Just in case any of you kids need a little inspiration, on this- the 150th anniversary of the formal patent for riveted denim pants (aka blue jeans)- we should note that at the beginning of his career he was so broke with no money for bascially anything, that legend Bill Rodgers not only trained in them but actually, in winter, ran entire freaking races in blue jeans!
In 1973, after running for six months, Rodgers found himself in Hopkinton, at the start of the 30-kilometer Silver Lake Dodge road race. Burfoot—who had largely lost touch since college—was surprised to see Rodgers on the starting line, and not merely because he was dressed like a hobo. “He was in tattered khakis, a tattered shirt full of holes, looking like a bum, like a street person,” says Burfoot. “I go up to him, he’s this happy puppy dog, his tail wagging, and say, ‘It’s great to see you’re jogging. You’ve stopped smoking. I’m so happy for you. I’ll see you at the finish line.’”
Yet 10 miles and 49 minutes into the race, Rodgers and Burfoot were still linked at the elbows like paper dolls. Burfoot looked over at his former roommate in disbelief. Rodgers was a golden retriever giddily running alongside a station wagon. Running in slacks!!!
