track town usa

Sitting on a plane leaving the NCAA's in Eugene, Oregon. My wish would be for everyone of you to experience a national meet in Track Town, USA. Whether as a competitor or as a spectator, if you love our sport, it is an experience that should be on your bucket-list.

The stands are packed, literally, and the crowd knows track & field. The people stay for the whole meet and are excited about the 5k or 10k at the end of each evening. And they clap in unison as the runners go down the backstretch or up the homestretch. EVERY backstretch and EVERY homestretch. They ROAR for those clad in the green and yellow with the "O" on their chest, but they also cheer for EVERYBODY.

The weather is interesting and if you don't like it, that's ok, because it will change completely within the next 30 minutes. In one 5 mile run on the wood chips of Pre's Trail, we experienced the cold wind and rain of a southern December day AND the bright sunny warmth of an early April afternoon. It rained almost every day at the meet, usually multiple times each day. But not one lightening delay. And you stay dry in the grandstands as they both have rooftops. How ballin' is that?

The competition was magnificent. Event after event, you felt as though you were witnessing something special. The performances so spectacular that you felt not that you were watching it, but indeed you were part of it. And as the athletes performed at their best, you felt as though you were at your best. There were names written into the record books here, legends even born, and names shouted from the packed stands. And as one who loves the sport, you recognize those names being added to the fabled ones who have graced this track before.

There will be time to talk about training, core strengthening, and even iron stores. But today, be inspired. Think about what it is you love about our sport and rejoice in it. What can you endeavor to accomplish that not only moves you but moves those around you.

And go ahead and dream about coming off the Bowerman Curve, the rhythmic clapping of the grandstand pulling you down the homestretch, and hearing your name shouted by the packed house!

Post your weekly mileage to the comments section please. And check back, later I hope to add some pictures.

Still waiting for some pictures from cameras that our coaches had but wanted to post a couple taken with my phone. The picture of darts to the right is from a cricket game we were playing with some fellow coaches. As you can see, COACH closed out the 15's in grand fashion!