Former British runner Nick Rose speaking about fartlek training

Nick Rose on Fartlek

In 1981 top runners made a break with their sports' amateur past in an attempt to professionalize road racing.  In this excerpt from Runner's Digest Radio, governing official Alvin Chriss describes what the athletes learned on their road to go pro.

What Pro Runners Learned in 1982 - Alvin Chriss

4x Boston & New York City Marathon champion Bill Rodgers goes on the run with Toni Reavis, describing how he returned to running and eventually got started in the marathon.

Bill Rodgers - How He Got Started in the Marathon

1987 World Champion marathoner Douglas Wakiihuri of Kenya likens the marathon to a rose, holding both the sting of its thorns and the beauty of its bloom.

World Champion Douglas Wakihuri, The Marathon is Like A Rose Flower

A debate between two of Michigan's greatest runners ever, Grand Rapids native Greg Meyer (Univ. Michigan `77) and Reed City's Herb Lindsay (Michigan State '77). The two sat with me at the September 1981 Maple Leaf Half Marathon in Manchester, Vermont, and discussed the ongoing attempt to professionalize the sport of road running under the auspices of the newly created Association of Road Race Athletes (ARRA).  Herb was the 1979 & 1980 Road Racer of the Year, while Greg won the 1982 Chicago and 1983 Boston Marathons.

ARRA Debate Sept. 1981 - Greg Meyer, Herb Lindsay, Bob Bright

Conversation with Boulder Wave president Brendan Reilly on 2015 USATF & IAAF World Cross Country Championships, 1965 & `66 Japanese champions of the Boston Marathon, and the link between American star Shalane Flanagan as she preps for April 20th Boston Marathon and 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon champ Constantina Dita of Romania.   

CONVERSATION WITH BOULDER WAVE PRES. BRENDAN REILLY

In memory of Tommy Leonard, beloved founder of the Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod, and long-time bartender at Boston's legendary runner's bar, the Eliot Lounge.

Tommy Leonard Tracks

Race call of the 1980 Midland Run 15K in Far Hills, New Jersey, featuring Runner's Digest co-host Todd Miller, race director Bob Bright & `76 U.S. Olympian Mike Roche. Post-race interviews follow with several athletes and Bob Bright talking about the future of the sport as it attempted to rise from an amateur to professional sport.

Midland Run 15K 1980 Race Call & post-race interviews

From the Runner's Digest radio show archives in 1978, we explore the famous Boston Marathon course in the words of some of the best runners and luminaries of the era. Included in this compilation are Olympians Don Kardong, Bill Rodgers, and Old John Kelly. We also hear from Dick Mahoney, Amby Burfoot, Patti Dillon, Thom Gilligan, Vin Fleming, Bob Hodge, Dr. Kent Smith, and Fred Brown.  This was in the era before John Hancock Financial Services became the race sponsor and the race ended on Ring Road in front of the Prudential Tower.

Boston Marathon Course Piece

From the Runners' Digest radio archives, top runners talk about the changing weather conditions that can confront them at the annual Boston Marathon each Patriot's Day in April.

Boston Marathon Weather Montage

The 2020 Virtual Boston Marathon kicks off today, September 4th, as the world adjusts to the Coronavirus pandemic.  The Runners Digest Radio show presents on overview of the great event with voices of some of the great runners from the Running Boom years. Thanks for listening.

Boston Marathon 2020 Virtual Opener

Runners Digest Radio looks back at the infamous series of hills along the Boston Marathon route from miles 17 to 21, culminating with Heartbreak Hill.

Lore of The Boston Marathon Hills

Veteran broadcaster and writer who has followed the sport of running since the mid-1970s. https://wordpress.com/view/tonireavis.com

Toni Reavis

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