18 Bill Bowerman Quotes

Bill Bowerman quotes

1. 'God determines how fast you're going to run; I can help only with the mechanics.'

2. 'Several of my critics have said: 'Bowerman just tacks up a piece of paper in the locker room and turns his runners loose.' They're partially right. I do give the athletes a relatively free rein and for good reason. One of my principles is: Don't overcoach.''

3. 'I still bother with runners I call hamburgers. They're never going to run any record times. But they can fulfill their own potential.'

4. 'A teacher is never too smart to learn from his pupils. But while runners differ, basic principles never change. So it's a matter of fitting your current practices to fit the event and the individual. See, what's good for you might not be worth a darn for the next guy.'

5. 'I think people can handle 150 to 200 miles a week. But something has to give somewhere. If he's a student, how's he going to study? He may be at the age of chasing and courtship, and that's an important form of sport and recreation, too.'

6. 'If someone says, 'Hey, I ran 100 miles this week. How far did you run?' Ignore him! What the hell difference does it make? The magic is in the man, not the 100 miles.'

1. The idea that the harder you work, the better you're going to be is just garbage. The greatest improvement is made by the man or woman who works most intelligently.

2. Don't give anything away. Never make it easy for the guys you are trying to beat.

3. This killing of Israel athletes is an act of war. And if there's one place that war doesn't belong, it's here. 1200 years. From 776 B.C. to 393 A.D., your fellow Olympians laid down their arms to take part in these games. They understood there was more honor in out running a man than in killing him. I hope the competition will resume, and if it does, you must not think that running or throwing or jumping is frivelous. The games were once your fellow Olympians answer to war – competition, not conquest. Now, they must be your answer.

4. Now to explore the limits of the one competitor above everyone else you've always loved to face: Steve Prefontaine.

5. If at the end of a race you know yourself that you have done your best, you're a winner.

6. The magic is in the man, not the 100 miles.

7. Victory is in having done your best. If you've done your best, you've won.

8. God determines how fast you're going to run; I can only help with the mechanics.

9. The athlete makes himself, the coach doesn't make the athlete.

10. I still bother with runners I call hamburgers. They're never going to run any record times, but they can always fulfill their own potential.

11. There is no bad weather, just soft runners.

12. It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission.