Running Legend Steve Prefontaine

[@mychaelpierce8049]

I'm almost 58 and have been running over 37 years. It's the second most important thing I ever did for myself in my lifetime. It gets more difficult as I age. However, when I'm out running I think of Pre and his influence to thousands of people (runners), just like me and it keeps me pushing on! Pre is the most influential runner in American history. RIP Pre!

[@supersilverspacesean3372]

I just turned 40. I primarily strength train, but I'm in love with Pre's secret, which is to endure more pain than anyone. That's what inspires me. RIP Pre! >...and thank you for your comment. You must be sixty, and I look forward to reaching you age..thank you. You are an inspiration, as well.

[@supersilverspacesean3372]

BTW I run nowadays. I just started,.....and I 'm hooked. It's so spiritual

[@kevindean1327]

​@@supersilverspacesean3372 When I was a high school runner my hero was Henry Rono who's motto was, in training "to break the pain".

[@Bluesbabesrv]

Pre inspires many, not just runners.

[@jadedbrad]

Pre challenged the establishment in the sport. He brought Finns over here so Americans could run against the best. He was great in a number of different ways.

[@mottthehoople684]

Prefontaine ran every race like he knew he wouldn't lead a long life

[@rogermedina4155]

This man probably did more for the sport of running than anyone else. You will always be loved and missed Steve.

[@kevdean9967]

Bill Rogers was hugely influential in the late ,'70's too!!!

[@richardthegingerbo909]

Rodgers?

[@richardmilliken8705]

Bill Squires was the original coach for the GBTC (Greater Boston Track Club) with Bill Rodgers, Greg Meyers, Dick Beardsly, Alberto Salazar, Dick Mahoney, Randy Thomas, Dan Dillon, Hodgie, and Tom Fleming. Bill Bowerman was one of the early pioneers in the running boom on the west coast, going back to the 50s with Dellinger & Lydiard. Jim Ryun & Prefontaine & Lindgren & Mills dominated U.S Track & Field during the 60s & 70s. Pre was the Ali of distance running.

[@richardthegingerbo909]

@@richardmilliken8705 Billy Squier! Rock on! 🎸

[@jonheisinger9636]

What a tragedy! RIP Pre. You are missed terribly!

[@MegaTriumph1]

Pre set the world on fire with his running. Certainly a hero of mine.

[@TrappedInTheSauce]

What a legend he was

[@davidramirez4810]

My idol and inspiration as a teen. I still feel the pain of the loss.

[@pamelawhitehouse468]

VERY PROUD OF THIS GREAT RUNNER STEVE PREFONTAINE AND HE IS MISSED

[@floriotj]

Over forty years have passed since Pre's death and we still mourn.

[@richardthegingerbo909]

nah, some of us have gotten over it

[@jonheisinger9636]

Absolute tragedy losing Pre! RIP

[@DanielNowak-xj5oc]

Pre lives ❤ My favorite runner ever Steve you have inspired me to push past my limits . I have been a runner for 20 years now :)

[@flatearthvegans9446]

Love this video. I watch it every time I run on the treadmill. Love the music.

[@eyestungdustnblind]

there CAN be no bigger heart , no further GRASP ON COURAGE , nor no greater LOVE for the sport of running then STEVE PREFONTAINE .......HE WILL FOREVER LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO RUN AND GIVE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE FOR THE SPORT .... I SALUTE YOU !!! R.I.P..

[@jeffreykicia6534]

+eyestungdustnblind I met Steve Prefontaine and he was a very special athlete and human being. He had it all with his huge amount of talent and his ability to communicate with everyone he ever came in contact . You just wanted to be him and near him. His Aura was addictive!

[@mundrubjet]

You deserver more likes than you get...my brother...good on you...Ol Sarge...

[@karatewhoha1047]

*than Steve

[@gary1961]

@@netaprefontaine6910 In high school in 1973-75, I used to be a front-runner in the 1500 metres. With my long flowing hair and thin moustache, I was often likened to Steve Prefontaine by my athletics teachers. Some of my mates used to chant 'Pre, Pre, Pre,' as I ran past, which was unusual in England as we had David Bedford and Brendan Foster who runners used to aspire to. I was happy with the Pre chants though. In Montreal in 1976, I'm sure Steve would have been right in the mix for a medal, maybe even the gold. I'm sure once his athletics career was over, Steve would have become a very wealthy man as the first face of Nike sports. Whenever I don my Nike Waffle trainers to go for a run or to the gym, I often think of what might have been for Steve Prefontaine. God bless you and your family.

