Chapter 3 Summary and Analysis

Various people recall Pre's charisma. There was a magnetism about Pre that many found irresistible, and some described as cocky or prideful. He became a celebrity at the University and hated it, not because of the notoriety but because people felt they could not approach him or disagree with him. Pre was very talkative and outspoken, especially about the plight of amateur athletes such as himself, who were forced to struggle financially due to their inability to get paid for their performances or take endorsements. Despite the celebrity, Pre lived his daily life like many other poor amateur athletes, taking a beat-up old car to school, living in a small trailer home with a roommate, and doing odd jobs to make ends meet.

The 1972 season featured a classically Prefontaine race that many of his fans call "The Race Pre Should Have...