Bill Rodgers, special guest for this year's Frozen Foot Race Jan. 22, was due in Friday, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m. I was like a kid on Christmas morning waiting for him to show.

Back in 1975-80, when Bill was on his New York and Boston Marathon- winning streak, I was an obsessed runner, reading every word in Running and Runner's World magazines, and anything I could find about the sport. I drove to Boston just to watch the race between Rodgers and Toshihiko Seko. Here I was, 25 years later, with run date with Bill.

The guy really is Peter Pan. Sure he has a few wrinkles, but nothing much else has changed. Bill's bouncy running form, his mannerisms and love for the sport showed in everything he said.

We ran easy out Old Mission Peninsula on the Cherry Festival 15K course. It was snowy and footing was awful, but Bill looked right at home, no complaints. He is a great storyteller and listener, and has an amazing memory for names, times and running facts. A likable guy who seems to care about everyone around him.

I watched Bill before his talk that night at Northwestern Michigan College. A line formed to meet him. Each person came up, shook hands, then told a story from his or her running past that concerned Bill. I heard the same stories over and over: I ran a race with you at Falmouth ... I had a beer in the Eliot and met you and Tommy Leonard ... I saw you talk in D.C. at Cherry Blossom ... I remember running Old Kent when you were there ...

The stories went on as Bill listened, responded with comments that made each person feel like they, too, were an important part of running's past.

Bill ran the five-mile Frozen Foot Race the following morning. Ten degrees, gusty wind off the bay and whiteout conditions at times. Just what we came for! The footing was impossible.

Another couple hundred people left the race that day with a Bill Rodgers story of their own to tell. The legend lives on.

Randy Step is owner of Running Fit stores, which, with the Traverse City Track Club, brought Bill Rodgers to TC for a memorable two days.