Bowerman On Keeping It Simple

Bill Bowerman pictured above with Steve Prefontaine was the long time and highly successful track coach at the University of Oregon. What some of you may not know is that he was the original Nike shoe innovator. Phil Knight had the business genius, Bowerman designed the early running shoes.
Another fact you may not be aware of: after a 1962 trip  to New Zealand where he met with fellow coach and friend Arthur Lydiard, he was introduced to the concept of jogging as a fitness routine for people of all ages. As a result of this trip he published a book in 1966 called Jogging which is credited with started the "jogging craze". And you thought it was Jim Fixx who started it all.
Oh yes, the book Jogging sold over a million copies.


In a past and present era of complicated running programs which often involve meticulous timing and dots and a whole host of other technical aspects here's what Bowerman had to say:


"We intellectualize too much about running. We complicate it too much, and make it sound like too much of a choice. We talk too much of times, schedules and formulas. When, where and why. Form, diet and injuries. Equipment, facilities and formal structures.
You don't really need so much of this. You don't need to be a student of the sport or an expert in physiology."


Beautiful--as they say--keep it simple.