A History of the Falmouth Road Race: Running Cape Cod by Paul Clerici: Bill Rodgers

 (On July 6, 2015, the first-ever book entirely about the Falmouth Road Race will be published. Entitled “History of the Falmouth Road Race, Running Cape Cod ,” it is written by Massachusetts runner and writer Paul C. Clerici, author of “Boston Marathon History by the Mile” and “History of the Greater Boston Track Club.” In a series for Recover Your Stride, he has provided some anecdotes, tales, and tidbits that will run here on a regular basis leading up to the 43rd edition of the Falmouth Road Race on August 16.)

Paul C. Clerici: Bill Rodgers - four-time winner of the Boston Marathon, four-time winner of the New York City Marathon, and a U.S. Olympian - first ran the Falmouth Road Race in 1974, its second year. “Boston Billy” was the first one to win the open men’s division three times (1974, 1977, 1978). Not only that, he is also the first athlete at the Falmouth Road Race to win an open, masters, seniors, and veterans title.

Bill Rodgers leading at the 6 mile mark of the 1978 Falmouth Road Race.

Bill Rodgers after winning the 1977 Falmouth Road Race.

I met Paul last year and was thrilled to find out that he was writing a book on the history of The Falmouth Road Race. This is one of many tidbits from the race that he will be providing my blog in anticipation of its publication in July. If you are like me and enjoy reading background information and hearing the history of the great runners and races from the "running boom" years, you might want to do a few things in anticipation of reading Paul's upcoming book.

My blog has a lot of photos and information on the early days of the Falmouth Road Race. The first year that I ran was the historic 1975 race. You can read about it here. Kings of the Road: How Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, and Alberto Salazar Made Running Go Boom by Cameron Stracher tells about the runners and the races that made the "running boom" and the 1975 Falmouth Road Race plays a pivotal role. You can read my review here. Paul has written other books on running including Boston Marathon History by the Mile and History of the Greater Boston Track Club I am very much looking forward to reading Paul's new book on The Falmouth Road Race.