Prefontaine - man or more?

While at the Olympic Trials we walked up to "Pre's rock", the spot where he met his untimely end May 30, 1975 - 34 plus years ago. It was apparent that Pre is still a big deal. A giant poster of Pre greeted those entering the trials. The book store had at least 3 Pre books front and center, at least one of which was new. Pre t-shirts were everywhere, including the famous Stop Pre shirt

http://www.stevepre.com/togo_clothing.html

along with a few "Stop Rupp" one offs. At the All comers track meet I won a "Stop Me" version.

Pre's rock is closer than I thought to Hayward field, not much more than 1 mile away in a quiet hilly curvy street neighborhood above the campus. We arrived to find a shrine bursting with memorabilia left by the pilgrims who'd come up like us to have a look.

http://www.yourrunning.com/picture-pres_rock_1

http://www.yourrunning.com/picture-pres_rock_2

Someone at the rock was making a documentary video, interviewing people about Pre and what he meant to them. People were moved to tears explaining their thing for Pre. One such girl was for sure younger than 34 years. Her Pre idea was born of legend, not of memory. Here's another pilgrim:

http://www.yourrunning.com/picture-pres_rock_3

What is it about Prefontaine that still grabs people so strongly? His life does make a great story, and it did end prematurely with unfinished business. Nonetheless, many great runners have come and gone since 1975, but Pre is still the big deal.

While in Eugene I felt it would be in very poor taste to say anything less than reverential about Prefontaine, especially while we were at the rock.

The same holds true in this post.

Go Pre!