[@shapejustanormaltriangle7659]

Rest in peace brother ❤💪

[@jonheisinger9636]

Such a great loss. RIP Pre

[@carldavis9999]

RIP Steve.

[@markleland6337]

There is Nobody like Steve Prefontaine, Pre!

[@hoop1127]

When Pre first came on the sceen, I did not like him. I thought he was arrogant and was more of a fan of jim ryan and marty. But still there was just something about pre that captured me, he always backed up what he said. I graudally became a fan of his and huge supporter. RIP Steve and thanks for the great memories.

[@richardthegingerbo909]

Ryun?

[@hoop1127]

@@richardthegingerbo909 yes sorry for the typo, i watched him win the ncaa indoor championship at cobo hall Detroit mi.

[@richardthegingerbo909]

@@hoop1127 Nice!

[@roustabout4fun]

Keep at it!~ A? or where ever your passion is.... it's about Heart!

[@richardthegingerbo909]

the band Heart?

[@roustabout4fun]

@@richardthegingerbo909 Cardi0 Band with years of effort training his....Heart w competitive passion.

[@CaliforniaBoy7559]

Crazy that Jared Leto looks like pre... RIP legend. Your spark ended abruptly but your legacy continues.

[@northolympics3518]

He inspired me to get 17th in finals in 8th grade against high school in cross country high school state finals and gold medal for 110 m high hurdles for Wa state. Bless his strong heart!

[@travisjohnson7771]

"Pre's People" New documentary on Prefontaine focuses on his early years growing up in Coos Bay, OR. MOTIVATING!

[@andyharshman]

They played this song in Subway the other day and I thought to myself "Steve Prefontaine.."

[@numbers7n]

What a great testament to the human spirit he was.

[@rodneyallister9877]

Norther great man was Ron Hill RIP. I am now 80 years old veteran I was a club long distance runner I trained with Ron hill Wonderful days I ran for the club for 30 years long Distance Steeple chas 100 mile a week training sub 230 marathon 40 mile races lots off good runners out there I am Australian My hero was Herd Elite🎉

[@terryallen5328]

For those asking the song being played is called Madness by the group Muse.

[@roustabout4fun]

Effort! Do the most with what you have..The heart-the will to Compete. Hope you are still enjoying the passion of running! Keep the Gift ALIVE! Life does happen but we---you can get back on Track.

[@lipstickonapalin8360]

I was fortunate to have seen him race the 2 mile at the Sunkist Invite. I think 1974.

[@richardthegingerbo909]

Sunkist Invite? Orange you glad you went?

[@lipstickonapalin8360]

@@richardthegingerbo909 Oh my! Lego my eggo!

[@richardthegingerbo909]

@@lipstickonapalin8360 are you pullin' my leggo?

[@lipstickonapalin8360]

@@richardthegingerbo909 YES!

[@ctcv-to8kq]

Growing up in Eugene, Oregon got me the opportunity to see Pre race on a regular basis, the most memorable being the '72 Olympic Trials. I'll always remember the day my dad called me when I was in the Air Force in North Dakota (the end of the world) to tell me Pre died in a car accident in '75. Crappy day.

[@JOLROX]

GO PRE !

[@danlowery8749]

Great Video. Pre May not be remembered as being the greatest ever, but no one did more with less, or more for their sport in such a short time. Thank you for the post

[@runwithkyrstin2002]

i agree

[@js401]

Pure Balls .

[@rogermedina4155]

He really did popularized the sport of running. His aggressive running style of taking the lead made it so exciting.

[@Vegathlete]

Pre demonstrated the pure embodiment the running discipline.

[@UlloMark]

PRE = G.O.A.T.. forever

[@DanielPerez-hr8hp]

I was looking for inspiration and I found it! great video + music, I'm a Muse fan too haha

[@triatlonromania667]

Legend!

