After missing the 1980 Summer Olympics due to the boycott Dixon took third place at the 1982 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Dixon also turned to road-running and was one of the more successful athletes on the US road racing circuit in the early '80s, including wins at the Falmouth Road Race (1980), Bay to Breakers (1982 &amp; 1983), the Lynchburg, Virginia 10 miler (1981 &amp; 1983), and the Philadelphia Half-Marathon (1980, 1981). His gradual move to longer distances culminated in his 1983 marathon victory in New York City. He finished 10th in the marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics.