Have fun with your running
Advice from a running legend Bill Rodgers
In 2012, I met and interviewed Bill Rodgers, one of the legends of the marathon and a man partially responsible for the running boom of the 1970s. Just take a look at his bio, which includes eight victories in the Boston and New York Marathons.
He also doesn’t take running too seriously.
“Have fun with your running,” he said. “I always tell people, if you have fun with your running, you’re going to stay with it.”
“Runners are the ultimate celebration people,” he told me. “Running is just so intense, you’re really experiencing life to the fullest. And after you do that, you reward yourself.”
Specifically, he’s talking about a beer reward.
“I remember Dr. George Sheehan used to say, ‘Have a beer at the end of the race,’” he said, citing running’s most respected sage. “You’re dehydrated, but you’re also celebrating.”
He’s even had the occasional beer during his race. One such occasion came during his first international road race…
