Boilermaker and Beyond

I read with more than a little sadness that the Bill Rodgers Running Center (BRRC) will be closing shop at the end of this month.

I had visited the store, located at Faneuil Hall in Boston, a couple of times- absolutely great running memorabilia graced the walls.

I would imagine competition from the mega-sports stores made competition intense.

It also appears that the death of long-time partner Jason Kehoe this summer was a determining factor.

A side note about Bill Rodgers- when (not if) an American athlete reaches the pinnacle of success that Bill did I pray they have at least a tenth of his personality.  Bill’s laidback attitude combined with an infectious smile has always made him a crowd favorite. He is simply one of those people who are ‘comfortable in their own skin’.

Bill changed the completion of the Boilermaker when he broke the finisher’s tape in 1983- we went big-time on the back of Mr. Rodgers.

I count myself lucky to have a guy like Bill as a friend. I wish both he and his brother Charlie (you can’t miss Charlie; he has simply one of the wildest beards) all the best.