[@sunnydays5581]

Lasse Viren was the bench mark - asics tiger

[@josephhunter2346]

Pure guts. #gopre

[@runwithkyrstin2002]

For those that did not know this but Pre did beat Viren and beat him good in 1973 Top three finishing times, 5000m Leuven, Belgium, July 15, 1973: 1. Emiel Puttemans (Belgium) - 13:30.6 2. Pre (Oregon) - 13:35.2 3. Lasse Viren (Finland) - 14:09.2

[@UzbekWatermelon]

+runwithkyrstin2002 probably a bit tired after winning two golds.

[@runwithkyrstin2002]

blood doping, only wins at Olympics…when he blood doped. That race was in 73' and its 5,000m and 10,000m Viren ran….not Marathons. Recovery time is limited, he was not tired….he simply wasn't doping at these races. Look at any other races he ever ran outside world championships or Olympics!! He never placed better than usually 5th.

[@tonyrobson4681]

+runwithkyrstin2002 Prefontaine was not in the same class as Viren. Viren won when it mattered, at the Olympic Games. No, I am not a COMMIE. Tony Robson

[@runwithkyrstin2002]

Tony Robson you need to understand why….he won only when he was blood doping…..The Olympics

[@LambeauLeeeper]

Tony Robson cheaters

[@travisjohnson7771]

Pre's fascinating story all begins from his hometown of Coos Bay, OR. Check it out at www.prespeoplemovie.com or on Vimeo documentaries.

[@irinaarguello2869]

para mi fuiste mi inspiración para crear una escuela la cual hoy cuento con los mejores corredores de misiones

[@phinlenox4832]

Warrior! He makes me proud to be a duck

[@ipv1977]

классный бегун ... Steve Roland Prefontaine; 25 января 1951, Кус-Бэй Орегон, США - 30 мая 1975, Юджин, Орегон, США земля пухом

[@robertmiller8071]

I'm almost 58, and I don't even run for the bus !!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣😝😝😝😝

[@kevdean9967]

I first became aware of Nike at the 1978 common wealth games in Edmonton. I think Henry Rono turned a lot of people on to Nike. I know he did cause me to go out and buy my first Nike's

[@douglashagan6718]

evolution of sport

[@woodymarcum2023]

Love his story and who’s Sings this song. Such a sad ending after just starting. RIP PRE.

[@drewhendley]

🛑 Pre

[@DawsonTMiller]

His high school self reminds me of Drake Bell, haha

[@hgjfjgg9706]

es el mejor corredor de la historia a pesar de que le costó ganar cada triunfo

[@TrentMichaelLynds]

Where did you find the full length versions of the races in the video? Or is there even full length versions of each race?

[@runwithkyrstin2002]

Trent Lynds I just looked around and found them

[@robertricker4136]

I only run hard from the start until I have nothing left. Running any other way is just chicken shit

[@ripsumrall8018]

Have you watched this young lady run? Katelyn Tuohy kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmGZZpxoaL-ci9k Or Grace Ping? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zl7EoWyBq9iEsMU They don't need no stinking rabbits, they are the rabbits.

[@MrUfojunkiedavid]

Robert Ricker you're a fat shit that only runs to the bathroom

[@roustabout4fun]

Is Kyrstin still running? hope so....

[@raydagner8561]

So... the key to being a good runner is... having a great mustache 😆

[@gary1961]

It was the 1970s, mate, we all had one - even the men!!!

[@cesarcoelho7227]

For sure Viren was clean that day. 14"09. 👍

[@jrivera2006]

whats the name of the song

[@MrQueteimporta7]

Muse- madness

[@StunnedLimeHD]

What is the song being used?

[@runwithkyrstin2002]

Madness by Muse

[@nickleahy4210]

"Madness" by Muse

[@Sean-wj1wu]

little help with the first song please?

[@runwithkyrstin2002]

Sean Beck the song is "Madness" by Muse

[@Sean-wj1wu]

Thanks

[@MrQueteimporta7]

+Sean Beck muse-madness

[@Sean-wj1wu]

here I am 2 years later still getting pumped up to this...so awesome !

[@Sean-wj1wu]

and here I am in 2022 ... let's go !

