Pre's Trail

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Pre's Trail (3.87 miles), located in the northerly area of Eugene, Oregon near downtown, is a running trail named after Steve Prefontaine, the heralded University of Oregon athlete who set seven United States track records, from two to ten kilometers. The bark covered trail features grasslands, ponds, woods and lush riparian scenery, as well as nature trail guide signs. The running path is but one segment of an extensive network of such trails in and around Eugene, aka 'Track Town USA', which is also noted for having hosted several US Olympic athletics trials.

1 History
2 Route
- 2.1 Access
3 External links
- 3.1 Photos
- 3.2 Map

[edit] History

'Pre', as Steve Prefontaine is still widely known, was impressed with the style and terrain of European cross country running courses while competing overseas. Upon his return from Europe, he suggested to local officials the idea of building a trail course through Eugene's Alton Baker Park, situated near the Willamette River. Pre helped catalyze the running boom in the US with his performances and dedication to the sport, which early on landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated, though he was still a teenager. After his premature death in 1975, Lane County worked with the Oregon Track Club and University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman to design and build Pre's Trail.

Pre's Trail is now enjoyed by a variety of recreational users, and is frequently the site of cross country competitions staged by local schools, colleges and running clubs.

Prefontaine has also been memorialized by the Eugene community with granite marker, located near the intersection of Birch and Skyline Boulevards.

[edit] Route

Pre's Trail is flat, on a river isle, and features large sections entirely covered by wood chips, with some single track dirt trail and asphalt. There are three main loops, with interlinking paths:

Southeast (Big Loop), 1.66 miles
Center (Parcourse Loop), .65 miles
Northeast (Bottom Loop), 1.06

[edit] Access

Pre's Trail is located off Centennial Boulevard, near Autzen Stadium. The trail is accessible by two footbridges, via the Autzen Footbridge (half a block north of the corner of Franklin and Agate Streets), or the Knickerbocker Footbridge (near Franklin and Riverview Streets).