--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one…" description: "\"How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races? All my life people have been telling me, 'You're too small Pre', 'You're no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/steve-prefontaine-10079_doe_how-does-a-kid-from-coos-bay-with-one-le_2153270.jpg" --- # How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the… ![“How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races? All my life people have been telling me, 'You're too small Pre', 'You're not fast enough Pre', 'Give up your foolish dream Steve'. But they forgot something, I HAVE TO WIN.” quote by Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/steve-prefontaine-10079_doe_how-does-a-kid-from-coos-bay-with-one-le_2153270.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/steve-prefontaine-10079_doe_how-does-a-kid-from-coos-bay-with-one-le_2153270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/514/steve-prefontaine-10079_doe_how-does-a-kid-from-coos-bay-with-one-le_2153270.jpg) > “How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races? All my life people have been telling me, 'You're too small Pre', 'You're not fast enough Pre', 'Give up your foolish dream Steve'. But they forgot something, I HAVE TO WIN.” [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Determination and self‑belief can overcome physical disadvantages and external doubt. **In simple terms:** Willpower beats odds. Key Takeaway Believe in yourself and train relentlessly. Themes determination overcoming adversity self‑belief Mood defiant motivational Type inspirational athletic When to use this quote - sports competition - personal challenges - goal setting Key Concepts psychology of motivation resilience Questions to Reflect On - What personal limitation can you reframe as a challenge? - How does external doubt fuel your drive? A Different Perspective Physical limits can still hinder performance despite mindset. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Marathon motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marathon-motivational/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Races](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/races/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/how-does-a-kid-from-coos-bay-with-one-leg-longer-than-the-other-win-2/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [To describe the agony of a marathon to someone who's never run it is like trying to explain color to someone who was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-drayton/to-describe-the-agony-of-a-marathon-to-someone-who-s-never-run-it-is/) Jerome Drayton > [You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shorter/you-have-to-forget-your-last-marathon-before-you-try-another-your/) [Frank Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shorter/) > [No negative thoughts cross my mind on race day. When I look into their eyes, I know I'm going to beat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-harris/no-negative-thoughts-cross-my-mind-on-race-day-when-i-look-into-their/) Danny Harris > [There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly I run because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-sheehan/there-are-as-many-reasons-for-running-as-there-are-days-in-the-year/) [George A. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-sheehan/) > [There are as many reasons for running as there are days in a year… But mostly I run because I am an animal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-sheehan/there-are-as-many-reasons-for-running-as-there-are-days-in-a-year-but/) [George A. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-sheehan/) > [We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/we-run-not-because-we-think-it-is-doing-us-good-but-because-we-enjoy/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [Workouts are like brushing my teeth; I don't think about them, I just do them. The decision has already been made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pattisue-plumer/workouts-are-like-brushing-my-teeth-i-don-t-think-about-them-i-just/) PattiSue Plumer > [A lot of people don't realize that about 98 percent of the running I put in is anything but glamorous: 2 percent joyful participation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-castella/a-lot-of-people-don-t-realize-that-about-98-percent-of-the-running-i/) [Robert de Castella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-castella/) > [Onions make me sad. A lot of people don't realize that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/onions-make-me-sad-a-lot-of-people-don-t-realize-that/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [You shall become the person you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/you-shall-become-the-person-you-are/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There's no such thing as bad weather - only the wrong clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/there-s-no-such-thing-as-bad-weather-only-the-wrong-clothes/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [The real competition is against the little voice inside you that wants to quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-sheehan/the-real-competition-is-against-the-little-voice-inside-you-that/) [George A. Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-sheehan/) > [A lot of people don't realize that not everybody gets high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringwald/a-lot-of-people-don-t-realize-that-not-everybody-gets-high/) [Molly Ringwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringwald/) > [My thoughts before a big race are usually pretty simple. I tell myself: Get out of the blocks, run your race, stay relaxed. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/my-thoughts-before-a-big-race-are-usually-pretty-simple-i-tell-myself/) [Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/) ## More by Steve Prefontaine > [As far as being a coach, it's always fascinated me. It's a greater responsibility than most people give it credit for because you're dealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/as-far-as-being-a-coach-it-s-always-fascinated-me-it-s-a-greater/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [Kids made fun of me because I was a slow learner, because I was hyperactive, because of a lot of things. Running gave me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/kids-made-fun-of-me-because-i-was-a-slow-learner-because-i-was/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [What does it prove, running in the AAU meet?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/what-does-it-prove-running-in-the-aau-meet/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [I'm going to work so that it's a pure guts race at the end, and if it is, I am the only one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/i-m-going-to-work-so-that-it-s-a-pure-guts-race-at-the-end-and-if-it/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [When people go to a track meet, they're looking for something, a world record, something that hasn't been done before. You get all this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/when-people-go-to-a-track-meet-they-re-looking-for-something-a-world/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [I'm the one who has made all the sacrifices. Those are my American records, not the country's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/i-m-the-one-who-has-made-all-the-sacrifices-those-are-my-american/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [A race is a work of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/a-race-is-a-work-of-art/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [The AAU doesn't care about the athletes; why should I care about them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/the-aau-doesn-t-care-about-the-athletes-why-should-i-care-about-them/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [Running gives me confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/running-gives-me-confidence/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [To hell with love of country - I compete for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/to-hell-with-love-of-country-i-compete-for-myself/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [People say I should be running for a gold medal for the old red, white and blue and all that bull, but it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/people-say-i-should-be-running-for-a-gold-medal-for-the-old-red-white/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [My philosophy is that I'm an artist. I perform an art not with a paint brush or a camera. I perform with bodily movement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/my-philosophy-is-that-i-m-an-artist-i-perform-an-art-not-with-a-paint/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [No one will ever win a 5,000-meter by running an easy two miles. Not against me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/no-one-will-ever-win-a-5-000-meter-by-running-an-easy-two-miles-not/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [It's not who's the best - it's who can take the most pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/it-s-not-who-s-the-best-it-s-who-can-take-the-most-pain/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) > [I decided that if I was going to continue in track, that I didn't want to lose, that I wasn't going to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/i-decided-that-if-i-was-going-to-continue-in-track-that-i-didn-t-want/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) [Explore all 67 Steve Prefontaine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) ## More Doe quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Sometimes a sign or a quote is simply interesting by itself and does not require anything beyond being framed on a page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/sometimes-a-sign-or-a-quote-is-simply-interesting-by-itself-and-does/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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Not necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/if-wall-street-crashes-does-main-street-follow-not-necessarily/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [It does not seem to me to be sufficiently recognized everywhere among the officials that the existence or non-existence of our people and Empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-von-hindenburg/it-does-not-seem-to-me-to-be-sufficiently-recognized-everywhere-among/) [Paul von Hindenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-von-hindenburg/) Browse all 25,574 Doe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races? All my life people have been telling me, 'You're too small Pre', 'You're not fast enough Pre', 'Give up your foolish dream Steve'. 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