Transcript:

Patriots Day - Jock SempleAmbience: Marathon Semple: I used to say that if they took me over in a plane, put me in a parachute and dropped me anywhere in Europe and they knew I was connected with the Boston Marathon, it's the open sesame.That's Jock Semple, from a 1979 interview. He was one of the driving forces behind the Boston Marathon. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.The Boston Marathon typically takes place on Patriots Day, the third Monday in April. This year it's scheduled to run in October, due to the Pandemic. But we're honoring the tradition this week. I think Jock Semple would have approved. He passed away in 1988, but his legacy lives on.Semple: My first time up here was 1929. We had 125 runners. And then gradually it grew up to 250. Then 500, and we thought that was the peak. And then suddenly the roof fell in. We've got 6000 right now.This year, there'll be both an in person and a virtual race which could attract as many as 70,000 runners.Semple: All the changes have been for the better, even, in spite of my supposed male chauvinist image, women have been a good asset to the race. They're easier to handle and they're better behaved than any of the 64" waistline guys that give you a hard lot.AmbienceThe crowds are great. There's people watching now, I'll bet they watched as children and now they're grandparents. And they keep coming to Boston just to see it. They stand there for hours before a runner comes by and they stand for hours after. I'll bet you the majority on Commonwealth Avenue never go home until old Johnny Kelley goes by. It's amazing. Every year I say it's my last one. It's worth it, even though these guys hear me griping all the time.The legendary Jock Semple. Honoring the Boston Marathon. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.