Back Where I Belong

It's been three LONG years since the 2018 NCAA Championships, the last track meet at historic Hayward Field. Because Eugene won the right to host the 2022 World Championships, the venue had to be rebuilt with more seating capacity and upgraded features. 

So...

Old

New

 

 

I arrive early enough to do my ritual; a slow savoring walk around the empty track. It's a habit of mine. 

One of the meet officials attended UO back in the day and knew head coach Bill Bowerman well. I asked, "how would BB have reacted to this stadium?" The official chuckled and said that BB was old school and not into flash or bells and whistles, but he certainly knew about innovation and would appreciate that component. 

Sidebar (for those who don't know): Bowerman is the one who ruined his wife's waffle iron by pouring rubberized cement into it. He hand-made shoes for his athletes and created the Waffle Sole for Nike. He also was the co-founder along with Phil Knight.

The old stadium had benches, no seatbacks, no railings. The new? Little comparison. 

My first look inside...

The water in the steeplechase pit is perfect for ducks......Oregon Ducks. 

Ok, so this picture was from my 30 year Annapolis reunion, but the shirt is from the Eugene Marathon that ends on Hayward field, so it's relevant (and my blog, my rules). 

My fancy weatherproof clipboard allows me to write up miscreants while standing in a downpour. 

I find a months-old Starburst in my jacket pocket. Gotta take one for the team. 

The 1500m start. 

Great shot from the 2016 Olympic Trials. I look so important, but in reality I'm thinking about dinner options. 

Interior benches made of reclaimed wood from the old East Grandstands. 

Cool mural with Oregon's first Olympic Gold Medalist, Otis Davis. He won the 400m final in Rome back in 1960.   

Did my first intervals on the new track, too. After the women's steeplechase, the brand new 30" barriers have to be switched to 36". The one barrier near me is stuck, and I can't get the stops loose. While one of the facility workers frantically takes over, I sprint down the backstretch and tell the starters to hold up the men's race. 

I still got it. 

The old stadium was renowned for sheer audio volume. During tense races, you could barely hear yourself shouting. I wondered if the same dynamic would be present in a much larger layout. 

Oh yes. Even though there was maybe a few hundred people in the stands due to distancing, there were times when the noise level was substantial. Extrapolate to 30,000 fans and it will be nothing short of nuclear! Well done, architects: the upper roof coverings are a perfect amplifier.  

Daughter of a college classmate is one of the first athletes to compete in the new stadium. 

Kid from BYU absolutely launches the javelin. Monster throw....turns out it's a personal best by over 8 meters! His coach is going absolutely bonkers in the stands; once the coach starts breathing again, I walk over and tell him I have to penalize his athlete for 'unauthorized use of a tailwind.' 

The new track has 9 lanes vs the old 8 lane track. And there's a nice grey walkway between the outside lane and the railings. So much room!

UO runner Cole Hocker sets the standard: not only does he drop a tidy 3:39 in the 1500m, he also sports the first man-bun in the new stadium. 

Here's a great video from UO. https://youtu.be/JDlYbkV_8aY  

On my way home, a final look back. 

When you're in a place you're supposed to be, you know it. I know my dad was glad to see me there. 

Onward. 

It never rains in DC....

Kicked my cold from the Boston trip, just in time for the DC trip.

Tired of waking up early; eyes open at 0230, alarm at 0315. Oh well.

My first flight lands when second flight starts boarding, so a frantic run thru SLC.

DCA has a nice approach, right down the Potomac. Great view of the Mall…

First order of bidness: a 7-day Unlimited Metro Pass. I’ll reduce it to ashes in short order….ride to North Bethesda Marriott, check in. Some kind of raucous party in the lobby, so I ask for a room far, far away. Dinner: I find a highly rated ramen place in Chinatown. So good… 

Sunday is my big tourist day, so I’m up early. But the Metro isn’t: it doesn’t start running until 0800, so lame!!! And by the way...it’s pouring. All day. First stop: Arlington Memorial Cemetery. Can’t believe I’ve never visited until now. Haunting, beautiful place. Immaculate landscaping. 

