My UO Freshman Year

Steve Bence: 1971 Zaragoza HS, Spain Senior Year (left) ... 1972 UO Freshman Year (right)

In June 1971 I graduated from Zaragoza American High School in Spain. I was an 800/1500 meter runner. Three months later I arrived at the University of Oregon to start my college career. Bill Bowerman and Bill Dellinger coached a very talented group of teammates which included my soon-to-be friend, Steve Prefontaine.

Below is a short story, including workouts, of how I went from a 1:55 high school half-miler to a 1:47 all-American during my UO freshman year.

Life of my mother, Joan: "Factfulness"

In reading this book, I realize I had early in life analyzed and learned whose word I could trust, how to observe bad behavior's consequences and decide not to copy other's behaviors, and that most news should be avoided.

Examples: (that you may already know)

Life of my mother Joan: "Was my birth unusual?"

REACHING OUT TO GRASP LIFE

I was born to two mothers Dorothy and Blanche. Both were present at my birth but it was Blanche who saw me reach out, ready to grasp life in this new environment. Dorothy was too preoccupied with the immediate after effects of having given birth to witness my first adventure.