On this present day in 1951, one of the iconic runners in North American historical past was born. Steve “Pre” Prefontaine from Coos Bay, Ore., turned one of many greatest icons within the sport throughout his time on the College of Oregon within the 70s, the place he held seven American data from the two,000m to the ten,000m.
At this time Prefontaine would have been 72, however his life was lower brief on Could 30, 1975, when he died in a automobile accident in Eugene, Ore. He was 24 at his dying.
Prefontaine competed within the 1972 Summer season Olympics in Munich and was making ready for the 1976 Olympics with the Oregon Monitor Membership on the time of his dying.
The American distance runner might be at all times remembered for his uncooked expertise, racing model, iconic moustache and motivational quotes.
Pre’s race ways had been typically daring, working exhausting from the gun as an alternative of getting a sit-and-kick mentality. That form of race mentality is clear in a few of his most memorable quotes, that are as follows:
“To present something lower than your greatest is to sacrifice the reward.”
“Lots of people run a race to see who’s quickest. I run to see who has probably the most guts, who can punish himself into an exhausting tempo, after which on the finish, punish himself much more.”
“Some folks create with phrases or with music or with a brush and paints. I prefer to make one thing stunning after I run. I prefer to make folks cease and say, ‘I’ve by no means seen anybody run like that earlier than.’ It’s greater than only a race, it’s a method. It’s doing one thing higher than anybody else. It’s being inventive.”
“Anyone could beat me, however they’re going to need to bleed to do it.”
“I don’t simply go on the market and run. I like to present folks watching one thing thrilling.”
After his dying, three films had been later launched based mostly on his storied profession: With out Limits, Prefontaine, and Hearth on the Monitor.
Comfortable 72nd Birthday Pre!
