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Marathon Man: My 26.2-Mile Journey from Unknown Grad Student to the Top of the Running World Kindle Edition

by Bill Rodgers (Author), Matthew Shepatin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 236 ratings
Editors' pick Best Biographies & Memoirs
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The legendary long-distance runner details his historic victory in the 1975 Boston Marathon that launched the modern running boom

Within a span of two hours and nine minutes, Bill Rodgers went from obscurity to legend, from Bill Rodgers to "Boston Billy." In doing so, he instantly became the people's champ and the poster boy for the soulful 1970s distance runner. Having won the Boston Marathon and New York Marathon four times each, he remains the only marathoner to have appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice. Winning the Holy Grail of marathons in an unthinkable record time changed Bill's life forever.

But his dramatic breakthrough in Boston also changed the lives of countless others, instilling in other American runners the belief that they could follow in his footsteps, and inspiring thousands of regular people to lace up their shoes and chase down their own dreams. In the year before Rodger's victory at the 1975 Boston Marathon, 20,000 people had completed a marathon in the United States. By 2009, participants reached nearly half a million.

Thirty-seven years later Bill Rodgers still possesses the same warm, endearing, and whimsical spirit that turned him into one of America's most beloved athletes. In Marathon Man he details for the first time this historic race and the events that led him there.

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  1. Print length
    317 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Thomas Dunne Books
  5. Publication date
    April 2, 2013
  6. File size
    828 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Marathoner Rodgers makes clear in this engaging memoir that his rise to running greatness was a meandering path with many pit stops and detours along the way, including a period of time where he stopped running completely and became a smoker. The memoir is told in two parts, alternating between recollections of his life beginning with his college years and a detailed account of Rodgers’ victorious 1975 Boston marathon, in which he set the American record. Rodgers’ story is a remarkable tale of athletic triumph, and the account of how he was able to return to running will be inspiring for new runners and those returning to the sport after a long layoff. Rodgers emphasizes the hours of hard work and sacrifice that led him to the top, but, unfortunately, he sometimes crosses the line from taking pride in his accomplishments to simply boasting about them, which is definitely off-putting to the reader. Still, followers of marathons will be eager to learn the story of one of the sport’s big names. --Eve Gaus

Review

“I've been reading Bill Rodgers' book, Marathon Man, and they let him go. And I tried to visualize that, race the way he did.” ―Meb Keflezighi, moments after winning the 2014 Boston Marathon

“Required Reading” ―New York Post

“This book is more than a good read. It's my new Bible.” ―Fitness

“An absorbing portrait…of the grueling stress and subtle strategizing of long-distance races, and of the plucky, slapdash subculture of marathoning in its salad days.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Bill Rodgers is the most celebrated men's distance runner in history.” ―National Distance Running Hall of Fame

“If anyone can rally runners to a cause, it is Rodgers, who remains by some measures the most popular road racer of all time” ―Runners World

“Trace the popularity of road running today, and the roots lead back to Rodgers.” ―South Bend Tribune

“I could see reading this book on the beach and being inspired to do an afternoon run.” ―Ross Martinson, co-owner of Philadelphia Runner writing for BeWellPhilly.com's Summer Reading List

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B008RLW2V4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas Dunne Books (April 2, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 2, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 828 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 317 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 236 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
236 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars If you love running you'll love this book
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2023
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Bill Rodgers is one of the best marathoners in USA history. This book is about his amazing journey, from a college runner until becoming a top athlete. Bill's journey overlapped with the evolution of road running in the USA, from an uncommon sport for adults until its boom in the late 70's and early 80's. The book is very well written. It's funny and entertaining. Wisely, the author used most of the book to get Bill's journey until his first Boston marathon win. That is the best and most interesting part of the book. It's an amazing history of an amazing athlete. A book I think all runners will love to read. A worth reading for non runners as well.
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Daniel Hurley
5.0 out of 5 stars Written As If Bill Is Speaking To You
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2013
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Rodgers autobiography, assisted by Mathew Shepatin, is written in a straight forward casual format as if Rodgers is speaking to you, making this a pleasure to read. The book starts with Bill's huge breakout 1975 Boston Marathon with step by step descriptions interwoven with flash backs of his early life at Wellesley, time with his mentor Ambry Burfoot, his post college poverty, service as a conscientious objector working in a hospital, trying to start a union and his startling retun to running with initial successes with peruodic and dramatic disappointments. His continued rise, including an amazing bronze medal at the World Cross-country championships when every great distance runner in the world was there, allows for the completion of his description of his course record that including stopping to tie his shoes and to drink water on at least 4 occasions. The latter portions of the book describe his Olympic trials qualifying in the marathon, a near miss in the 10,000 meters with a brilliant 28:04 and his injury plagued Montreal marathon that was left virtually untreated by trainers until Bill Squires came to his aid. The latter part of the book discusses his other great races including the Fukuoka marathon, demands to run so many races fueled by his record runs and demand for him personally, his start up business, his frustrations with U.S. amateur rules (AAU) and disappointment with the 1980 boycott. My only disappointment was the lack of any detailed description of his gallant 1984 Olympic trials race when past his peak, Boston Billy was still competing for a spot after 20 miles. Oddly, Bill couldn't remember being beaten by Shorter after 1980; however, there was a well publicized race in Shorter's old NY hometown in 1981 that made the cover of 'Runner Magazine' (bought and absorbed by Runners' World) where Shorter pulled it out. In that race, there is a wonderful picture that captures Rodgers perfectly, racing with just he and Shorter well into the race on a hot day, he's offering Shorter a cup of water while they are racing full tilt.
9 people found this helpful
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WDX2BB
4.0 out of 5 stars Floating across the finish
Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
Here's an interesting coincidence when it comes to legendary marathoner Bill Rodgers.

