Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it.
Interpretation
This quote expresses the idea of relentless determination and resilience in the face of competition.
Steve Prefontaine's quote emphasizes the importance of tenacity and the willingness to fight for success, suggesting that achieving victory over him will require significant effort and sacrifice from competitors. It reflects the mindset of giving one's all in pursuit of goals, not just accepting defeat but making sure that success comes at a cost to the challenger.
In practice
In a sports motivational speech to inspire athletes to give their best.
How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races? All my life people have been telling me, 'You're too small Pre', 'You're not fast enough Pre', 'Give up your foolish dream Steve'. But they forgot something, I HAVE TO WIN.
The AAU doesn't care about the athletes; why should I care about them?
The best pace is a suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die.
Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, 'I've never seen anyone run like that before.' It's more than just a race, it's a style. It's doing something better than anyone else. It's being creative.
This is my last year at Oregon, and it means a lot to me. The people have been great to me up there, so if I have to run three races to win the Pac-8 title, I'll do it. Oh, sure, I'll probably be tired, but the people shouting will carry me across the finish line.
World records at 19. I don't want that. Later, yes. And when it comes, I'll learn to live with it, but it won't be my first love.
Quit now? They'll have to cut the uniform off me. I'm going out for another 300. They couldn't be any harder to get than the first 300.
Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.
People need motivation to do anything. I don't think human beings learn anything without desperation.
Our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to succeed gloriously.
I do not believe that every person, in every walk of life, can succeed in spite of any handicap. That would be perfection. But I do believe that what I was able to attain came to be because we put behind us (no matter how slowly) the dogmas of the past: to discover the truth of today; and perhaps the greatness of tomorrow.
There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.
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