With my home track of Hayward Field in ruins, I made some judicious choices in picking track meets this year. And with work being crazy, and soon moving into a new house? Yes, things are in a state of flux...
So...I give you PAC-12 Championships in Tucson....
A three-hour SEATAC layover is a lot nicer in a lounge...
A more important reason for the trip: staying with (friend since 3rd grade) Sue and her husband Eric...they put me in their son LP's room, who is currently post-grad at MIT, and who I saw a month ago on my trip east.
Poster on his door...
First day: a Sabino Canyon walkabout...
Mt Lemmon is up there somewhere...
The hike was a bit...well, more than a bit...HARD. And a whole lotta UP.
The end of the trail is a very well-defined perch, with a whole lotta DOWN. And a whole lotta Nope Nope Nope: I wasn't getting anywhere near the edge...
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| See that little bump at 1 o'clock? Thimble Peak....you might see this again |
Thimble Peak, again....and where's my damned helicopter? I don't feel like walking down...
Night before the meet, there was a briefing and swag pickup. The family's son ran track in high school, and was well acquainted with Mr Starting Line Clerk (below left), so Mom and Dad have a nice reunion.
World class appetizer...
One of those little places where presidents and rock stars eat...
This guy looks dehydrated...
This time, from above and behind...
Up at Windy Point....this photo belies my displeasure at the sheer negative vertical-ness of the dropoff over the rocks. I wasn't going any closer...
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| Yikes! |
No, I didn't run the 23 miles uphill, though that would have made a nice story. This was me trying not to puke my guts out from vertigo.
More Thimble Peak. Not sure, but I might have been standing on that roundish mass to the left of center.
Did I mention the three-hour lightning delay that began at 7:30pm?
Nowhere to run to, nowhere to hide...
We finished at 1am, way past my bedtime!
My hotel room's TV could use some updating.
Best dressed kid at the breakfast bar...
The on-campus offerings seem pretty nice!
On my umpire crew...are you kidding me? Full fan-boy mode!!
That's J, 1984 Olympian in the 3000 meters, and later a world-ranked pro triathlon racer. She was in medal shape at the Olympics but was tripped up by some knucklehead who forgot to use turn signals. In Tucson, I distracted her by stealing her sunglasses...
My last view from Eric and Sue's house...
For the millionth time: I do love TSA Pre-Check!
Great trip!!!! As I write this, though, my daily streak of rainy weather is approaching 3 weeks, between Oregon and Arizona. Booo...
