Steve Prefontaine

“It's hard to run a mile when you're not a miler and to kick when you've led all the way.”

“Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it.”

“This is my last year at Oregon, and it means a lot to me. The people have been great to me up there, so if I have to run three races to win the Pac-8 title, I'll do it. Oh, sure, I'll probably be tired, but the people shouting will carry me across the finish line.”

“I don't just go out there and run. I like to give people watching something exciting.”

“If I lose forcing the pace all the way, well, at least I can live with myself. But if it's a slow pace, and I get beaten by a kicker who leaches off the front, then I'll always wonder, 'What if...?'”

“I knew I had to show everybody that I could excel at something. But I didn't know what.”

“For me, running against the Poles and Czechs would be like running against high school kids. And I hate all this gung-ho, run-for-the-red-white-and-blue attitude that the AAU spouts. If that's important to some people, fine, more power to 'em. But, damn it, I wish they'd leave me alone to do what I want to do - run against the best.”