Pre’s Trail, Prefontaine’s Rock and more

I arrived on Friday and had to go to Autzen Stadium to get my media credentials. On the way to the stadium I saw a sign for the Pre’s Trail. I knew I was in Eugene.

After getting my credentials and getting a ride close to my residence hall, the Learning Life Center south (LLC) I was ready to check in. The LLC is right across the street from Hayward Field. Because of security reasons the closest my driver could get was a few blocks away. The dorm I am staying in houses a lot of media and the LLC North is for athletes. Our dorms were just opened this school year. I got checked in and had time to do a few things before heading to the first day of competition.

On Saturday I got up and decided to run over to Pre’s Trail. All I had to do was head out my dorm, go two blocks cross Franklin Street and find the bike trail (there are bike trail all over Eugene - for a list and discription go - http://www.eugenerunningcompany.com/home/erc1/smartlist_22/r...) and the bike trail bridge took you over the Willamette River and you came to many fork along the bike trail and then you came upon a trail of red chipped mulch and I was on part of the just over 4 mile Pre’s Trails. The trail loops thru the woods and if you bear right it take you to Autzen Stadium. This is the route many students take to get to the football games. I then turned right and ran the smaller loop of Pre’s Trail and decided to head back to the dorm. The trail is well groomed and thick much is packed down and very comfortable and relaxing to run on. You can tell the runners who were on the Pre’s Trail as red dust from the mulch covers their socks and shoes.

After showering I decided to take my camera and take the shuttle back to Autzen to get a picture of the sign for Pre’s Trail. I hope to post those pictures along with other on the RUNOHIO web site www.runohio.com later. One picture of the Pre’s Trail sign and the Prefontaine Rock is now posted.

After taking the shuttle back to the track, it was time to hike up to Pre’s Rock, the site of Steve Prefontaine car accident which ended his life. Walking down 17th Street I asked someone how to get to Pre’s Rock and they pointed me in the right directions and then there official and unofficial signs helping direct people to the “Rock”. As I was walking up the steep hill a lady ran past me and asked if I was going to Pre’s Rock and I said I was. I asked her if she lived up and the hill and she responded she did. I asked her how much further to the rock and she said at the stop sign take a right and the rock is just around the corner. She asked if I was going to leave a memento. I said how about the shirt of my back (RUNOHIO – Eugene 2008) and she responded that would be great. Luckily, I had another shirt in my bag to put on. As I approached Pre’s Rock a steady stream of runners had run, walked or driven to see Pre’s Rock. Almost everyone took a picture of Prefornatine’s Rock and the Memorial. I left my shirt, took a few pictures and headed back down the hill. The view from the top of the hill was amazing as your could see all the way to Autzen Stadium and down the Willamette River. I plan to post those pictures alter as well.

Then it was back to the LLC and cleaned up before heading to the track for the second day of the Trials.

On Sunday and today I headed back to run on the Prefontaine Trails. There are hundreds of people every hour running or walking on the Trail. The first day I ran by the Ohio State runners, Jeff See, Brian Olinger and Rob Myers. Saturday, I ran by Michael Johnson. Today I ran into two people from Granville, Ohio (where I live), Jim and Juris Cooper. My brother Jeff is flying in today and I am sure he and I will be back on the Pre’s Trail Tuesday and the rest of the week.

Below is some information from various web sites on Steve Prefontaine, Pre’s Trail and the Pre’s Rock

RUNOHIO's Book Review - A Closer Look at: Pre: The Story of America's Greatest Running Legend - http://www.runohio.com/archive/news/05-06-book-review.html
More RUNOHIO book reviews - http://www.runohio.com/read_new/runohio-book-review

Form the University of Oregon web site:
http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?PRINTABLE_PAGE=YES&S...

Steve Prefontaine owned every (8) American record between 2,000 and 10,000 meters and between two miles and six miles. He also held eight collegiate records while at Oregon, with his three-mile (12:53.4) and six-mile (27:09.4) still standing. During his career, he broke his own or other American records 14 different times, broke the four-minute barrier nine times, ran 25 two-mile races under 8:40 and 10 5K races faster than 13:30.

