American Marathon Legend Bill Rodgers to Speak at Blue Ridge Marathon

Bill Rodgers

Two significant figures in American running will be playing a part in the 2012 National College Blue Ridge Marathon.  The Marathon committee announced today that Bill Rodgers who twice held the American record for the marathon, and Dr. Tim Maggs, whose articles have appeared in virtually every running publication in the country, will be the speakers for a pasta dinner the evening before the marathon.

 “We would like to thank our new sponsor, Foot Levelers for enabling us to add the dinner and these great speakers to the runner’s experience in Roanoke,” said Marathon chair Pete Eshelman.  “The pasta dinner is new this year and we will use it to give runners an overview of the course as well as a chance to hear from some world-class names in the running world.”  Eshelman added that the runners might benefit from the advice as they prepare for America’s Toughest Road Marathon.

Bill Rodgers is best known for his victories in the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon in the late 1970s.  Rodgers won both races four times each between 1975 and 1980, twice breaking the American record at Boston with a time of 2:09:55 in 1975 and a 2:09:27 in 1979.  He is also a four-time winner of the Lynchburg-based Virginia 10 Miler.

Dr. Tim Maggs

Dr. Tim Maggs is a sports chiropractor and one of the country’s foremost authorities on running injuries.  “Sports biomechanics can add many years of running to a person’s life,” says Maggs.  “Runners need to start thinking proactively, rather than just reacting when they are injured.”

The dinner will be held at Charter Hall on the third floor of the Roanoke City Market Building.  Doors open at 6 p.m.   The event is open to runners and their families, as well as the general public, at a cost is $19 in advance via the marathon website – www.blueridgemarathon.com or $20 at the door.  Seating is limited to the first 200 people who sign up.

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