My third-grade self didn’t show up to school for Halloween as “Steve Prefontaine: The Young, Athletic, Handsome Guy.” I went as “Steve Prefontaine: The Man Who Was Never Afraid to Work Hard.” Steve’s quote, “Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run,” reshapes how I see my own experience as a runner. Before I ever step onto the track, the process of working hard to create something “beautiful” has already begun. To me, a race isn’t a Piet Mondrian canvas of tight, exacting lines. A race is a Jackson Pollack; a performance full of spontaneous decisions and unpredictable strokes. The ups and downs of practices and competitions don't make perfect lines. They make a collage of every piece of hard work I’ve put in.
The build-up to a race is the gathering of my materials over months and years. That looks like eating right, hydrating, resting, planning my track work, and packing my equipment. Just like an artist primes a canvas or a musician practices scales, I prepare myself to create my best work. Every lap I run, each hurdle I jump, and every recovery day adds another layer to what I am creating.
What makes this process meaningful is that it doesn’t happen instantly. Creating something beautiful takes time. There are races where everything clicks, where my hurdles feel effortless and my hard work comes together into something I can be proud of. In those moments, I understood exactly what Prefontaine meant. The race is more than just a competition. It is an expression of everything I’ve put into it.
I’ve learned that beauty isn’t only found in perfect performances. It exists in the effort, the growth, and the drive to keep pushing. Even on difficult days, I am still creating something. Not everyone appreciates all kinds of art, which makes it extra special to perform in front of those who can value the work I’ve put in.
Prefontaine’s quote reminds me that running is more than a sport. It is a way that I can share my art. Through hard days and long nights, I am constantly working to create something meaningful, one step at a time.