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| Steve Bence: 1971 Zaragoza HS, Spain Senior Year (left) ... 1972 UO Freshman Year (right) |
Below is a short story, including workouts, of how I went from a 1:55 high school half-miler to a 1:47.7 all-American during my UO freshman year.
GETTING TO OREGON
Moving from Spain to Oregon was a difficult path. As a High School senior in Spain I had to find a US college who would allow me to run on their track team.
I wrote to many college track coaches including Ohio State, Kansas State, and USC. The most discouraging reply was a very candid response from USC. I was told that my 1:55 time might be very good in Spain, in fact it was a European record, but my high school 800 meter time was "a dime a dozen" in Southern California and in order to be nationally competitive they had to be very selective who they allowed on their track team. I was denied.
I learned that Bowerman had a very generous walk-on policy at Oregon. He stressed that we were attending college for an education, which should be top priority, but if we thought that we might be good enough to make the team we were allowed to train with the varsity runners and find out. So over the summer I was accepted as a student at Oregon and I was a walk-on student-athlete.
PREFONTAINE
23. With the Great Race trophy on May 29, 1975. Left to right: Matt Centrowitz, Steve Bence, Pre, Mark Feig. We were at Pre's house relaxing before going to the evening meet mentioned below.
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| Steve Bence and Steve Prefontaine. May 29, 1975 |
OVER MY HEAD?
I had a few wake-calls which made me question if Oregon was too big a leap.
The first came at an Oregon cross country 6-mile time trial in late September. Our 1971 cross country team would go on to win the NCAA team title with Prefontaine the individual champion. Dellinger wanted me, as a freshman middle distance runner, to run with the team and said that I should only run the first 3 miles. Great! I thought I'd run with the leaders and drop out at the half-way point. My best 1500 meter time in high school was 4:17 which equated to about a 4:35 mile. I ran with the leaders which included Prefontaine. After a relatively easy first half mile I found myself having to push in order to keep up. We went by the first mile in about 4:50 which was only 15 seconds off my personal best. I couldn't believe how fast they were going. They ended up finishing in 30:17 which was an average 5:03 pace. I dropped out at 3 miles in 16:20, a 5:25 pace, totally spent. I had no idea what I was getting into and questioned if I belonged on this team.
Another wake-up call, or perhaps call it a challenge, was in March 1972, just before the start of my freshman track season. The Eugene Register Guard published a depth chart at each distance. It listed all the UO runners who could run the half-mile and of the nine runners, I was #9 with my 1:55.2 high school lifetime best. After six months of UO training, I was going to change that.
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| 1972 880-Yard Depth Chart |
OREGON WORKOUTS: 6 MONTHS
My formal workouts at Oregon during my freshman year was only 6 months … from 9/21/71 until my first outdoor race on 3/18/72.
The biggest lesson that I learned was consistency. Each individual workout wasn't all that hard, in fact the hardest workouts were the most exhilarating, but getting started was often the most difficult. Especially getting up at 6:30 or 7:00 on a weekday morning to get in our regular morning run. Thank goodness I was in the dorm and had teammates waiting for me for that morning run. Looking out the window at a dark, cold, rainy morning wasn't very inviting to get out of bed. But it made a difference.
