Archive For The “Running Free” Category
Hoped to compose the entire piece without ever mentioning Rosie’s name. But JG brought her up. Sweetly, too. Real class, like always. It’s important that cheaters’ stories not outlive the tales of true victors. Jacqueline Gareau is most famous for winning the 1980 Boston Marathon a week after another woman crossed the line first. “Magnanimous”…
Thank you for being an ambassador for Boston Billy’s Blends! The Rodgers family is very excited for this opportunity to bring these delicious and refreshing teas to the runners of the world. Tea is a truly incredible drink – the second most popular drink on Earth after water – with as much variety and variation…
Last October, I realized the 2025 Boston Marathon would be the Golden Anniversary of Boston Billy’s first victory there in a course record 2:09:55. Wearing a slightly too big pair of Nike Boston ’73s given to him by the not quite yet legendary Steve Prefontaine, Bill Rodgers stopped to tie his shoes a few times…
The self-explorer, whether he wants to or not, becomes the explorer of everything else. – Elias Canetti “We need to do more to recognize the important individuals, the humble individuals, the champions and the challengers, ” Bob Hodge pleaded last year. And now they have. Of course, the Golden Anniversary of this trail-blazing duo makes…
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. – C.S. Lewis Alachua County, Florida – USA Track & Field (USATF), the Olympic national governing body for the sport of track & field, awarded the USATF Masters Indoor Championships to Alachua County in 2025. With the World Masters Athletics…
In Boston, you don’t feel disabled, you feel super-abled. I’ve actually heard people there say ‘Man, I wish I was him’ behind my back. – Scot Hollonbeck First time I remember seeing Bob Hall was at a party, maybe 1979, which means it wasn’t the first time I had seen him. Because he was standing up…
Some say Rosie Ruiz is the most famous marathoner in American history. Just ask any non-runner.
Bill doesn’t run 2:09:55 to become Boston Billy without the confidence gained at the 1975 World Cross-Country Championships. He doesn’t podium there without some hard work. Here’s how he did it.
After losing seventy pounds, I began running in 1972 at the Kearney Center YMCA in Danbury, Connecticut. Indoors. Twenty-five laps to a mile. At the time I was a fanatical basketball player, the cause of my two injured ankles. Tough to play hoops when you can’t move sideways or cut or jump. At my best, I had a four-inch vertical.
Of all the songs I’ve written I think I get the most feedback about that song. And it is a personal song – when I did it I sort of thought that I laid it out, you know, with no ambiguity at all – like I just said it very plainly – and I kind…