Inspiration

aoa321

I'm always looking for inspiration, recently I "discovered" Steve Prefontaine ... he's a legend ... look him up, find out about him, and your next run will be easier ... there's loads out there about him, here's a youtube link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur-i_818atM

also, try to get a look at the way he runs the last couple of laps of the 1972 5K Olympic final, he talks the talk and walks the walk

"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."

I think he's a legend, inspirational !!

If you have any other athletics related material that inspires you please add it here.

mrsdewinter

Really interesting. Obviously a great character too.
Where are the rock star athletes?

aoa321

mrsdewinter,

cool guy wasn't he?

I'm really getting a gra for these old-school US distance runners - Billy Mills is another one worth looking up.

Clum

There were two films made about him not too long ago. Without Limits and Prefontaine. Without Limits is available in Europe on Region 2 dvd and is pretty good, staring Billy Crudup and Donald Sutherland. The other, Prefontaine is only available in Region 1 dvd so I haven't seen it but some folk say it's better than Without Limits. Stars Jared Leto.

Having gained endless inspiration from Without Limits I'd recommend it to anybody with problems or doubts when it comes to pushing themselves. Having said that, I'd also recommend it for the entertainment value...

thirtyfoot

Bowerman and The Men of Oregon by Kenny Moore is a good book. Its about Bill Bowerman and the batch of great athletes he had at Oregon. Pre was a legend and a shame he died so young.

I recently read Peter Snell's autobiography "no bugles, no drums". It was written just after he retired in the 60's. Was very interesting and crazy the type of training he did and how simple things seemed back then. He raced a lot in Santry and seemed to have a gra for Dublin.

louthandproud

Running is the classical road to self-consciousness, self-awareness and self-reliance. Independence is the outstanding characteristic of the runner. He learns the harsh reality of his physical and mental limitations when he runs.
-- Noel Carroll.

stepperupper

just downloaded and watched "prefontaine" 2day. nowhere near as good as without limits. chariots of fire is old school but still good. that music...

ZiggyStardust

Have a look at this it is fantastic, would make you feel bad when you have a lazy day. Video clip is at bottom.

http://cjcphoto.com/can/

irelandsown

ZiggyStardust wrote:

Have a look at this it is fantastic, would make you feel bad when you have a lazy day. Video clip is at bottom.

http://cjcphoto.com/can/

That is amazing. Great video. If I cant get my fat ass around the dublin city marathon this year after seeing that, then I should be shot.

aoa321

another prefontaine dedication, I love the music ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfB9V9nkrE4

aoa321

distance running compilation, many of the all time greats are featured on this one, stay with it to the end to see the last lap of the 1964 Olympic final - one of the most exciting finishes ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7A_QUlMbvY

aoa321

A short one for the milers amoung you ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a91Yfo9wOK4

aoa321

ANTHONY FAMIGLIETTI ... I never hear of him before i discovered this but I like the tag line at the end "why do I run? Maybe I'll never fully know the answer, but one thing I do know is, if I'm gonna run I'm gonna run like hell"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uu4ByVz0x0

Pherekydes

Thanks for the youtube links. Here's one back:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qthi7ZnNdAA

It's the 1975 race in which Filbert Bayi broke the world record. Marty Liquori is in it, and our own Eamonn Coghlan broke the European record (and what a great race he and Bayi ran). Well worth it! What a terrible disappointment Bayi was missing from the Montreal 1500m.