[@erickelly4107]

Okay so this myth that Pre somehow didn't have the physique of a distance runner is laughable! The fact is Pre had an extremely well suited physique for distance running. He was 5ft 9.5inches tall and weighed 145lbs. The folks saying Pre was well suited to be a distance runner must have gotten that misinformation from "Without Limits". There's a scene were the actor playing Pre says something like "I'm not built like runner with one leg shorter than the other..." For one, that's just insecurity not fact. Also, pretty much everybody has one leg that is a tiny fraction of an inch shorter / longer than the other. Anyway, anybody who knows anything about running will assure you that Steve Prefontaine was indeed built like the great distance runner he was. Pre may have had other challenges but a physique not suited for distance running was most certainly not one of them.

[@peterfrknpan6674]

E M K Steve. Insecure. Not sure what you k ow about pre. Insecure is never a word that would be used about him. Any runner 5’9 wants to be taller. And thinner You sure you’re a runner ?

[@richardmilliken8705]

@@peterfrknpan6674 Seb Coe was 5'9" at 118lb in his prime (1:41.7/800m & 3:29/1500m) and his running form was poetry in motion. Coe had a lamborghini engine for his incredible kick, he was clocked at 11.1 in the last 100 meters of a 1500m. Jim Ryun was 6'2" at 160lb and he also had a tremendous kick; 49.7 last 400m, 36.5 last 300m, and 23.8 last 200m. I believe that Pre could've dropped 7lb and been a little quicker at 137lb. Bill Rodgers was built perfectly for a marathoner, he was 5'9.5" at 124lb and his inseam was 36" with a 26.5" waist. Boston Billy was all legs with a tiny chasis & must have been 4% bodyfat. I believe that Viren was 5'11" at 134lb. Salazar was 6'1" at 138lb. I was a middle-distance runner in H.S. & College and i was 6"1.5in at 146lb.

[@LambeauLeeeper]

Wth kinda stalker breathing intro was that?

[@ValenCarugo]

That breathing You can find in the end of his movie, Prefontaine of 1997.

[@richardthegingerbo909]

weird and creepy

[@condocord7544]

creepy

[@andrewmartinez6961]

i thought he ran a 13:23 ??

[@runwithkyrstin2002]

+Jennifer Martinez you might be mixing up 5000m time and 3 mile time for Pre

[@CarlosRodriguez-hb3vq]

Incredible life, but such a stupid way to die.

[@richardthegingerbo909]

agreed

[@nolanaljaddou7167]

People don't get this, but I subconsciously link Steve Prefontaine with John Nash - same thing. Notes on "Victory": It doesn't just smell like "Nepalm in the morning" . . . it also has a flavor. Per example - 1) I - Am in the winning position . . . there is none other. 2) The goal itself is the potential. 3) Second is nothing, only nothing . . . and nothing but nothing. The First Rule. Theory of Everything 1) KNOWING Got - it? Gott - "it". The Reason I Am Friedrich Nietzsche: "A man is his own god, in a polytheistic sense." Began on 10/16; completed in 2004. Undefined Term: Empty Set 2) LEARNING Ich - Wille? Iche - Will. The Reason I Am Schopenhauer: I Am - That I Am. Begun on 9/22; completed 2014. Undefined Result: Zero 3) BEING Why I Am "Beyond Feynman": 4D Quaternion-Minkowski Space - "Nothing" Finished on 2/14; started 2010. Undefinable Term: Zero-Dimensional Calabi-Yau Membrane 4) LASTING "Why I Am" Beyond Einstein: The Tensor Tensor - Everything Finished on 4/16; started in 2010. Undefinable Result: Naturalistic Completion Theoretical-Space 5) Sum: Schrodinger's Government [The "Oven"] Began [the Work of]: Max Planck; Jean-Jacques Rousseau Governing Treatises on the Solar System Academia.edu unomaha.academia.edu/NolanAljaddou 6) Summary: Unified Field Theory Finished: Derrida; Witten docs.google.com/document/d/1Ir_8ixFHNVoZneiXkBHD3rtN-FKs84ucS8gTqwGmn5Q/pub The "Grand Unified Theory" 7) My "E-Card" (Astrophysicist) docs.google.com/document/d/1B-L4CR9YcSRuyR1moL8yFwuuT6BZyH2mdYZ8VkHP8SM/pub 8) References Google (Plus); Nolan Aljaddou 9) Educational Materials www.zeitgeistmovie.com/ 10) Conclusion I Am. Are You? ? . - I am the most genius number theorist of all time. Computers can't do number theory. - - The "Mathematicorum-Aurea"

[@leolacasse6278]

it's too bad steve impressed others so much. young runners need not drink alcohol or burn themselves out when running. over exertion is the last thing a runner should allow in his sport. unless it is something other than running like football or boxing. they should see steve for what he was as it destroyed him. a talented, but pushy little man who drank too much. any drinking is bad for a runner or anyone else for that matter. if the kids are looking for someone to admire, they can still buy superman comicbooks.

