one - BR is still a motivation. Can't think of one runner who got so many off the couch and onto the roads. Ellen was obviously above-and-beyond supportive - even hanging back and supporting other GBTC guys; what a sweetheart. Speaking of Montreal, he didn't even bother mentioning his foot - the real cause of his 40th place. I believe it was an on-going arch problem due to too-tight shoes. He was wounded weeks before and after Montreal.

I thought he injured his hamstring leading up to the 76 Olympics, and that is why he did so poorly?

I think he said it was foot, from wearing the same shoes all day that he 'd run in. Following Montreal, he simply got new shoes, and the pain went away.