Don's Diary

‘They’re Waiting for Me to Die’: A 72-Year-Old Runner Will Not Let This Race Go

Oregon Running Legend Steve Prefontaine

By Paul Clerici, The History Press, 144 pages.

A review by Don McLean

Yes, another Pre opus, and a good one. The book offers details about Prefontaine we devotees never knew. Excellent forwards are included by Bill Dellinger and Pat Tyson, Pre’s trailer roomie and UO teammate. Now 48 years since Pre’s demise, Eugene, Coos Bay, and its sister city, Choshi, Japan have updated and enhanced memorials to Pre. Because Pre was so bold, successful, and compelling, and because his early death was so reckless and sad, we grieve for him still.

Books read in July. Five favorites with astericks.

Do No Harm by Henry Marsh*
Lamentations Of The Father by Ian Frazier
Strong by Kara Goucher
Oregon Running Legend Steve Prefontaine by Paul C. Clerici
A Walk Toward Oregon by Alvin M. Josephy, Jr.
Quite Enough Of Calvin Trillin by Calvin Trillin
The Gift Of Anger: And Other Lessons From My Grandfather by Arun Gandhi*
Messages From My Father by Calvin Trillin
Run To Overcome by Meb Keflezighi*
The Legends of the American Desert by Alex Shoumatoff
The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy*
The Girls Who Stepped Out Of Line by General Mari K. Eder (Retired)
Recitatif by Toni Morrison
High Performance Training for Track and Field by William J. Bowerman
To Hell On A Fast Horse by Mark Lee Gardner
Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion
Meb For Mortals by Meb Keflezighi
Running is Flying by Paul E. Richardson
Riverman: An American Odyssey by Ben McGrath
Christopher Hitchens: The Last Interview and Other Conversations*
A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains by Isabella L. Bird

Malcolm Gladwell’s A Modest Proposal.

He’s right, high school cross country is tons of fun. But his scoring proposal is goofy, not gonna happen. The focus should be on mass participation. The best teams are huge, a hundred kids. Just get ’em out running. For most, it’s their last chance to be involved in a marvelous, compelling, hopefully life-long activity. Having JV and freshman races help develop the competitive spirit.

Watch The Long Green Line.

Video: Handle Hard Better

United States won 33 medals at their home championships, more than the next three nations (Ethiopia, Jamaica and Kenya) combined. …Photos.

Fun story on shoe companies renovating/taking over UO frat houses during the World Athletic Championships. ….Here

There is a special NYT newsletter on running sent every Saturday. Sign up for it if you can. I’m no longer a NYT subscriber, but I still get the newsletter. Good stuff.

Another good one from Cathal Dennehy on Ryan Crouser

The Beautiful Mystique of the Hayward Field Tower Definitely on the to-do list. Like Don, I’m sure there were thousands of others who wanted in during the Monday night session .

Must see. On You Tube. Race video of the finals of the men’s 400 meters and 400 hurdles. …And while there, check out the women’s and men’s 200 meter prelims on Monday. Our seats immediately next to the start, in full sun, in full sun. Very close to the runners, about 15 yards.

Cathal Dennehy, Irish sportswriter, on Pre fix.

About the World Athletic Champs. We were there last night. In our $95 per seats. Packed house. Smart, friendly, courteous crowd, volunteers and administrators. A compelling, memorable three hours. Loved it all. …Why aren’t you here?