[@saminieminen4871]

For you american track&field fans Prefontaine may be a legend but in Europe he sure is not. Only few even remember him. He was just a guy who was 4:th in Olympic Games. No victories at all in european races during those years. Someone was always better, Viren, Puttemans, Foster, Jipcho, Norpoth, Knut Kvalheim etc. And Prefontaine didn´t run any world records either, didn´t get even close.It´s sad that he died so young but anyway, to us europeans he is not a legend, and in the seventies, most of the best distance runners came from european countries, and the rest from Africa or New Zealand. When he died he was only 11:th in all time 5000m list, and 6:th in 10000m. Some sense of proportion, please

[@justinpelkey6722]

You realize Pre never went professional and was under the control of the AAU who wouldn't allow amateur runners compete internationally if it wasn't on their terms. Pre wasn't competing against the best because college athletics were a complete crap show in the United States in 1972. Unfortunately, Pre died before he had an opportunity to see the impact he had on college athletics and we didn't get to see him compete against the top international competition but a handful of times.

[@saminieminen4871]

@@justinpelkey6722 , yes he did. He ran in several races in Europe during years 1972-74 and never won. Maybe one race, if I am honest. As I said, he was not good enough to win. Too much talking about second class runner.

[@saminieminen4871]

I don´t understand why you americans keep talking about runner who was 4:th in Olympic Games, didn´t win any important, he wasn´t even close to world records and so on? Why? When I was eleven years old, I saw him running in Helsinki Olympic stadion. Emiel Puttemans started his kick and Prefontaine had no chance.

[@justinpelkey6722]

@@saminieminen4871 You asked why he is a legend nationally. He's a legend because at the time he died he had set every American record from the 2,000 meters to 10,000 meters. He died tragically before hitting the prime of his career and was at peak form the very day he died. He also brought a lot of national attention to a sport not recieving much love at the time. These are facts and explain why he was so loved and remains loved today. You don't appreciate him because he had no impact on your country which is cool but he had a lot of impact on my country and the sport he competed in. It's not that he's the best American runner ever, not even close, but he is one of, if not the most, beloved. There's no exact reason why, the way he competed, the voice he had on the sport, the heart he displayed at the Olympic games, the fact that he was lost way too soon, probably all contributing factors.

[@richardmilliken8705]

@@saminieminen4871 Pre won 2 international races at the 1972 Bislet Games and at the 1973 World games!

[@mahtivaari72]

Pre is a legend. But why?

[@runwithkyrstin2002]

To me he is a legend, because he didn't have all the talent in the world as well was not built like a distance runner but he had loads of heart and guts. That with a desire to win and never quit is what made him a legend to me.

[@mahtivaari72]

runwithkyrstin2002 Pre was only 21 years when he came 4th at Olympic 5000m final 1972. He lost the bronze medal just before the finish line and, to my mind, he gave up because he didn't win the race. In addition, he didn't have tactics like the winner Lasse Viren whom I, by the way, know personally. In my opinion, Pre was an exceptionally talented runner but he didn't win any big international race and, that's why, I don't consider him a legend.