My first find: Manila John, Johnny B. Raised in the next Central Jersey town from me, he was a one-man wrecking crew. 

 
Jim was my buddy's dad's roommate at Annapolis, Class of 1951. And the 8th man to walk on the moon. 

 
Gus and Roger, from the Apollo 1 fire in 1967.

Challenger, Iran Hostage Rescue, and Columbia.

CC was supposed to be the fourth man on the moon, right after Pete Conrad on Apollo 12. But CC died in a training flight accident, so Al Bean stepped up. Beano left CC's wings on the lunar surface. 

Major genuflecting for Uncle Hymie, here. Cranky old bastard and genius, all at the same time. 

Metro back to Foggy Bottom, then a walk to Georgetown to meet Navy classmate Mike. We converge on an Irish pub, very quiet...until the Man U soccer match starts, at which time the pub becomes a cacophonous maelstrom of screaming drunks who just left church. But my eggs are good, not to mention the hot tea that helps me thaw out. 

Mike drives me to the Lincoln Memorial, and I spend the next few hours walking the Mall. Still pouring. 

In college, I briefly dated a girl who never knew her dad, Charlie Bowersox, KIA Vietnam. Found him on the wall.

I try for several museums, but there are long lines outside. American History has no wait, so I stroll around. 

Yikes...I remember when this bad boy came out

Metro to Greenbelt, then 1.5 miles on foot in the same downpour to the first apartment I ever rented. I wouldn't have come here, but my roommate George passed away this year, and he always told his wife of the hell we raised there, so I made the trek for Judy. Bottom floor, right. 438 Ridge Rd #1. I hope they finally cleaned up the water heater leak on the carpet!

George and I ran many lap at the lake across the street.

Rest easy, George. 

Back to the Greenbelt Metro, then to Takoma Park. My dad lived here in the late ‘70s, across the street from the Coolidge High track where I first ran 12 laps on a track. I remember watching TV at his place when the story broke about Elvis’ death by peanut butter.

Dad rented the lower floor....

Two more Metro rides, and I’m back at the hotel. The tally: 60 miles by rail, 13 miles by foot, and one very soggy guy. I take a scalding shower, and then my reward…

I like the spicy a little better than the mild.

Monday, my corporate training starts. When I told my hotel server that I was going to walk the mile to the office, she warned me that it’s pretty cold outside. A bitter, blustery 55F….Yes, If i was running, there would be no shirt involved.

Dinner? Oh yes. Metro Red Line to Yellow, down to the Waterfront and the Intercontinetal Hotel. An up and coming chef from Trinidad has new place, so I give it a shot. Incredible oxtails….though I still don’t know what they are.

Tuesday morning’s breakfast is a bagel with lox, every bit as good as yesterday’s dinner, and a fifth the cost. It’s all good.

Of course, it’s raining again. The evening’s plans include a trip to the Pentagon Memorial….except it’s closed for construction. I’m able to see a tiny bit.

Navy '87 classmate Ron and '86 friend Billy D...

Off to Arlington to see classmate Bruce and his lady K. 3+ hours of laughing….

Final day in Bethesda, and it drags a bit. The course instructor is trying to cram two years of statistics theory into 8 hours, and eyes are glazing over. Then it’s back to the hotel.

DC tally: approx 170 miles of Metro train rides, and 16 miles of soaked walking. Every mile of it was awesome, too.

Back to Oregon, and laying low for awhile. Or until I hit the numbers and can fund the next round of trips to see classmates! Having too much fun reconnecting (and in a lot of cases, connecting) with fellow bearers of the Naval Academy Ring.

D-Mac, you might be next. Maybe Maggie up north? And a return visit to Winston’s owners, purveyors of the best home-brewed coffee in the world.