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. Nobody is going to win a 5,000 meter race after running an easy 2 miles. Not with me. If I loose forcing the pace all the way, well, at least I can live with myself.

Steve Roland Prefontaine

Related Quotes

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 Roland Prefontaine

The only good race pace is suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die.

— Steve Roland Prefontaine

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

— Steve Roland 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, 'Your too small Pre', 'Your not fast enough Pre', 'Give up your foolish dream Steve'. But they forgot something, I HAVE TO WIN.

— Steve Roland Prefontaine

A lot of people run to see who's the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts.

— Steve Roland Prefontaine