by Larry Eder
2025 Summer Mileage, July 30, 2025, Week 4, Day 3,a good hour run on Wednesday, and Bill Dellinger was the real coach of Steve Prefontaine
Wednesday July 30, 2025, an easy hour run on the trails, cooldown
Bill Dellinger was the coach of Steve Prefontaine and many others
Bill Dellinger was the coach at the University of Oregon for track and field and cross country from 1973 to 1994. During his time at Oregon, Bill Dellinger coached Joachim Cruz, Dub Myers, Art Beaulieau, Alberto Salazar, Don Clary, Rudy Chapa, and among others, Steve Prefontaine.
Both Pre movies did not get it right, per Pat Tyson and Rudy Chapa, close friends of the late Bill Dellinger.
Dellinger was a 3 time Olympian. He retired in 1961 and decided, in 1963 to make a comeback and he made his first Olympic final. Bill took the lead from Michel Jazy of France. Later in the race, Bob Schul overtook Jazy, Harold Norpoth overtook Jazy and Bill Dellinger overtook Jazy and took Olympic bronze.
Bill Dellinger had street cred with Steve Prefontaine. Bill was from a small town, Bill made 3 Olympic teams, set American records, World records and took Olympic bronze.
Rudy Chapa, one of Dellinger’s athletes told Scott Reid about the team’s love for Coach Dellinger. I recall each year that Jeff Benjamin, our senior writer for the East Coast of the U.S, always would visit Bill with Pat Tyson and many other of Bill’s former athletes.
Dellinger was quite kind to this writer, when I asked questions as I coached at Santa Clara Univeristy. Bill Dellinger was an amazing man, but alo an amazing coach and I am so glad that his athletes have come out to support Bill Dellinger as the coach of Steve Prefontaine.
The coach athlete relationship is precious. Do not squander it. Coaches not only develop you as an athlete, but as a human.
Will. you be ready? Follow our daily training suggestions, and daily athlete stories and you will be ready to race in the fall!
The Nike Pegasus PLUS is a great entry shoe for high school cross country. You should consider it, and learn more about it at nike.com. It is light, cushioned, a good summer mileage shoe. If you need a little more cushioning, try the Vomero 18. The Vomero 18 has more cushioning that the Pegasus PLUS. If you like NIKE, I would suggest high schoolers use the NIKE Pegasus PLUS for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I would suggest the Vomero 18 for Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I always suggest two pairs of training shoes. Why on Vomero 18? It is a cushioned shoe that feels great and is good on the roads and trails.
Do you want to be a better cross country runner than you were in the past? Focus and follow our training. It is all about the consistency.
For Great Summer reading! Self Made Olympian by Ron Daws, A Clean Pair of Heels by Murray Halberg, Pre! by Tom Jordan, Quicksilver, The Mercurial Emil Zatopek, by Pat Butcher, The Destiny of Alain Mimoun, by Pat Butcher (a monograph)
The Nike Pegasus PLUS is a great entry shoe for high school cross country. You should consider it, and learn more about it at nike.com. It is light, cushioned, a good summer mileage shoe. If you need a little more cushioning, try the Vomero 18. The Vomero 18 has more cushioning that the Pegasus PLUS. If you like NIKE, I would suggest high schoolers use the NIKE Pegasus PLUS for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I would suggest the Vomero 18 for Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I always suggest two pairs of training shoes. Why on Vomero 18? It is a cushioned shoe that feels great and is good on the roads and trails.
Remember, one day at a time!!!! #SummerMileage, #CrossCountry,
