42+ Steve Prefontaine Quotes (Dedicated, Determined And Driven)

Steve Prefontaine was an American middle and long-distance runner who competed in the 1972 Olympics. He set American records in seven different distance track events and was known for his hard-charging, aggressive running style. Prefontaine was the first person to hold all American records from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters.

Top 10 Steve Prefontaine Quotes

1. The best pace is a suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die.
2. Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.
3. 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.
4. If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
5. What kind of crazy nut would spend two or three hours a day just running?
6. You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back.
7. Someone may beat me, but they're going to have to bleed to do it.
8. Every once in a while I think, 'What am I doing out here running, busting myself up? Life could be so much easier. The other guys are out having fun, doing other things, why not me?'
9. A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways as they're capable of understanding.
10. 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 Short Quotes

• Having a true faith is the most difficult thing in the world. Many will try to take it from you.
• I run to see who has the most guts.
• I don't just go out there and run. I like to give people watching something exciting.
• To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice The Gift.
• Something inside of me just said 'Hey, wait a minute, I want to beat him,' and I just took off.
• Running gives me confidence.
• How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races?
• A lot of people run a race to see who's the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts.
• No one will ever win a 5,000-meter by running an easy two miles. Not against me.
• What I like most about track is the feeling I get after a good run.

Steve Prefontaine Famous Quotes And Sayings

My philosophy is that I'm an artist. I perform an art not with a paint brush or a camera. I perform with bodily movement. Instead of exhibiting my art in a museum or a book or on canvas, I exhibit my art in front of the multitudes. — Steve Prefontaine

You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement. — Steve Prefontaine

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

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

When people go to a track meet, they're looking for something, a world record, something that hasn't been done before. You get all this magnetic energy, people focusing on one thing at the same time. I really get excited about it. It makes me want to compete even more. It makes it all worthwhile, all the hours of hard work. — Steve Prefontaine

If he's having a good day and running the right race, nobody can beat Frank Shorter at 10,000 meters... nobody except me. — Steve Prefontaine

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t be afraid to give up the good for the great. — Steve Prefontaine

Kids made fun of me because I was a slow learner, because I was hyperactive, because of a lot of things. Running gave me confidence. — Steve Prefontaine

A race is a work of art. — Steve Prefontaine

What I want is to be number one. — Steve Prefontaine

I can endure more pain then anyone you've met. That's why I win, because I can endure more pain. — Steve Prefontaine

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

Nobody likes tainted victories. — Steve Prefontaine

Don't let fatigue make a coward of you. — Steve Prefontaine

Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it. — Steve Prefontaine

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

Life Lessons by Steve Prefontaine

1. Steve Prefontaine taught us to never give up and to always strive to do our best, no matter the odds. He showed us that with hard work and dedication, we can achieve our goals.
2. He also showed us the importance of having a positive attitude and believing in ourselves, even when faced with adversity.
3. Finally, Prefontaine showed us that success is not measured by how many awards we win, but by how we use our talents and abilities to make a positive difference in the world.