I had the chance to write a story several ears ago on Rodgers, which involved the chance to interview him at some length by phone and then talk to him in person for a while. Someone asked me later what it was like to talk to Rodgers.

"It was sort of like trying to watch a butterfly," I answered. "The conversation seemed to dart all over the place, but it was pleasant following it."

Imagine my surprise, then, when I read Rodgers' new autobiography, "Marathon Man." He describes how he used to chase butterflies while growing up, and developed a love of running that way. In fact, he still had a collection of butterflies years later. By the way, the runner reveals here that he suffers from ADHD.

This is the second of two Rodgers' autobiographies, in a sense. The first came in 1980, right at the end of a run that saw him dominate the sport for several years. It was an odd book, combining a rather superficial review of Rodgers' life to date mixed with some tips for runners. That made it a case of one foot in one place and one foot in another, and neither completely satisfying.

Rodgers certainly has led an interesting enough life to warrant a full-fledged autobiography. Well, this is it, finally, and it's well done.

Rodgers was a decent enough high school and college runner, and friendly with 1968 Boston Marathon winner Amby Burfoot. But after college, Rodgers famously gave up the sport, spending his free time smoking in bars and chasing - although apparently not catching - women. He became a conscientious objector when his draft board came calling during the Vietnam War, and worked at a Boston hospital doing the absolute worst tasks in the field.

Somewhere along the way, the running bug returned, and Rodgers headed for the roads again. He was part of a Boston running scene that was starting to boom, and he discovered that he had some talent at the discipline as long as he put in the hours of training.

Rodgers' main breakthrough came in the 1975 Boston Marathon. It wouldn't be completely fair to say he came out of nowhere to win that race, the first of four titles, but he wasn't on anyone's radar as a potential winner either.

Co-author Shepatin made the decision for the first two-thirds of the book to ping-pong from a description of that 1975 race to the chronological story of Rodgers' life. The Boston Marathon was much more innocent back then. Left unstated in that comparison is thoughts about the bombing of the 2013 edition, which obviously happened after the book was written.

Once those two tracks merge at the finish line in 1975, "Boston Billy's" career took off. He went on to win marathons all over the world, and became personally popular as well. I hadn't heard the stories about what happened at the Olympics or why he went into the running gear business, but they broaden the story nicely.

If anything, Rodgers doesn't spend enough time with what he's been doing lately. The runner has become "Bill Rodgers" for living, making personal appearances and talking with runners today. I have friends that still talk about the time they joined Rodgers for a beer or two after a local race.

Rodgers today remains an interesting, intelligent person, so it's no surprise that "Marathon Man" follows that description. The book does a good job of catching the butterfly.
5 people found this helpful
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William Schroeder
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Stuff
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2014
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Excellent book about Rodgers and running in the 1970's. Shorter and Rodgers set off the running boom for the men, Joan and Grete for the women. I started running in 1977, and started paying more attention to the guys at the top. Rodgers was an icon by that time, and it was something to see a "regular" guy out there pounding the roads. All of us runners were doing the same thing - slower, of course, but I think with the same spirit that Frank and Bill had. I tip my hat to Rodgers for his attitude towards the guys that came before him - sort of "on the shoulders of giants" philosophy. I don't think that is seen much these days. I wish he had talked about running with Zatopek (THE MAN !) in Central Park - I saw a pic of Bill, Hersh (?), and Zatopek jogging along once, great shot.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

carlos vala jr
5.0 out of 5 stars Terriffic From End To End
Reviewed in Canada on August 16, 2016
Verified Purchase
In my humble opinion the best book ever written about running. Not only is it a great story about Bill Rodgers and his amazing journey but a great book if you want to get a real sense of what it was like to be a marathon runner in the 1970's and early 80's before big money and sponsorship entered into things. Bill Rodgers and his contemporaries just ran for the sheer love of running and bragging rights from winning a little race in some out of the way town, no money to be won at most a trophy. You get all the great stories from Bill's time running in the Boston marathon, New York, Japan, Europe and as I mentioned the little road races that he continued to run in small towns in hot or cold or rainy weekends. I've read the book three times already and I've made a vow to myself to read it at least once a year for the rest of my life. Yes it's that good!!
2 people found this helpful
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michael hill
4.0 out of 5 stars but bill was never the best marathon runner in the world
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 16, 2015
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ok. but bill was never the best marathon runner in the world.
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Stuart Mah
5.0 out of 5 stars Boston Billy: a Living Legend and Inspirational Soul
Reviewed in Canada on July 30, 2013
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Having met Bill Rodgers after completing the 2011 Boston Marathon, I was most impressed with how he took the time to speak to me and made me feel special. Marathon Man complements my life experience and captures my perspective of this amazing athlete who presents himself in such a genuinely humble and gracious manner.

A must read for running enthusiasts!
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