What's new to say about Jerry Johncock, four-time Michigan RunnerSenior Male Runner of the Year? Below are excerpts of his son, Bill's, story in the August 2002 Running Journal: April 15, 2002 was a momentous occasion for me. Of course, the Boston marathon was run on this date. This year, though, I would make the 26.2-mile trek with my 74-year-old father, Jerry. It also marked the seventh birthday of my oldest son, Drake. My father began running at age 50, a year after I did. He found he was good at it and became more competitive nationally with the years. Dad gradually improved his times up to age 60, when he twice broke 3:01 for the marathon, but the magical three-hour barrier eluded him. He twice placed second in his division at Boston back when the oldest age group was 60-and-over. It seemed he had a case of the "almost, but not quite" syndrome. In 2001, Boston added a 70-and-over age group. Dad looked at that year's winning time and said, "I can do that." Grand Rapids is not an easy place to train for an early-spring marathon. But Dad made the treks through the snow and cold. I told him at Christmas time I was planning to run the race with him, hoping to help him meet his goal. I handed him matching shorts and singlets with printing on them: his shirt reading "Jerry," mine "Jerry's son." Dad was touched by my simple gift. We decided to bring Drake with us for his birthday. He could see historical sites in Boston, plus watch Dad and Grandpa run the marathon. What a way to celebrate three generations this special day. Dad and I rose early to catch our bus to the start in Hopkinton. Drake and my wife, Carol, were still asleep. We started in the 10,000-something corral out of 17,000 runners. It took us seven minutes after the gun to get to the starting line, and about 15 minutes to navigate through the masses to the mile mark. I cautioned Dad not to try to make up the time all at once, but it took him a 7:30 second-mile before this sank in. We should have been running an 8:05 to 8:15 pace according to the plan I'd created to help us through changes in elevation and fatigue later in the race. We finally settled into a better pace and were running well. Throughout the course, people read our singlets and cheered our names. Drake and Carol were there to meet us at 17 miles with signs in hand. I stopped and gave our support crew a sweaty hug and wished Drake a happy birthday. Dad showed true grit climbing to the peak of Heartbreak Hill around 21 miles, then we began the quad-grinding descent to Boston. The hills and heat began taking their toll in the final miles. Still, Dad showed his stuff while crowds cheered and yelled our names. At the 26th mile, I saw Carol and Drake again. I had tears in my eyes as Dad and I finished, arms held high. Our chip time was 3:45: a bit slower than Dad had hoped, but still respectable. We went to the awards ceremony that night and learned Dad had beaten last year's age-group (and previous overall) winner Keizo Yamada of Japan, but three other 70-and-over "young bucks" finished ahead of him. I was proud of Dad's finish, but even prouder of him being a great father who instilled in his five sons strong values, faith and love. As I looked at my son, I hoped I could come close to being the same type of father Dad was to me. I imagine Drake wanting to cross the finish line with me someday. And who knows? Maybe his grandpa will be there too, hand in hand with us. Bill Johncock is a runner and podiatrist in Hickory, NC. He is a veteran of 49 marathons, including a 2:34 PR. His dad has run 79 marathons. Drake has yet to complete one. MR