TUESDAY WORKOUTS
4. A December workout at Hayward Field. From left to right: Pre, Knut Kvalheim, Steve Bence, Mark Feig, Lars Kapaung.
| 9/21/71 | 3 sets of 3 x 330 (total of 9 x 330), easy mile, 6 x 100, 3 mile easy run | |
| 9/28/71 | 8 x 440, easy 3 mile run, 6 x 110 | |
| 10/5/71 | 2 x 1320, 2 x 880, 2 x 44, 2 x 220, easy run, 4 x 330 | |
| 10/18/71 | 3 x 880, 3 x 440, 3 x 220, 3 x 110 | |
| 10/26/71 | 3 x 660 (1:30, 1:27, 1:24), 20 minute easy run, 3 x 330 (45, 43, 41), 3 x 110 | |
| 11/2/71 | 1 x 550 (55 at the 440), 1 x 330 (39), 2 x 165, 4 mile easy run, 6 x 330 (cutdown 48 to 42) | |
| 11/9/71 | 15 x 220 (cutdown 32 to 28) | |
| 11/16/71 | Mile (4:36), 1320 (3:22), 880 (2:09), 440 (63), 4 x 220, mile easy | |
| 11/30/71 | 6 x (220 in 27 then 440 in 90), 4 mile easy run, 3 x 330 | |
| 12/7/71 | 6 x 330 (41-43), 3 mile easy run, 6 x 330 (47, 44, 41) | |
| 1/25/72 | 440 (53), 1 mile easy run, 440 (52.1), 1 mile easy run, 2 x 220 (24.9, 24.5), short rest, 2 x 110 | |
| 2/1/72 | 6 x 110 (fast, all under 12), 3 mile easy run, 6 x 220 (cutdown 30 to 25) | |
| 2/15/72 | 6 x 330 (all under 41 with last in 38.2), 3 mile easy jog, 6 x 110 (started at 16 and last was 11.5) | |
| 3/1/72 | 550 (53 at 440), 550 jog, 330 (39), 550 jog, 2 x 165 (19), 3 miles easy on grass, 3 x 330 (47, 44, 41.5) |
THURSDAY WORKOUTS
| 9/23/71 | 16 x 165 (24-25 seconds), 3 miles easy | |
| 9/30/71 | 3 sets of 4 x 165 (total 12 x 165), first set in 25, second set in 22, third set in 25, 3 mile easy run, 3 x 330 | |
| 10/7/71 | 4 x 165, 4 mile Lydiard Fartlek, 4 x 220 | |
| 10/14/71 | 3 x 110 (12), 20 minute easy run, 3 x 165 | |
| 10/28/71 | First & Last 220 drill … 220 (24), 440 (90), 220 (25), fast 4 mile run, 3 x 330 | |
| 11/11/71 | 2 x 110, 6 mile fast run, 4 x 110 | |
| 11/18/71 | 6 x 330 (42), 3 miles easy, 6 x 110 (cutdown 15 to 12) | |
| 12/2/71 | First & Last 220 drill … 220 (24.9), 440 (81), 220 (26), 3 miles easy, 3 x 330 (45, 44, 38) | |
| 1/20/72 | 6 x 165 then inside to Mac Court because of wind & rain | |
| 1/27/72 | 2 x 220 (28, 27), 3 miles easy, 4 x 110 | |
| 2/17/72 | 2 x 110, 4 mile easy run, 4 x 110 | |
| 3/9/72 | 3 x 330 (44, 42, 37.5), 4 mile easy run, 3 x 110 |
SATURDAY WORKOUTS
3. After placing 2nd in the Pac-8 championships, 6th in the NCAA championships (All-American), and making the US national junior team, I qualified & ran in 1972 US Olympic Trials. Dave Wottle (in the hat) won the trials in a world record time and then won the gold medal at the Olympics in Munich.
| 9/25/71 | 3miles | 16:20 | Time trial … I ran 3 miles in 16:20 … the fastest 6 mile was 30:17 | |||||
| 10/2/71 | 880 | 1:56 | Time trial … 880 in 1:56, 5 mile easy run, 4 x 330 | |||||
| 10/9/71 | 3miles | 15:32 | Time trial … I ran 3 miles in 15:32, 2 mile jog, 4 x 330 (49, 47, 46, 40) | |||||
| 10/16/71 | 3+miles | 15:35 | Time trial … A touch over 3 miles in 15:35 | |||||
| 10/23/71 | 9miles | 54:12 | A timed distance run … approx 9 miles on the road … first mile 5:20 with finish time at 54:12, 4 x 330 (48) on track | |||||
| 10/30/71 | 3miles | 15:45 | Time trial … a touch over 3 miles in 15:45 (same course as 2 weeks earlier and 10 seconds slower) | |||||
