▁Gro ton , ▁Connecticut , ▁where ▁he ▁started ▁running ▁at ▁F itch ▁Senior ▁High ▁School . ▁His ▁high ▁school ▁coach , ▁John ▁J . ▁K elle y ▁( The ▁" You ng er "), ▁was ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 7 ▁Boston ▁Mar athon ▁winner ▁and ▁two - time ▁U . S . ▁Olympic ▁mar athon er ▁( 1 9 5 6 ▁and ▁ 1 9 6 0 ▁Olympics , ) ▁and ▁his ▁influence ▁led ▁Bur foot ▁to ▁take ▁up ▁the ▁mar athon ▁while ▁still ▁a ▁colleg ian . ▁In ▁his ▁senior ▁year ▁at ▁Wes ley an ▁University , ▁where ▁Bur foot ▁was ▁the ▁ro omm ate ▁and ▁team mate ▁of ▁Bill ▁Rod gers , ▁Bur foot ▁won ▁the ▁Boston ▁Mar athon , ▁but ▁an ▁injury ▁caused ▁by ▁running ▁a ▁ste e ple ch ase ▁race ▁in ▁a ▁colleg iate ▁track ▁meet ▁later ▁that ▁spring ▁prevent ed ▁him ▁from ▁being ▁fully ▁prepared ▁for ▁that ▁year ' s ▁Olympic ▁Tri als ▁mar athon . ▁ ▁Bur foot ' s ▁influence ▁on ▁Rod gers , ▁who ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁Boston ▁Mar athon ▁four ▁times , ▁provided ▁a ▁link ▁in ▁a ▁four - ath lete ▁Boston ▁tradition ▁starting ▁with ▁John ▁A . ▁K elle y ▁( The ▁" E lder ") ▁and ▁continu ing ▁through ▁John ▁J . ▁K elle y ▁and ▁Bur foot ▁to ▁Rod gers . ▁▁ ▁In ▁the ▁Fu ku oka ▁Mar athon ▁in ▁Japan ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 6 8 , ▁Bur foot ▁ran ▁a ▁personal ▁best ▁time ▁of