Stories

“I’m going for a run by myself today,” Steve Prefontaine would often tell his teammates. But that wasn’t quite true. He was actually taking the 66-mile drive north from Eugene to the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem to spend time running and talking with the inmates there. The OSP is one of the oldest prisons in America, housing convicts since 1869. Inside the 26-foot-high walls of the prison is a quarter-mile asphalt track and one of the oldest prison run clubs in the country, founded in the early 1970s by none other than Prefontaine himself. In his four years at Oregon, Pre never lost an NCAA race at 3 miles, 5,000 meters, 6 miles, or 10,000 meters. What began as a visit to the prison for a sociology project became a higher purpose for Pre. “After he met the inmates, he started a training program there and he really enjoyed it,” classmate Mary Marckx told the Department of Nike Archives (DNA). “He believed running can change your life, and he liked the interaction.” Pre would famously run with almost anyone, from high school students to inmates and even young children… Just don’t expect that he’d let the kids win… It’s been almost 50 years since Pre’s untimely death, but the seeds he planted at the OSP have borne fruit. The run club hosts 5Ks and 10Ks from March to October every year, culminating in the High Wall Half Marathon. Civilians are allowed to join the 150-member running club on the runs—this is sometimes the only contact with the outside world afforded to the prisoners. Eighteen months of good behavior are required to join and there’s a waiting list. Runners from across the world make pilgrimages to Pre’s Rock in Eugene. They leave flowers, marathon bibs, and letters filled with hopes and dreams as a tribute to a man who showed everyone that running isn’t just about being fast—it’s about having the guts to be yourself. Although many of the runners in the Oregon State Penitentiary Run Club will never be able to take the hour drive to visit Pre’s Rock, the club raised funds for its dedication in 1997. Runners pay their respects at Pre’s Rock. “Pre continues to run with us as we honor the legacy he most graciously left at the Oregon State Penitentiary,” wrote an inmate at the OSP who responded to an inquiry from DNA via a state corrections official. “Pre found solace in his visits here. Although he’s remembered as a man who didn’t care what others thought of him, few people on the outside knew where he was going when he came to OSP. “His natural ability and rebellious nature struck a note with us,” continued the inmate. “While here to train and promote running as a lifestyle, he’s most fondly remembered for simply sitting with the inmates after a run and talking about life’s trials. Now, decades after his visits and early passing, none of those men remain at OSP. However, his spirit lives on in legend and has reached the status of folklore hero.” Even after they break the tape, rebels are never done.

Our most iconic fits feel natural. A versatile Windrunner. A supportive Swoosh sports bra. A colorful pair of Waffle Ones. These staples feel like they have always existed, ready to pull out of the closet whenever you need to make a statement. It wasn’t always that way, though. Each of these pieces started as a bold idea, one that represented a brave new direction for us. The Circa 72 collection is a celebration of that bravery and innovation. Fifty years in the making, the Circa 72 collection reinvents iconic Nike pieces for the next generation of athletes. 1978, Original Windrunner Sketch, by Diane Katz
 1979, Original Women's Windrunner (Not for sale) 1976, Debut of 'Baby Teeth' Logo
 2022, Nike Sportswear Women's Boxy T-Shirt 1976, 'Baby Teeth' logo, by Geoff Hollister Take the Windrunner, a garment designed for function as rain poured on runners in Portland, Oregon during offseason training. In 1978, when Diane Katz—Nike’s first professionally trained apparel designer—and Geoff Hollister—Nike’s third employee—first crafted the Windrunner, the activewear category barely existed. Katz looked to weather-resistant ski fabrics to inspire her vision, and she set out with invention in mind. The process was a puzzle. How could Katz take traditionally technical fabric and make it movable, breathable, suitable for runs long and short? And how could she take all of these conflicting ideas and create a compelling design piece? She worked tirelessly, endlessly prototyping jackets until she came across the famous silhouette you know today. Katz and Hollister had done their jobs. However, the Windrunner was not instantly approved. The jacket was the first collaboration between the company and an experienced activewear designer, and the company held every detail under a microscope. It’s hard to believe that the Windrunner was an unprecedented—and controversial—garment. But that’s how it happened. Over the years, Nike’s apparel and sneaker lines have continued to push the boundaries of what came before, inspiring what comes next. The Circa 72 collection exclusively features pieces that speak to this history of testing boundaries, track-inspired staples that recall colors and patterns from our earliest days in Oregon. Key items like the line's sports bra, track jacket and t-shirt feature Geoff Hollister's "baby teeth" block-letter wordmark, a throwback to the rebellious ideas that carried as Nike found its footing. This legacy is what the Circa 72 collection is all about—a testament to Nike’s history of innovation and invention. These pieces represent big ideas, dreams that continue to resonate 50 years later. Each Circa 72 piece is a tribute to the past, reimagined and reconstructed for the future.

Everyone knows that running is a great way to get into shape, but it can also benefit almost every part of your body and lift your mood. Whether it's your favorite part of the day or something you have to push yourself through, the benefits are undeniable. The next time you're thinking of skipping a run, think of these six reasons to get your butt out the door or on the treadmill. Running Improves Your Health Believe it or not, running is actually a great way to increase your overall level of health. Research shows that running can raise your levels of good cholesterol while also helping you increase lung function and use. In addition, running can also boost your immune system and lower your risk of developing blood clots. It Prevents Disease For women, running can actually help to lower your risk of breast cancer. It can also help reduce the risk of having a stroke. Many doctors today recommend running for people who are in the early stages of diabetes, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis, and it is proven to help reduce the risk of having a heart attack. By helping the arteries retain their elasticity and strengthening the heart, your chances of suffering a heart attack can be significantly reduced. You Might Lose Weight Running is one of the best forms of exercise for losing or maintaining a consistent weight. You will find that it is a leading way to burn off extra calories and that it is the second most effective exercise in terms of calories burned per minute, following only after cross country skiing. Running Boosts Your Confidence Not all of the benefits of running are physical. Running can provide an noticeable boost to your confidence and self-esteem. By setting and achieving goals, you can help give yourself a greater sense of empowerment that will leave you feeling much happier. It Relieves Stress Stress can actually cause a number of health and mood problems. It can also diminish appetite and sleep quality. When you run, you force your body to exert excess energy and hormones. Running also helps to reduce your chances of developing tension headaches. Running has the Power to Eliminate Depression When you are depressed, the last thing you likely want to do is to get up and go for a run. Yet you will find that after only a few minutes of running, your brain will start to secrete hormones that naturally improve your mood. In fact, there are few things in the world that can better or more rapidly treat depression than exercise such as running. Running is incredibly beneficial to the body, mind and spirit. You will find that even short runs can leave you feeling more energized, more focused and better able to enjoy all that life has to offer.