| 11/13/71 | 3 sets of (660, 440, 330, 220, 110), 3 mile medium paced run | |||||||
| 11/20/71 | 20 x 220 (averaged about 29) with 1 minute rest between each | |||||||
| 12/4/71 | 660 | 1:23 | Time trial (rainy, cold, many puddles) … 660 in 1:23, 3 mile easy run, 3 x 330 (47, 44, 39) | |||||
| 12/11/71 | 880 | 1:54.6 | Time trial … 880 in 1:54.6 (my fastest 880 ever!) | |||||
| 1/15/72 | 10 x 220 (30), 3 mile easy run | |||||||
| 1/22/72 | 990 | 2:10.2 | Time trial … 990 in 2:10.2 (1:55 at 880), easy jog, 6 x 330 (cutdown 45 to 42) | |||||
| 1/29/72 | 1000yd | 1st | 2:14.2 | Indoor Competition on wooden track, won 1000 yard race in 2:14.2. | ||||
| 2/19/72 | 770 | 1:37 | Time trial … 770 in 1:37 (55.5 at 440, 1:23 at 660), 2 x 165, light jog, 3 x 110 | |||||
| 2/26/72 | 1320 (3:27), 2 x 880 (2:10), 3 x 440 (62, 59, 55.5), 4 x 220 (cutdown 30 to 25), 3 mile easy run, 3 x 110 | |||||||
| 3/4/72 | 880 | 1:51.4 | Time trial … 1:51.4 (55 at 440, 1:23.5 at 660) … my fastest time ever at 880! | |||||
| 3/11/72 | Fast pace … 440 (51.9), 2 x 220 (25, 24), 3 x 110 (12.5), 3 mile easy run, 3 x 220 (28, 26, 24) | |||||||
| 3/18/72 | 880 | 1st | 1:52.3 | Fresno California Meet … 1st 880 1:52.3 | ||||
| 3/18/72 | 880 | 1st | 1:52.0 | 3/25/72Bakersfield California Meet … 1st 880 1:52.0 | ||||
| 4/1/72 | 880 | 1st | 1:49.2 | Oregon Invitation in Eugene … 1st 880 1:49.2 | ||||
| 4/18/72 | 880 | 1st | 1:50.8 | at University of Washington … 1st 880 1:50.8 | ||||
| 4/15/72 | 880 | 1st | 1:49.4 | at University of Nebraska … 1st 880 1:49.4 | ||||
| 4/23/72 | 600yd | 1st | 1:09.9 | (Sunday) – Oregon Twilight Meet in Eugene … 1st 600 yards 1:09.9 (50.5 at 440) | ||||
| 4/29/72 | 660 | 1:21.7 | Workout of simulated 880 of 660 (1:21.7), 880 jog, 220 (24.5), long jog, 2 x 110 (11.6, 11.1) | |||||
| 5/6/72 | 880 | 1st | 1:49.8 | Oregon State in Eugene … 1st 880 1:49.8 | ||||
| 5/13/72 | 880 | 2nd | 1:49.y | Northern Division at Corvallis Oregon … 2nd 1:49.7 (Pat Collins won 1:49.5) | ||||
| 5/19/72 | 880 | 2nd | 1:51.0 | (Friday) – Pac-10 Trials … 2nd 1:51.0 | ||||
| 5/20/72 | 880 | 2nd | 1:48.6 | (Saturday) – Pac-10 Finals … 2nd 880 1:48.6 | ||||
| 5/21/72 | 550 | 66.8 | (Sunday) – Simulated 880 for 3 race days in a row … 550 (66.8), 1 lap jog, 3 x 110 (11.8, 12.2, 11.5) | |||||
| 5/27/72 | No meet so sharpening workout of 6 x 330 (40.3, 40.7, 38.8, 40.4, 39.2, 38.5) with 330 jog between each | |||||||
| 6/1/72 | 800 | Heat | 1:48.4 | (Thursday) – NCAA Prelims in Eugene … 800 in 1:48.4 | ||||
| 6/2/72 | 800 | Heat | 1:48.9 | (Friday) – NCAA Semi-Finals in Eugene … 800 in 1:48.9 | ||||
| 6/3/72 | 800 | 7th | 1:47.7 | (Saturday) – NCAA Finals in Eugene … 6th in 1:47.7 (winner was Willie Thomas of Tennessee in 1:47.1) |
His teammate Steve Bence recalled Prefontaine's charisma and crowd appeal. Perhaps the most poignant memory is the energy that Pre brought to the track. I compared it to bullfights that I went to while a high school student in Spain. Pre entenring the tracks was lin the bull entering the ring. He would burst on to the track, it seemed that all heads would turn and the excitement and anticipation in the place would take off. He helped create a very special environment.