[@runwithkyrstin2002]

mahtivaari72 don't get me wrong, I like Lasse Viren but his story is not even close to Pre's. Most Euro's were funded by the government back then with big money to win gold, Pre was a short, un-athletic kid that was in no ways build to be a distance runner. He basically lived off food stamps and worked a job on top of his training when Viren just trained 24/7 and was aloud to race against the best runners in the world. The AAU would not allow Pre to run against Viren or the better runners in Europe. If you knew these facts and understood them you would realize it wasn't Pre's choice not to ever race against Viren outside of the Olympics or he would have done it, and maybe beat Viren! Why did Viren not come to the Hayward field Finn sanctioned meet the night Pre died? IF you know Viren, maybe ask him why he never showed up? Maybe he would have lost because he wasn't blood dopping then as it was 1975 and too far out from the Olympics? Fact is you can't compare the Poor boy from Coos Bay that grew up on tough times and fought his way to be one of the best in the world at his age. Never had the assistance of his government for the top training and doctors to look after him. Long story, short! Pre never got to race him again after his death so you don't know what would have happened at the age of 25/26 for Pre. Also +mahtivaari72 he didn't give up on the Bronze……….He ran for Gold, its the only way he knew how to run, flat out and no other way, he ran to win the race and gave it his all. It just wasn't his race, not to mention it was too slow Viren won the 72' Olympics 5000m in 13:26.4 and Pre won the 72' trials in 13:22.8 Pre simply should have ran his race, not Virens style. More specifically, the United States' Steve Prefontaine gave Virén a handicap of over forty metres at the 1972 Olympics 5,000 metres, and Belgium's Emiel Puttemans gave Virén a handicap of about fifty metres at the 1972 Olympics 10,000 metres, by running many bends wide on the outer edge of the first lane or sometimes even on the second lane. This skillful practice of avoiding the running of extra metres in long-distance track races is called "bend (curve) mathematics". So Pre was young and still learning how to race, and he would have figured it out no doubt.

[@mahtivaari72]

runwithkyrstin2002 Lasse Viren grew up in big family in Myrskylä which is a small rural place in southern Finland. He never get any big amounts of money for his training. That's why, Viren had to continue his work as a police officer after two gold medals at 1972 Olympics. The best runners of 70s couldn't even dream about how much money today's best long-distance runners earn (diamond leagues, sponsors, start money). Nowadays, it is possible to be a fully professional long-distance runner but it was impossible during the time Pre and Viren competed. Finland was a poor country in 60s when Viren started to train running. He was a poor boy from countryside who came from nowhere to one of the best runners ever. It's very inspirational story but people do not know about it because there are no movies etc. about Viren.

[@runwithkyrstin2002]

mahtivaari72 Everyone knows Viren was not really a full-time police officer, he trained by being funded by the Finnish government. All Euro's from big countries got that luxury. Thats why Pre fought against the AAU living of peanuts in Oregon while Viren had the best given to him by his country….as well Viren blood doped like others from Europe.

[@DickHuitink]

H

[@thomasdematteo2281]

that group sounds like U2 does anyone know who they are and the song

[@user-sh5fi4pi3s]

酔っ払い運転で悲劇的最期のプレをコマーシャルボーイに仕立てるナイキはうざいね。

[@superruca]

the music makes this video awful.

[@runwithkyrstin2002]

+jenny r thats cool, I was 11 when I made this video… Its what was popular that summer. As well if you knew anything about Steve Prefontaine than you would understand the meaning of the song Madness! If you ever saw him run, or even think you had a chance of winning against him in the 5000m at Oregon, that is just plain madness. Also I am a distance runner and the amount of mental toughness you need, and the 7 days a week training…..Madness is the only thing that describes the dedication to be great!

[@superruca]

That's pretty genius to make this when you were 11.

[@The.Shiloh.Project]

+runwithkyrstin2002 Madness is the perfect song for what you created. I've become obsessed with my running. 1st 5k was 19:25... 1 year later it was 18:12... the end of that season was 17:17... pure madness is what this "obsession to go faster" is called by those on the outside looking in. Thank you for your creative/indescribably powerful video:)

[@Sean-wj1wu]

I agree completely ... I go to this video over and over again ... the song is the best match...this jenny r knows very little about passion for running...

[@Japanese_moped_guy]

You look awful haha

[@user-yk1cw8im4h]

fucking hell... why is the whole video in slow mo, he's supposed to be fast!!!!!!

[@d.u.u1448]

Hes on roids

[@LucilleMilo]

most overrated american racer of all time. the dude had no idea to actually "race" guys like lasse viren would beat him 100 out of 100.

[@johnrussell2848]

What a waste Don’t drink and drive kids

[@ekam6705]

When mind and body stops heart runs and wins you