This 12 months’s Boston Marathon is an enormous anniversary for the person referred to as “Boston Billy.”
Invoice Rodgers received his first Boston Marathon in 1975. He received it three extra occasions within the subsequent a number of years. That earned him his nickname and made him one of the crucial legendary marathoners in American historical past.
Rodgers is a grand marshal for this 12 months’s race.
WBUR’s Lynn Jolicoeur joined Rodgers alongside the marathon route and spoke with him about Boston’s position in his storied working profession.
“That modified my life once I received it. As a result of for those who can win the Boston Marathon, you begin getting cellphone calls from around the globe — ‘Would you come to Amsterdam? Will you come to Stockholm, Paris?’ ” Rodgers mentioned. “It is not the largest marathon. Is it the perfect? I believe it’s, as a result of no different marathon can match its historical past.”
Interview highlights
On his recollections of climbing Heartbreak Hill in 1975, when he received his first Boston Marathon:
“It was my third [time running] Boston. By your third Boston, you recognize this course and you are able to do some injury. You recognize, you can begin pushing and you do not get overwhelmed up a lot. It’s very psychological. Operating is psychological. Folks assume it is bodily. It is actually psychological. However I used to be having enjoyable. As soon as I acquired within the lead, I used to be like, that is insane.”
On how he felt profitable the race that made him a star:
“It is type of actually indescribable. It is only a feeling of like, what? … Your loved ones’s there, your folks. It is large. You’ll be able to’t actually outline it, you recognize? You recognize, they informed me my time. As a result of I ran 10 minutes quicker than I had ever run [and broke the American record for marathon running time]. However that is the factor about marathoning and working: all of us enhance.
“So it was simply celebration. We went over to a pub … and we had an enormous celebration. You recognize, it was simply enjoyable. It was very low key. At this time, there’s massive cash, larger cash, and there was none in these days. However we runners fought for the inclusion of prize cash to construct the race. … So I believe Boston performed that position as an affect marathon, you recognize, main the way in which.”
On the robust occasions, when he needed to battle to proceed:
“I had some the place I did get beat up a bit of bit. Thrice I dropped out. My favourite place to drop out is the highest of Heartbreak Hill, as a result of for those who get to the highest of Heartbreak, no less than you bought to the highest, you recognize? And I used to be dwelling in Jamaica Plain then, and I simply walked house.”
On his emotions watching the race now that he is a spectator:
“I really like being a spectator. I really like to hang around on the end line and see the runners are available in, and perhaps go up within the grandstand and every little thing and cheer for them, as a result of the dedication in folks’s faces is unbelievable, you recognize?
“I believe it is one of many nice scenes within the sports activities world, and to me, the Boston Marathon is the equal of any main sports activities occasion in our nation or the world.
“You recognize, I’ve a variety of recollections. However I am gonna have fun race day this 12 months. Fifty years is an enormous marker. And I will be there, there with my daughter Elise, her husband, and my brother Charlie and household and mates — as a result of that is the Boston Marathon.”
This section aired on April 17, 2025.
