That fire must have been huge inside of him. You can see it in his face even when he won, he still wanted to do better. That bit him a little in that 5000 in 72 olympics. He couldn't help himself but to be right in the middle of that fight. I truly think he is not only one of the all time greats in running, but also an all time great athlete period. I wish we could have seen what he was going to do :(
That's a great run on a smaller track by a guy who was a longer distance specialist. It gives you an idea of how great Pre was that he could beat a guy like Liquori by running a whole race from the front and then still outsprinting him convincingly like that. Very impressive.
Back in the early 70's was when I was just starting my running career. All of those I ran with just thought that Pre was the absolute greatest runner of the time. It's too bad he wasn't around long enough to prove all of us correct. His unfortunate demise cut off the years that would have been the pinnacle of his career. No one will ever know just what he was capable of accomplishing. As for myself, I kind of adopted his running style, run hard at the beginning, and just keep on pressing the pace, running the last half of a race faster than the first. Was I any good. Nope! I was a slogger (never broke 5 minutes for a mile), but that doesn't mean I couldn't apply Pre's running theory to my own
Though I was a 400 metre specialist in school, I could run 52 seconds aged 14, over here in England, everyone was hot on David Bedford. But I always preferred Prefontaine even though he was an American. I so wanted him to win the 1972 Munich Olympic 5000 metres and was gutted when Great Britain's Ian Stewart passed him on the line to snatch the bronze medal. During those days, I had the long hair, moustache, and sideburns and would often be called 'Prefontaine' as I was a similar build and running style to Pre.
Back in those days you could do that but unfortunately not today at least not in the 1500m and up 800 yes. He was special one of a kind, USA track needs someone like him
Scott Johnson 160, actually: they were running on a 160-yard (147-meter) track, which was common in the days when big indoor track meets were held in basketball/hockey arenas. The mile was 11 laps of that track, compared to the 8 laps on the 200-meter tracks of modern venues. More laps equals more turns, which means slower race times.
Now THAT is what you call talent. 110% every time. None of this "tactical" running stuff to see who can win the last 200m. Prefontaine was the definition of a spirited and talented runner.
Of course, this was back in the days when most indoor tracks were 11 laps to the mile due ot the fact that for the most part the meets were held in basketball arenas. Also, due to the various lengths of the tracks the IAAF refused to recognize indoor records until the tracks were the standard 200 meters.
I actually ran alongside Marty back in 1971, NJ State HS championships, at the Jersey City Armory he was just doing some training and between races everybody would go on the track and get/keep warmed up...Marty ran by me (just jogging easily) so I put it into overdrive (100 yard sprint speed) and within 2 minutes he lapped me
so honest with a sense of humor, forget running, a great loss as a person.
What a kick at the end!! Was not expecting that. Awesome.
That fire must have been huge inside of him. You can see it in his face even when he won, he still wanted to do better. That bit him a little in that 5000 in 72 olympics. He couldn't help himself but to be right in the middle of that fight. I truly think he is not only one of the all time greats in running, but also an all time great athlete period. I wish we could have seen what he was going to do :(
The best
You and me both. I cried when died. Check out a poem ' Ode to an. Athlete dying young' Break your heart.
Pre had a lot of charisma, like the Bobby Fischer of track back then.
The actor who played pre in without limits looks and sounds just like pre
Yes he does. See also Pre another movie released at the same time
Ya he does
@@scotthenderson85 That other movie wasn't nearly as good.
Both movies cast well, billy crudup in without limits nails the pre talks and sounds
@@scotthenderson85Prefontaine was a shitty movie. Without Limits and Fire on the Track are amazing though.
Man,They broke the mold with Pre...never be another like him.
Coach changed him. This man knew what he was doing at every lap. Amazing
That's a great run on a smaller track by a guy who was a longer distance specialist. It gives you an idea of how great Pre was that he could beat a guy like Liquori by running a whole race from the front and then still outsprinting him convincingly like that. Very impressive.
Back in the early 70's was when I was just starting my running career. All of those I ran with just thought that Pre was the absolute greatest runner of the time. It's too bad he wasn't around long enough to prove all of us correct. His unfortunate demise cut off the years that would have been the pinnacle of his career. No one will ever know just what he was capable of accomplishing.
As for myself, I kind of adopted his running style, run hard at the beginning, and just keep on pressing the pace, running the last half of a race faster than the first. Was I any good. Nope! I was a slogger (never broke 5 minutes for a mile), but that doesn't mean I couldn't apply Pre's running theory to my own
Though I was a 400 metre specialist in school, I could run 52 seconds aged 14, over here in England, everyone was hot on David Bedford. But I always preferred Prefontaine even though he was an American. I so wanted him to win the 1972 Munich Olympic 5000 metres and was gutted when Great Britain's Ian Stewart passed him on the line to snatch the bronze medal.
