An old running buddy -- who still runs, unlike me -- sent me this cover from Runner's World the other day. The picture has stayed with me at odd moments all week.
http://stevepre.com/talk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/runnersworld_dec_09_prefont.jpgAlmost 35 years after his death, Steve Prefontaine still inspires.
How about this one? It's a Nike commercial. You probably won't recognize the narrator's voice, figuring him to be one of those paid voiceover people. In fact it is Nike honcho Phil Knight.
http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=9171(For some reason I remember another phrase from that ad -- "a man who ran like fire every day" -- which is not in the clip. Maybe there was more than one version?)
More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_PrefontaineThose of you who know our old pal Whil Hentzen know he was/is a very serious runner. He has run marathons in the 2:30's or maybe even 2:20's, which only a sliver of the human population has done. He has also coached elite female distance runners. Whil told me once that he was in high school when the news of Pre's death arrived. He said he and his cross country teammates got together and went out for as long and hard a run as they could stand, saying hardly a word.
There is a pretty decent movie about Pre's life, starring Billy Crudup in a credible impersonation. Worth watching IMO even if you don't happen to be a runner.
