Let me first start by saying this whole blogging idea is a result of a suggestion courtesy Ali Wayner - some of you might recognize her pre-marital name, Ali Green. I am going to try to submit a few posts each day and if you hang with me as I try to learn how the heck this whole hting works, I'll attempt to get some pictures up too.
Anyway, you would think that 200 years after the first settlers blazed the path that we now affectionately call "the Oregon Trail," the trip westward would be considerably easier. Having been up for 24 straight hours now and having to deal with the craziness that comes with today's airline travels, I'm starting to think maybe Lewis and Clark chose the right mode of transportation: the wagon!
My journey to Eugene began this morning, after a 3-hour nap last night, when I left Athens at 5:00 a.m. (ET). After a few short stops along the way - The Houch's house (thanks The Houch for letting me park my car at your house) and Phoenix (my layover destination) - I arrived in Portland, Oregon shortly before 4:00 p.m. (ET). I know that I'm still considered young and the long flights should not physically bother me, but my knees do not handle cross-country flights very well! Running does take its toll on the body, believe it or not. Once I met up with the rest of our group at the Portland Airport, we proceeded to wait 3 more hours for our rental cars.
The drive from Portland to Eugene was a little longer than I expected, but it's a beautiful drive. Portland looks to be a great city and the view of Mount Hood off in the distance is amazing! We finally made it in to Eugene around 7:00 p.m. (PT). Having only eaten a pop tart and two jr. cheeseburgers, courtesy Wendy's, all day I was hungry - to say the least. The HPC gang - that is our group - decided to make a dinner stop at Track Town Pizza. The place is pretty self-explanatory...they serve pizza in a hut adorned with Oregon Track memorabilia. Pretty cool, I must say.
Finally, around 9:00 p.m. (PT), we managed to check into the place we are staying, which by the way is a stones-throw out my bedroom window from Hayward Field. I had just enough time to toss my stuff in my room, switch into my running shorts and take a quick 9 mile tour of the campus and town before it got too late!
I've been up entirely too long. I'm going to get some sleep. Tomorrow is the first day of the 2008 Track and Field Olympic Trials. Looking forward to two races: men's 5,000 meter semi-finals and women's 10,000 meter finals!
I'll make sure to make a few more posts tomorrow. They'll be shorter - I promise! Pictures are on their way.
Good bye
I'll be back. You can bet on that!
"Golden" picture
Lagat was the 1500 and 5000 meter world champion a year ago. Hopefully, he can repeat this year in Beijing!
Coaching?
Just giving Lagat some pointers ;)
Black Cactus
Picture with Trials 10k champion, Abdi - The Black Cactus.
Go Wheating
Andrew and I pose with Oregon's 800 extrodinaire, and Olympian, Andrew Wheating.
Culminating Event
Men's 1500 race. Love this picture, with the Hayward scoreboard and fans in the background.
Men's 1500
My view of the 1500 race.
Olympic Trials 2008
Got down along the infield with my pass to make this picture happen.
True to its billing
Eugene lived up to the hype and proved to truly be "Track Town, USA"
"THEE" track
Hayward Field
Oregon personified
Huge mural of Bill Bowerman and Steve Prefontaine
Skinner's Butte
Just so everyone knows, it's pronounced with the "e." That's from the left: Aaron, Rachel, Ashley, your's truly, and Adam.
Eugene
The view of Eugene from Skinner's Butte.
GALEN
Although he couldn't pull off the win, Galen Rupp silenced critics last night claiming 2nd in the 10k. He might be quarky, but you know what, I'm a huge fan. He's 22 years old and is going to be around for a long while.
The Black Cactus
Wearing a Black Cactus shirt given to him by a fan, Abdi takes his victory lap. In case you are confused, Abdi's nickname is the Black Cactus. The dude's legs are like popsicle sticks!
Post-race bath
Abdi takes a dip in the steeple water. I think he ran a faster victory lap than he did his last lap of the 10k!
Men's 10k
Abdi, Rupp, and Torres pull away from the field. The record crowd was electric during the last couple miles of the 10k, but Abdi proved to be the best in the US.
Hayward infield
USA. Amazing Awaits.
Picture with Pre
Ok, so maybe not actually. But this is a pretty sweet picture nonetheless!
Outside the Nike Factory store
Bowerman mural outside the Nike store
Nike Factory store
Pictures on the wall of the Nike factory store in downtown Eugene.
