Once Upon a Time in the Vest: V10 N. 32 Forty-Two Years Ago Today in Boston

Friday, April 17, 2020

V10 N. 32 Forty-Two Years Ago Today in Boston

April 17, 2020

Walt Murphy reminds us in his blog today that forty-two years ago, Bill Rodgers won the Boston Marathon.Walt Murphy's This Day in Track and Field

This date also stirs some memories for me as that was my only run at Boston.
My college roommate Mike Hewitt was living in the Boston area back then and hosted me that weekend. That included Mike's taking me on a ride over the course on Sunday, the day before the race.

The day started well and Mike got me downtown in time to get a bus out to the start. I recall going into the Hopkinton HS gym and going into the dressing room to relax, not knowing this was sacred ground reserved for the elite runners. A few minutes after stretching out on a bench, Jock Semple the race organizer who had a few years ago tried, unsuccessfully, to tackle Kathy Switzer, came storming into the locker room and unceremoniously threw me and several others out of there with a string of expletives that would make a Marine drill sergeant blush. T'was indeed a great curse.

I came to Boston with a 2hr 35 minute marathon best under my belt at Quebec City on a hilly course. I fully expected to be under 2hr. 30min. that day. But like many a plodder I was humbled by my grand expectations and the effects of Heart Break Hill. In those days there were no mile markers or refreshments handed out. You had to rely on your inbred sense of pace to know how you were doing. I probably was running way over my head those first fifteen miles. I got over the hill okay in the race but hit the wall soon after and walked and jogged in to the finish in 2 hr. 51 min.

Later while resting on a cot in an underground parking garage, I heard another runner moaning that he couldn't stand pain, as a doctor or EMT was trimming blisters on his feet. I looked over and it was Bill Rodgers. I think Bill was known to be one of self deprecating humor.