Rodgers' only goal to cross the finish line

(NECN: Boston, Mass.) - Boston Marathon legend Bill Rodgers is back again. He will be returning to the 26.2 mile route 30 years after his third win in the race. Rodgers was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in 1998, having won the Boston Marathon four times and breaking the American record in that race with a time of 2:09:55 in 1975. But he is no longer going for a personal best or trying to win the marathon. Rodgers said that he is not even racing it, just running. "I'm not racing it -- I can't. I've too many races, I think," Rodgers said. "I'm just trying to get to the (finish) line. I'm scared I won't make it. I dropped out my last time. You can't have your last marathon be a DNF (did not finish)." "That's a bad feeling to drop out. My kids were waiting at the finish line -- that was depressing," Rodgers said. "I don't care if I have to walk or crawl, I want to get to the line. Sometimes you have to walk -- it's okay." Rodgers also reflected on how tough it is for American runners to win the race, due to the emergence of the Kenyan and Ethiopian runners. "To compete today against the Kenyans and the Ethiopians -- wow," Rodgers said. "I didnt' have to race the Kenyans and the Ethiopians; it would have been so tough. Because they have a fire in their bellies. They want to win so bad." This time, all Rodgers has is the desire to cross the finish line.