Training video of Bill Rodgers from the 70s

Thanks for posting this video. I was in high school/college in the early-mid 70s and, while I was not a runner then, I was something of a fan of the sport (which back then, for me, meant watching the Olympics on TV and reading Sports Illustrated). I recently read Bill’s auto-biography, “Marathon Man” (and Frank Shorter’s book, “My Marathon”; both were fun reads and reflective of their different personalities). It was interesting to see Bill’s first wife in the video – supportive and sweet, as portrayed in the book. Bill’s running form is beautiful – just appears to be floating along!

Dickie Mahoney had the beard.

Walt Murphy was the curly haired guy on the track behind Billy. Tim Donovan was there.

Oops, was not Donovan, just went back, Scotty Graham with the mustache and white T, Hodgie was in there behind Vinny on the track, Jim Stronach in the red shorts on the track during one of the miles. A big mix of ability levels there

Scotty Graham.

Is is too early for Billy Roach in that track workout?

Love the guy behind BR at the Eliot puffing away.

Remember coming home early from school that day so I could try to hear results on the radio. As a Canadian, I was super proud that Jerome won.

Boy, Rodgers was right--the heat psyched him out! It's about all he talks about before the race!

Thanks for posting--this was a treat to watch!

Might be a Boston thing, everyone's name ends with a Y or IE.

Anybody?!? There's also a documentary about the 1976 Olympic Marathon Trials from Eugene. Can't find it anywhere. There's a beautiful and poetic side-shot sequence of Shorter and Rodgers running together. Don Kardong takes third and takes a plunge (on purpose) into the steeplechase water.

Dickie Mahoney! Bobby Hodge! Randy Thomas! Boston Billy! All in that video. Two years later, they were all in the top ten in the Boston Marathon:

1.Bill Rodgers, GBTC, Melrose, 2:09:27 course record

2. Toshihiko Seko, Japan, 2:10:12

3. Robert Hodge, GBTC,Lowell, 2:12:30

4. Tom Fleming, Bloomfield, NJ, 2:12:56

5. Garry Bjorklund, Minneapolis, 2:13:14

6. Kevin Ryan, New Zealand, 2:13:57

7. Bobby Doyle, Central Falls, RI, 2:14:03

8. Randy Thomas, Wellesley, MA, 2:14:12

9. Herman Atkins, Everett, WA, 2:14:17

10. Richard Mahoney, Weymouth, MA 2:14:36

The man who won the '77 race:

11. Jerome Drayton, Canada, 2:14:47

Being "just" a dedicated local runner and GBTC volunteer, devoid of great talent, it was extra-special to be at a party called "The 27th Mile", or something like that, held up on the BC campus on the Saturday after GBTC cleaned up in that '79 race. Also there -- Mary Decker (not sure of her surname at the time) and Mark Belger (800/1000/miler with a nice resume, formerly of Villanova). And also the men's wheelchair winner, Bob Hall. It was a fun bunch. Glad to be invited. Glad I didn't kill off too many brain cells with beer that night.

Tanglebox wrote:

Anybody?!? There's also a documentary about the 1976 Olympic Marathon Trials from Eugene. Can't find it anywhere. There's a beautiful and poetic side-shot sequence of Shorter and Rodgers running together. Don Kardong takes third and takes a plunge (on purpose) into the steeplechase water.

Here ya go:)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIj1xrCUsYA

Curious, that's all wrote:

Can someone name other runners, and the time stamps on the video when they appear?

Mark Duggan and Scotty Graham are in there.

Vinnie Flemming is the guy telling BR "Don't cramp".

Michiganian wrote:

Tanglebox wrote:

Anybody?!? There's also a documentary about the 1976 Olympic Marathon Trials from Eugene. Can't find it anywhere. There's a beautiful and poetic side-shot sequence of Shorter and Rodgers running together. Don Kardong takes third and takes a plunge (on purpose) into the steeplechase water.

Here ya go:)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIj1xrCUsYA

Niiiiice

At 6:20

https://youtu.be/ac9SvCYapI8?t=380

Greg Hill wrote:

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

I had a good race with him at the 23 mile point of the '77 PV marathon.

why it so f876kin quiet

Holy crap!! Thanks!

That still shot at 2:50 - Runner's World (back when it was good) published that image in the magazine. I have it framed on my wall.

"Pete Razosko": 5:50-6:20, Peter Koslow????, New York. The guy he shakes hands with. Finished 2:57:33 Boston 1977.

"Marg": 6:00-6:20, Marjorie Tennyson? The woman with the hat Bill says usually runs 3:08. Finished 3:29:48.

Cool that Billy interacted with the mid pack.

More runners found or not wrote:

"Pete Razosko": 5:50-6:20, Peter Koslow????, New York. The guy he shakes hands with. Finished 2:57:33 Boston 1977.

"Marg": 6:00-6:20, Marjorie Tennyson? The woman with the hat Bill says usually runs 3:08. Finished 3:29:48.

Cool that Billy interacted with the mid pack.

Marg could also be Margaret Copeland, 3:35:33. Bill says "Good Idear" to her about the hat, mocking Canada accent? Unless that's some Boston thing.

Unless she says "I'm from Maine". If so, maybe Tennyson, in Maine Hall of Fame for runners.

https://mainerunninghof.wordpress.com/inductees/1999-2/marjorie-tennyson-1999/