Prefontaine 10K, 2000

‘ While working for Nike I found we would be at Global HQ in Oregon at the right time for the Steve Prefontaine Memorial 10K in his home town of Coos Bay. I and some colleagues took a 230-mile road trip to the race. The other guys were “proper” runners, taking first, third and fourth. I finished further back. The organiser heard we’d travelled specifically for the race and invited us home for a barbecue, where I chatted to Elfriede Prefontaine, Steve’s mum. With his look (relaxed, tanned and long-haired), his rebellion against the amateur system, his talent and his early demise, he had a rock star image and had been an idol of mine since childhood. His mum [who died in 2013] was a lovely lady. She was proud of her son and pleased his memory was living on.’