Although sometimes difficult to describe in words, runners and non-runners alik stated that they considred Pre's Rock to be a place of spirituality, contemplation, or 'presence'. Kenny Moore and Steve Bence, former friends of Prefontaine who have visited Pre's rock many times, said that the site is a place where people attempt to make a 'connection' to the spirit of of Prefontaine whether regard as inspirational or spiritual.
Prefontaine went over to half-miler Steve Bence, who had fallen in a relay race in the Pacific Eight championships and had broken his jaw. Now, with fourteen stitches in his chine and his mouth wird shut, Bence faced his last chance to meet the NCAA qualifying standard of 1:49.8. Pefontaine bent close and spoke intensely. "I don't think I could do what you're doing, " he said.:\"So why don't you make it worthwhile?Bence nodded, silent, and Prefontaine withdrew to watch. With 220 yards to go, Bence had a chance but could not kick. Prefontaine turned away.
Shrines and Pilgrimage in the modern World, Chapter 8, Daniel Wojcik PhD, pages 202 and 222. Best Efforts, Kenny Moore, page 75.
After being turned down by several colleges I walked on the University of Oregon track my college freshman year.
My high school time of 1:55 for 800 meters and 4:17 for 1500 meters was good for American schools in Europe, in fact it was a Eureopean record, but as the USC coach wrote, "a dime a dozen" in the southern California area.
I arrived in Eugene early September 1971. I assumed that college soon after Labor Day but found I had arrived three weeks early with no place to stay. Dellinger help me find a new teammate that would take me in for the three weeks and found a job washing dishes at the Student dorms.
Not long after arriving I met Steve Prefontaine for the first time. Pre had heard that I was coming and welcomed me to the team. After a short talk Pre said, "you speak very good English. It took me a while to realize that he thought I was Spanish.
#1: My HS Senior year at Zaragoza Air Force Base in Spain. My best 800 meter time in high school was 1:55.
#2: I won my first 8 races at Oregon as a Freshman.
5. 1973 Team Picture. I'm on Pre's right in the second row about the middle. Click on this (or any of the pictures here) for the full-size version.
6. I won the first mile race of the outdoor season in 1973.
7. Results in the Register Guard the next day.
8. This is my journal entry after the race.
9. A month later I was on the cover of the meet program with Pre.
10. The cover of a meet program in 1974.
11. The first lap of a race at OSU.
12. The second lap of the race above.
13. An 880 yard race at a home meet. I won in 1:49.8, Wes Smiley second in 1:49.9, and Mike McClendon (also UO) third in 1:50.0.
14. An invitational meet at Hayward Field.
15. A duel meet against UCLA. Tony Veney (UCLA in the lead) beat me by 0.2 seconds. His time for 880 yards was 1:49.6 and I was 1:49.8.
16. A winning 880 race against Oregon State.
17. This was a mile invitational at UO. I went on to win. Off to the left you can see Steve Prefontaine watching.
18. I competed for 8 weeks in Europe in the summer of 1974. Some new friends that I met in Sweden.
19. I won my first three races in Finland. At the urging of Pre, I put white tape in protest over the AAU symbol of my USA uniform.
20. I place third behind the great Jamaican middle distance runner Byron Dyce.
21. I surprised the 800 meter Swedish national record holder in this race in Sweden.
22. Rick Wolhuter missed the World Record by a tenth of a second in Stockholm. I placed 4th (#22 on the left) in my best ever 800 meters (1:47.3).
23. With the Great Race trophy on May 29, 1975. Left to right: Matt Centrowitz, Steve Bence, Pre, Mark Feig. We were at Pre's house relaxing before going to the evening meet mentioned below.
24. Before my last race as a UO Senior runner and Pre's last race ever. It's hard to tell but my mouth was wired shut after breaking my jaw in a fall at the Pac-8 championships mile relay. Pre died hours after this picture was taken.
An Oregon workout. Left to Right ..
Steve Prefontaine, Knut Kvalheim,
Steve Bence, Mark Feig, Lars Kaupang
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