Steve Roland “Pre” Prefontaine was an American long-distance runner who competed in the 1972 Olympics. While running for the Oregon Track Club, Prefontaine set American records at every distance from 2,000 to 10,000 meters, as he prepared for the 1976 Olympics. Profoundly inspirational Steve Prefontaine quotes will get you through anything when the going gets tough and help you succeed in every aspect of life.
Famous Steve Prefontaine Quotes
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
What I want is to be number one. Steve Prefontaine
To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift. Steve Prefontaine
Nobody likes tainted victories. Steve Prefontaine
The best pace is a suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die. Steve Prefontaine
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
Success isn’t how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started. Steve Prefontaine
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 at an exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more. 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
A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways they’re capable of understanding. Steve Prefontaine
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
I’m the one who has made all the sacrifices. Those are my American records, not the country’s. Steve Prefontaine
Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it. Steve Prefontaine
I have a positive mental attitude, and I think I’m divine, but I also think it takes a heck of a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. Steve Prefontaine
You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back. Steve Prefontaine
I don’t just go out there and run. I like to give people watching something exciting. Steve Prefontaine
If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Steve Prefontaine
It doesn’t feel that good when you’re ahead the whole way. Steve Prefontaine
I can endure more pain than anyone you’ve met. That’s why I win, because I can endure more pain. Steve Prefontaine
Success is not how far you’ve got, but the distance you traveled from where you started. 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
You have to give yourself more reasons to keep going than you could ever come up with to stop. In the end, the feeling of satisfaction that you will have will be worth it. Steve Prefontaine
Don’t let fatigue make a coward of you. Steve Prefontaine
Why shouldn’t I do what I want to do? I’m an American citizen. 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
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 leeches off the front, then I’ll always wonder, What if? Steve Prefontaine
What kind of crazy nut would spend two or three hours a day just running? Steve Prefontaine
American athletes, especially distance runners, are at a big disadvantage against the rest of the world. We’re expected to live by all the rules, like not being able to coach, but still train and make our own living. Steve Prefontaine
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
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
Something inside of me just said ‘Hey, wait a minute, I want to beat him,’ and I just took off. 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
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
People say I should be running for a gold medal for the old red, white, and blue, and all that bull, but it’s not gonna be that way. Steve Prefontaine
Don’t be afraid to give up the good for the great. Steve Prefontaine
If you can make money with your talents, why not? 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
Coos Bay is a sports minded town. You had to be an athlete to be somebody. Steve Prefontaine
A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways they’re capable of understanding. 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. 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
I decided that if I was going to continue on track, that I didn’t want to lose that I wasn’t going to lose. Steve Prefontaine
What I like most about track is the feeling I get after a good run. Steve Prefontaine
Something inside of me just said, Hey, wait a minute, I want to beat him,’ and I just took off. Steve Prefontaine
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? Steve Prefontaine
Did you ever run behind a slow pack? You get a trailing wind and a lot of body odor. Steve Prefontaine
I don’t care about being on television. Steve Prefontaine
If the Olympics come around, and I’m in shape, then I’ll compete, but I won’t be representing the United States. I’ll be representing myself. Steve Prefontaine
My philosophy is that I’m an artist. I perform art, not with a paintbrush 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
I don’t just go out there and run. I like to give people watching something exciting. Steve Prefontaine
No matter what you do, there is always more to it. You could be running, driving a bus, or answering phone calls, and there can still be a deeper meaning for why it matters. When you dig deep and find that meaning, it adds depth to your life. Steve Prefontaine
I’ve been in international competitions, 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
What does it prove, running in the AAU meet? Steve Prefontaine
Running gives me confidence. Steve Prefontaine
I knew I had to show everybody that I could excel at something, but I didn’t know what. 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
Having a true faith is the most difficult thing in the world. Many will try to take it from you. Steve Prefontaine
How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other, win races? Steve Prefontaine
You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back. Steve Prefontaine
What I want is to be number one. Steve Prefontaine
When you get to the point in a race or in life where you want to stop, you have to think about that goal that you want to achieve, and it will give you the strength to push a bit harder. 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
People often cheat themselves by giving less than their best. Talent will only take you so far, and by not providing a sincere effort, you are not taking advantage of the gift. 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
I guess you shouldn’t believe everything you hear. Steve Prefontaine
I run to see who has the most guts. Steve Prefontaine
When things get tough, you have to remember why you started putting in work in the first place. Steve Prefontaine
A race is a work of art. Steve Prefontaine
The marathon? Well, a former Oregon runner Ken Moore told me, ‘A runner isn’t a man until he runs it.’ So, I guess I won’t be a man for quite a while. Steve Prefontaine
I like to make something beautiful when I run it. It’s doing something better than anyone else. It’s being creative. Steve Prefontaine
I don’t want to win unless I know I’ve done my best, and the only way I know to do that is to run out front, flat out, until I have nothing left. Winning any other way is chicken shit.
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
The best way to live is when you are pushing yourself to the max.
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
No one will ever win a 5,000-meter by running an easy two miles. Not against me. Steve Prefontaine
To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.