The Rebel Who Just So Happened to Run

Cooper Lohr

September 8, 2010

Honors English 2, Billitier

Essay Outline

"The rebel who just so happened to run"

Steve Prefontaine's impact on the distance running world

Introductory Paragraph: American distance runner Steve Prefontaine had an affect on people around him because of his intense and powerful of running.

* Thesis: Steve Prefontaines style of running inspires people to run longer and faster and live more fulfilling lives. This caused a great impact of the runners of his time and still causes an impact of the runners of today.

Body paragraph one: Steve Prefontaine, often known as "rube" or "pre" challenged every runner in America making him unstoppable. He pushed every bone in his body to the limit and never gave up. His showing of perserverance caused other people to want to go out and run, which had a huge affect on the distance running world.

Cause: Steve Prefontaine, and American distance runner who was known for his gritty running style and his willingness to never let anything get in his way.

Effect: The main affects pre had on running were the running boom of the 1970's, him being an inspiration to other runners, and his affect on the world today.

Body paragraph two (Cause): Steve Prefontaine is the most well known runner in the world; he didn't run to get second or third place, he ran to win. If he couldn't do that, then it wasn't worth his time. He never let anything stop him from winning....not 12 stitches in his foot, not the flu, not even mono stopped him from winning. His willingness to let nothing get in his way turned heads, and people that saw him run were attracted to his gritty style of running which made people want to run, in honor if his sudden death at the age of 24 due to a car accident.

Body paragraph three (effect one): The running boom of the 1970's was a huge affect that Prefontaine had on distance running. Up until the 70's nobody really ran for "fun" or for recreational purposes, but with everyone that watched Pre and other runners of the time got into running. Because of Pre masses of people began to run for "fun" and recreational running is probably at its peak today with thousands of community running clubs all around the nation, thanks to Pre and his running.

Body paragraph four (effect two): Steve Prefontaine is and inspiration to runners everywhere, his style of running was the main reason why, and also the fact who was arguably America's greatest distance runner. Runners thought of Pre when running to keep them going in hard times of their running. "If Pre can do it with 12 stitches, than I can