From the USATF web site - http://www.usatf.org/HallOfFame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=130

Steve Prefontaine was a major reason that Eugene, Oregon, became the unofficial running capital of the U.S. One of the University of Oregon's greatest athletes, Prefontaine was better known as "Pre" to the crowds that chanted his name as he ran. While at Oregon, he won six national collegiate distance titles, including cross country, under Hall of Fame coaches Bill Bowerman and Bill Dellinger. He also won two AAU crowns and set 15 American records at every distance from two miles through 10,000 meters. He was also an outstanding distance runner at Marshfield High School in Coos Bay and some of his high school records still stand. In all, he won 119 of 151 outdoor track races, including his high school performances. Even his rare losses were run with flair and determination. One of the most memorable of them was the 5000m final at the 1972 Olympics, where 21-year-old Prefontaine boldly took the lead with four laps to go and pushed the pace, only to lose a medal in the final strides of the race. Three years later, a fatal automobile accident cut short his career.

Records Held
American Record: 2 mi. - 8:18 (July 18, 1974 - )
American Record: 3 mi. - 12:51 (June 8, 1974 - )
American Record: 5,000 m - 13:21.87 (June 26, 1974 - )
American Record: 10,000 m - 27:43.60 (April 27, 1974 - )

From the official Prefontaine web site
http://www.prefontainerun.com

During his brief 24-year life-span, Steve Prefontaine grew from hometown hero, to record-setting college phenomenon, to internationally acclaimed track star. In a similar span of years since his death in 1975, Pre has become the stuff of enduring legend.
His rare combination of talent, discipline, determination, and star-quality with a human touch made Pre the idol of those he called "his people" — the devoted fans who came to watch him run and entered into the performance with roars of encouragement, "Go Pre!"

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift."--Steve Prefontaine

From the Lane county web site –
http://www.visitlanecounty.org/static/index.cfm?contentID=28...

Steve Prefontaine was born in Coos Bay, on the Oregon Coast, January 25, 1951. As a senior at Marshfield High School, he broke the two-mile American record. He signed on with the University of Oregon in 1969. At Oregon, he won seven NCAA titles, including 3-mile titles all four years. Although he was offered a six-figure contract to compete professionally, he chose to remain at the U of O in Eugene, running as an amateur.

Prefontaine's profound effect was evident off the track. He volunteered his time at a local junior high school and at the Oregon State Penitentiary, where he began a running club for the inmates.

During his 24-year lifetime, Pre set the bar high for future runners. He accumulated eleven U.S. indoor and outdoor track records along with nine sub-4-minute miles. Best remembered as a running prodigy, Steve Prefontaine prevailed as a long-distance runner and went on to finish fourth in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany.

Tragically killed in a car accident in 1975, many people continue to honor him by visiting his memorial "Pre's Rock" located at the site of the crash near the intersection of Birch and Skyline Boulevard in Eugene.

Pre's Trail winds through Eugene's Alton Baker Park located east of the Ferry Street Bridge. The bark covered trail can be accessed through the park located off Martin Luther King Boulevard near Autzen Stadium. The trail is also accessible via two footbridges: the Autzen Footbridge or the Knickerbocker Footbridge

Pre’s Rock from various web sites..

Pre's Rock is a memorial at the site of the roadside boulder where Prefontaine died. It is located on one of the hill's "blind" curves which resulted in Pre's fatal car accident. It is not uncommon for runners inspired by Prefontaine to leave behind memorabilia to honor Pre's memory and continued influence, such as race numbers, medals, running shoes, etc. Pre's Rock was dedicated in December 1997 and is maintained by Eugene Parks and Recreation as Prefontaine Memorial Park. The rock is just across the Willamette River from the east end of Pre's Trail, the memorial features a plaque with a picture of Prefontaine that reads:

For your dedication and loyalty
To your principles and beliefs...
For your love, warmth, and friendship
For your family and friends...
You are missed by so many
And you will never be forgotten...