Nike Zoom Victory shoes
Scooter, I took this picture for you. It was plastered on the back of the Nike truck.
Pre's Rock
Standing beside Pre's rock.
Pre's Rock
The memorial set up at the place where Steve Prefontaine was killed
Nice Day
This was the view coming back down from visting Pre's rock.
The Pride of Oregon - Hippie encounter #2
I've already met the Pride of Eugene, Mikey, on this trip and now I can say I've met The Pride of Oregon. Folks, his name is Terry. We met him while riding Eugene's public transportation bus out to our water-water rafting adventure. He lives along the river - in a mansion, according to him - and he told us everything we needed to know about our trip. He had trouble recalling anything we told him, but that is probably because he chooses to put weird things into his body. True story: Terry was drinking straight Vodka out of a Aquafina water bottle!
Breakfast of Champions
The Original Pancake has, along with Orange Dream Ice Cream Bars, kept me alive and full during the Trials. I've gone to get breakfast here the past three days. The food is great (and cheap) and you are bound to run into some important people - Tyson Gay, Tegankamp, Solinsky, Marshavet Hooker.
Our River Adventure
This was pretty much the view we had floating down the McKenzie River while white-water rafting. It was my first time doing the white-water thing and it was fun, aside from the water temperature of about 49-degrees
Post-trip picture
What you can't tell from this picture is that we are all FREEZING!!!
Perfect Night
The Carnegie Hall of Track and Field
Bringin' it home
Lagat pulls in front of the pack heading into the final turn of the 5k. The lead pack ran the last mile in 4:03.
Start of the 5k
Great field assembled for the 5k.
The US Olympic Uniforms unveiled
Athletes who already qualified took a stroll around the track, giving fans their first look at the uniforms for Beijing
Timeline of Nike
Shamus, you'd love this little setup!
Meet and Greet
Olympic shot putter Adam Nelson and All-Everything Alyson Felix sign some autographs for fans
John Hancock of the World's Fastest Man
Tyson Gay signed our - Aaron, Ashley and I - credentials
An athlete and his coach
Andrew with his newly found coach, Bob Knoll - from Kentucky.
Gaining an audience
If you look closely behind Andrew, you can start to see the crowd gathering around this operation.
Hop Skip and a Jump
Not bad for a first timer.
The newest Bobcat
Andrew needed a uniform for his triple jump competition. It just so happened that I had one on hand :)
The Fastest Man Alive
The victory lap.
9.68
The signs say it all.
View from press row
It was a full house on Sunday - 20,733 in attendance.
Is that Daphie?
Some of the crew with the U of O mascot. I pity the person who had to wear that thing in the heat today.
Homebase, underneath the West Grandstands
This is where our little operation originates
View from the bedroom
Right across the street from the track and the festival.
The Pride of Eugene - Mikey
Folks, he's lived her since 1979. He moved to Eugene after growing up in Southern California. Mikey loves late night Mexican. Those are just the things he told me. What he didn't tell me, but what I inferred, was that he also likes growing things, especially hair, and not taking showers haha!
Kara Goucher
10,000 meter runner-up
Shalane Flanagan
Your 10,000 meter champion.
Women's 10k
Just take it all in. What a great experience!
Track Trials festival
People eat, drink and watch track just outside Hayward.
Men's 5k
On the infield for one of the best races of the night - great view!
Anti-gravity treadmill
Bob - this picture is for you!
5k warmup
Not every day that Lagat and Pifer stand 20 feet from you.
Hayward Field
My first look at Hayward Field...gotta love the all-access passes so you can get to places before everyone else!
The same to you!
An appropriate picture to end Day 1 and start off the week at the Olympic Trials
My first bald eagle spotting
Look to the left of the picture, on top of the football lights...a HUGE bald eagle nest and of course, a bald eagle!
U of O
football stadium
The Duck Nest?
Had to stop by the football stadium to pick up our credentials
Day 1 dinner stop
Never thought I'd see they day when track gets its own restaurant!
2 comments:
You were out there only one day and you saw a bald eagle! Like I said -- luckiest person I know.
Craig: we really enjoy reading your blog and the interesting people and activities you are experiencing.
It appears that the atmosphere is electric and the competition intense. Sounds like the folks in Oregon know how to do track and field. Am sure you loved running on Pre's trail, it must be a great feeling. Keep up the good work and use some sunscreen tomorrow!
Dad
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