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There's nothing like Eugene, Oregon in the summer! Every day has been sunny with lovely breezes and low humidity. It's delightfully cool at night...wonderful to sleep with the windows open! i've heard some people complaining about the "unusually hot weather" but even though it is hot in the sun, as soon as you stand in the shade it feels very comfortable to me.
i arrived in Eugene Wednesday evening after enjoying flying First Class on my flights from DC to Phoenix and from Phoenix to Portland. I booked these flights using frequent flyer miles last September and did not request (or use extra miles or spend any $1) to get an upgrade....but when I went to choose my seats, they were in First Class! It was a treat to have big seats with plenty of leg room and meals on both flights! It also was very helpful to seated up front since I had a very short connection in Portland to catch my flight to Eugene. I've never flown First Class and it was a fun experience....too bad that didn't happen on my14 hour flights to India and New Zealand!
On Thursday, my brother and I did a short
hike up Spencer Butte with good views of the surrounding mountains and the city of Eugene, and then walked along some of the many trails/paths near where he lives. There are so many intersecting running trails, bike/walking paths and trails that it would be easy to get lost. There are many visitors in town for the Olympic Trials out on the trails and more than once my brother stopped to help out confused runners!
Friday was the opening ceremonies and the beginning of the Olympic Track and Field Trials. This is the third time in a row that the trials have been held in Eugene at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field. The town is always "track crazy" calling themselves Tracktown USA, but during the Trials it really becomes track crazy with former runners/track stars of every age coming from all over the country to watch the trials. The 20,000+ capacity stadium is sold out and the crowd's enthusiasm matches any pro football or baseball game I've attended.
Outside the stands there is a festival atmosphere. They have large screens showing the live competition so people who can't get (or can't afford tickets) can still be part of
the excitement. There is a beer garden as well as a booth where you can get free Choban yogurt! (The beer is not free!)
I'm enjoying getting familiar with some of the competitors who will be heading to Rio. I remembered some from four years ago...like Galen Rupp and Ashton Eaton but I don't follow track when it's not an Olympic year.....unlike my brother who has been an avid track fan since he was 10 years old.
I'll be primarily going to the Trials for the next couple of days so may not be blogging again until my Alaska adventure begins on July 6.
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