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 lose forcing the pace all the way, well, at least I can live with myself.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The runner prioritizes guts and self-punishment over winning, believing an easy pace guarantees loss.
- In plain terms
- I run to test my courage and push myself to the limit, even if I lose.
- What can you take from it?
- Prioritize effort and courage over winning to maintain self-respect.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is winning less important than giving your all?
- How do you measure your own success?
Another view
Winning often matters more than how you ran.
More from 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.
Permalink to quote #2 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 e…
Permalink to quote #3 I don't just go out there and run. I like to give people watching something exciting.
Permalink to quote #4
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