During those days, I had the long hair, moustache, and sideburns and would often be called 'Prefontaine' as I was a similar build and running style to Pre.
I was at that track meet. There was a reason Prefontaine was nicknamed 'Chairman of the Boards.' I believe he won another, longer race that night.
What an athlete. He outclassed an incredible field.
Back in those days you could do that but unfortunately not today at least not in the 1500m and up 800 yes. He was special one of a kind, USA track needs someone like him
Christ almighty! Wish he'd have won an Olympic medal!
Those were the days i wish races. i seen this about 10 times and it's always something new
Pre. Nobody like him. RIP STEVE PREFONTAINE!
Pleasure to watch this man fly!
I can die a happy man knowing I saw his races
The mile? Indoor track? Leading the whole time? Prefontaine said bring it all on. Pre gave zerofucks.
Fr. No other runner has the balls Pre had
Holy shit right?? Leading from the first lap until the last!
*EPIC*
He always liked to be in the front
a 3:59 on a 150 track? Look at the fire in his eyes. He wasn't afraid of anything.
I don't know track and field, explain the significance of the 150 track.
Scott Johnson 160, actually: they were running on a 160-yard (147-meter) track, which was common in the days when big indoor track meets were held in basketball/hockey arenas. The mile was 11 laps of that track, compared to the 8 laps on the 200-meter tracks of modern venues. More laps equals more turns, which means slower race times.
more turns and tighter (smaller radius) turns
Amen
Driving for the finish in a tough hard race. That's how he defined himself.
Now THAT is what you call talent. 110% every time. None of this "tactical" running stuff to see who can win the last 200m. Prefontaine was the definition of a spirited and talented runner.
Guts Guts Guts!!!
Pre was the one using tactics, start fast, push the pace, empty the other guys gas tanks knowing he has more. Truly superior, there were faster guys.
what a fabulous guy!
Absolutely!
Steve went flat out, balls to the walls.
A short man who stood 10 Feet Tall!!! All heart and guts and grit! Toughest runner EVER!
My man
in the bar too!
Of course, this was back in the days when most indoor tracks were 11 laps to the mile due ot the fact that for the most part the meets were held in basketball arenas. Also, due to the various lengths of the tracks the IAAF refused to recognize indoor records until the tracks were the standard 200 meters.
Oh
Now that is front running
Back in the day
We all knew about “PRE”
A running hero!
Great race lots of talent.
His heart is the size of that track..
And his guts!
Tactic failed in the 1972 Munich 1500 final....poor Steve...seemed like a great man!
Marty Liquori was a great miler. To not get out kicked by Liquori was a great accomplishment.
"Pre's People" New Prefontaine documentary inspiring!
PRE! thanks for the great video.
I actually ran alongside Marty back in 1971, NJ State HS championships, at the Jersey City Armory he was just doing some training and between races everybody would go on the track and get/keep warmed up...Marty ran by me (just jogging easily) so I put it into overdrive (100 yard sprint speed) and within 2 minutes he lapped me
Sub 4 on his own 🤗 rest in peace
That ever so slightly increasing pace, sapping the kick out of those last lap heroes.
Danm, it’s like Pre was racing someone even faster than himself on those final laps.
Good
Pre didnt care who was in the race, he just dared you to trey and beat him.
If he was a football player he'd be Marshawn Lynch! And vice versa
Pre Lives!
LOL He punished them!! They had nothing for him last two laps they tried but they were dead legged ....
Yep, he slowly cranked up the speed the whole race. That final two laps, his top end speed looked amazing.
Prefontaine ran like he was being chased by wolves.
NZ John Walker ran the same way-guts and power!
What a great race ! Now if we can just see some Jack in the Box indoor track meet (San Diego) mile race footage, that would be great !
Humble guy
Fiesty guy!
LA
used to be an indoor track hub
Those turns are murder.
At 3:56 *AFTERBURNERS* kick in :)
e, out
Wow!
"But he will need to keep up a pretty nifty pace." 0:54
That sounds like Adrian Metcalf
Who were the others competitors?
Marty Liquori was the one who made it interesting.
Schwen, Lorenz, Eno, Byrne, Hobbs, Hagar, Awdetat, and Westmark
Peter snell
Sub 4 on a tight track probably only 160 yards.
lol
That’s a small track
Liquori...lol
STOP PRE