Although he passed away over 30 years ago, Steve "Pre" Prefontaine remains one of the most beloved, and greatest, long distance runners America has ever known. The diminutive runner from Coos Bay, Oregon at one point held every American track & field record from the 2,000 to the 10,000 meters. Pre was a notorious "front runner" who thought races more like art work "...that people can look at and be affected in as many ways as they're capable of understanding." Though he didn't win every race he ever entered, he made sure that the others had earned their medal.
"A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more. Nobody is going to win a 5,000 meter race after running an easy 2 miles. Not with me. If I lose forcing the pace all the way, well, at least I can live with myself."
Channeling the Mentality?
Every single time I have had the opportunity to correspond with our friend, Liz Hatch (Vanderkitten) or see a race photo of her at the head of the race, I always have a grin on my face thinking that Liz is somehow channeling Pre's personality. Take for instance her last race at Patterson Pass, Liz's response to blowing up on the final time going up the pass, "I just HATE sitting in the pack. and you never know... sometimes it works out. I'd rather die trying than sit in."
This may seem blasphemous to the running community but with Liz's mentality accompanied with her unbridled potential, her accomplishments may just one day rival Pre's; Liz "Pre" Hatch?
Go PRE!!!
Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em.
ReplyDeleteyou said it dave...ha
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