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TODAY’S TRAINING INSPIRATION:
STEVE PREFONTAINE

To the right today is a man who probably needs no introduction, in that he has inspired vast numbers of runners over the decades.

The balls-to-the-wall running philosophy of Steve Prefontaine inspired two movies, Without Limits and Prefontaine, with the legendary runner being portrayed by Billy Crudup and Jared Leto, respectively.

Prefontaine gave one of the most inspiring performances in Olympic history (and one of the world’s greatest examples of victory in defeat) when he finished fourth in the 5K at at the 1972 games in Munich.

Prefontaine opened up a lead for most of the final mile, going at 100% and breaking the wind for the field, before being overtaken in the final meters by the three eventual medalists in the event. He still finished the race in a phenomenal 13:28.25.

Tragically, Prefontaine died far too young, being taken by a car accident at the age of 24. He is honored in many ways, from Pre’s Rock, a memorial at the site of his fatal crash, to the annual Pre Classic track event.

Prefontaine held the American records for all track distances between 2K and 10K.

He may have summed up his philosophy toward training, competing and life best with the following quote: To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift.

ON TO TRAINING…

Anyway, today, I’m just going to hop back on the bike and let my running muscles continue to heal and recuperate. I’ve been guilty at times of pushing too hard, too often (at best, a Prefontaine-inspired mentality, but certainly without Olympic level results to show for it). I am going to try using a little wisdom and see how that works.

TODAY’S PERFORMANCE

10 Miles on Stationary Bike: 26:33

iPod songs during training (custom):
1. Europe – Cherokee
2. Nas and Puff Daddy – Hate Me Now
3. Steve Winwood – Higher Love
4. Jay Z and Foxy Brown – I’ll Be
5. 3 6 Mafia – It’s a Fight
6. Paul Stanley – Live to Win
7. Snoop Dogg – Lollipop

5K Run Time: 22:28

iPod songs during training (custom):
1. 2Pac – California Love
2. 50 Cent – Piggy Bank
3. A-ha – The Blue Sky
4. A-ha – I Dream Myself Alive
5. Ace of Base – Cruel Summer (Rap Remix)
6. Alien Ant Farm – Smooth Criminal
7. Beastie Boys – Right Right Now Now

TRAINING NOTE

Another improvement on the personal best for this particular element of the training. I guess I shouldn’t be overly thrilled that my bike speed and endurance are rising if it means my running is going to crap… But I’ll take it.

Later on, I decided to take it a little further with easing myself back into the 5K groove. Ten days ago, going 8.5 mph the whole way wouldn’t even have qualified as a slow day, but today — it was the best I was going to be able to manage. I felt like I was flirting with injury even going that fast for the duration. But once I start wussing out of 8.5 mph when I should be going 10, well, that’s a slippery slope toward walking the whole 5K. And I had tired my legs out a bit earlier with the bike ride, so…it is what it is.