Bill Rodger's training log is insane

He did more volume (and certainly faster paces) than I am, but I kind of like the idea of running loops- there's a 1 km one in the park near me that I like to use for marathon pace and tempo pace work, where I don't want to worry about stopping at traffic lights and such. I did 25 laps there on Tuesday. It gets kind of meditative after a while in a way that I like, when I feel like everything else in life is screaming distractions at me.

The marathon I'm training for in May will probably wind up being cancelled, and I'm toying around with the idea of just racing 42+ laps there by myself, just so I'll know what kind of shape I was really in before I switch gears for (hopefully not cancelled) summer and fall races.

hinpoln wrote:

Ho Hum wrote:

It's a nice place to run (granted it might've been a bit different in the '70s). Sort of rolling and twisty with a fair number of trees, so it's not quite as boring as Boston's other reservoir paths.

This does not look so monotonous. Did it have the asphalt covering back then, too?

Well, maybe after a while, it does seem to start to all look the same (based on my photos).

In this next photo, you can see a small non-asphalt path inside the asphalt path. I'm curious if back then, there were longer sections of non-asphalt?

trackislife12 wrote:

I have never seen anything like this, the monotony would kill me.

Because they have discipline and are strong minded. You on the other hand, are weak.

corono wrote:

trackislife12 wrote:

I have never seen anything like this, the monotony would kill me.

Because they had discipline and are strong minded. You, on the other hand, are weak.

fixed

I have to admire his honesty. Some days he just straight up didn't want to run, so he didn't. He didn't make up some excuse he just wasn't feeling it.

When I ran there in the '80s there was asphalt all the way around and a dirt path as well. I cannot recall if the dirt path went all the way around or just part way. It was a good place to run. I believe it was cleared in the winter and there was plenty of shade for the summer.

Yes, Jamaica Pond path was paved back then.

hinpoln wrote:

Littleton walker wrote:

And he's still out there. I usually get to see him a couple of times a week, depending on the time I can take a stroll.

He is still out where? Jamaica Pond? How many miles a week does he run (jog) now?

I can't think of a comparison, Babe Ruth is to baseball, maybe.

I don't think Ruth is a good comparison, regarding the length of their careers/activity.

Sorry, not Jamaica Pond. I work close to his house. That's where I see him. Nice guy.

Refreshing not to see tempos, working different energy systems, intervals at pace, etc. Just put the work in.

wow this would honestly suck. If he was training alone too like idk how you do this and not go insane. I guess it makes sense that such an amazing marathoner had marine-like mental strength.

Love this entry..

11 – Sun 18.5+ miles in 1:34:20

2nd place for New Bedford 30K Race was won in 1 hr. 34 min. 13 secs. by Bayko got a 2nd place. That’s all folks!! Got a can opener!!

Lives in Boxboro right?

I just love those random prizes. Like this one:

Oct 21, 1973

"A good day for a race. Ran 52:56 for so-called 11 mile Gardener, Mass. Road Race for a 1st – taroo! I won a table – tweetoo. 12 miles run today. Good prizes were given – Rocking chair, tables, spice racks"

I also remember in his book he mentioned a race where the 1st place prize was a set of tires, but the winner didn't own a car, nor did the runner-up and 3rd place runner, and so on. He wrote that he didn't know who actually ended up getting those tires.

That was normal . Now is pu$$y.

corono wrote:

trackislife12 wrote:

I have never seen anything like this, the monotony would kill me.

Because they have discipline and are strong minded. You on the other hand, are weak.

That's right grinding out the miles may be boring, but necessary.