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I've been in international competition, and now I know what the big boys can do. You don't go out and just run. There's an offense and a defense.

Steve Prefontaine

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Steve Prefontaine
Age: 24 †
Born: 1951
Born: January 25
Died: 1975
Died: May 30
Athletics Competitor
Long-Distance Runner
Runner
Coos Bay
Oregon
Offense
Defense
Competition
International
Boys
Bigs
Running

More quotes by Steve Prefontaine

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Running gives me confidence.
Steve Prefontaine
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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.
Steve Prefontaine
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You said I was weak. You said I couldn't do it. Thank you. You gave me everything I needed to prove you wrong.
Steve Prefontaine
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Don’t be afraid to give up the good for the great.
Steve Prefontaine
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The idea of losing the three at Hayward Field and the idea of losing my specialty to someone who wasn't running his specialty. Mostly, the idea of losing in front of my people. They haven't forgotten about me.
Steve Prefontaine
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Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run
Steve Prefontaine
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What I want is to be number one.
Steve Prefontaine
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I'm going to work so that it's a pure guts race at the end, and if it is, I am the only one who can win it.
Steve Prefontaine
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I run to see who has the most guts.
Steve Prefontaine
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Nobody likes tainted victories.
Steve Prefontaine
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I like to make something beautiful when I run ... it's style. It's doing something better than anyone else. It's being creative.
Steve Prefontaine
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I don't just go out there and run. I like to give people watching something exciting.
Steve Prefontaine
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How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races?
Steve Prefontaine
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No matter how hard you train, Somebody will train harder. No matter how hard you run, Somebody will run harder. No matter how hard you want it, Somebody will want it more, I am Somebody.
Steve Prefontaine
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Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.
Steve Prefontaine
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As far as being a coach, it's always fascinated me. It's a greater responsibility than most people give it credit for because you're dealing with people.
Steve Prefontaine
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PRE. For your dedication and loyalty to your principles and beliefs. For your love,warmth and friendship. For your family and friends. You are missed by so many and you will never be forgotten.
Steve Prefontaine
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How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races? All my life people have been telling me, 'You're too small Pre', 'You're not fast enough Pre', 'Give up your foolish dream Steve'. But they forgot something, I HAVE TO WIN.
Steve Prefontaine
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Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, 'I've never seen anyone run like that before.' It's more than just a race, it's a style. It's doing something better than anyone else. It's being creative.
Steve Prefontaine
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You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back.
Steve Prefontaine