This trials has been quite a doozy.  We’ve had highs and lows with friends and foes, cheers and jeers over burgers and beers (that might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever written). Regardless, there is one last thing to take care of before we go: this Live Blog.

This Live Blog is going to be EXTRA special as we will be having two contests.  With PRIZES!!!!  The winner of each contest will receive a special 3000 Miles Eugene08 prize pack.
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Come on now guys, this Goucher thing is getting a little ridiculous.  What is everyone so upset about?  So the guy gets into the 10k with a little home cooking from Nike Oregon Salazar inc.  No biggie.

All of you little guys that are up in arms over the “shady” or “suspicious” nature of the acceptance process need to realize you are “little” guys for a reason, you don’t schmooze.  Salazar schmoozes.  If you don’t schmooze, you lose, and this situation has illustrated that fact perfectly.

Aside from GoucherGate, the two days off have been a good respite from track action but I think everyone is once again ready to turn their attention away from “enjoying each other’s company” and back to the track.  Where you don’t have to worry about saying stuff and listening to things.

The upcoming events of note are thus: M & W 1500, M 10k, M & W Steeple, M & W 400.  There’s other stuff going on, I suppose, but I’m only one man.

The men’s 1500 is going to be the bee’s knees for sure where we all can follow the walking soap opera that is Alan Webb’s career.  Whether he does well or poorly, this trials is going to be a turning point in his career.

Also, the men’s 10k will be scintillating with, presumably, a strong Oregon crowd for the Ruppinator.

–ben

Allegedly, there was some sort of racing/event/musical children’s celebration going on at Hayward today.  Anyone who was anyone doesn’t bother with that bush league nonsense, they go to “the coast” to “relax” on their off days from the trials.  Real typical of these white collar track snobs.

Jeremy and I, of course, were hard at work all day while those fat cats traded in their precious credential laniard for a pair of board shorts and an unbottoned hawaiian shirt.

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Jeremy and I decided to have a taste after a long day of shooting stuff (I’m not a big gun nut, but Jeremy loves it for some reason). What Eugene lacks in big city charm and “stuff to do”, it more than makes up for in variety of craft brews.  There are a lot of different beers to choose from no matter where you go.  We will be rolling out our best of Eugene beers in a few days in video form, but for now let’s just say they all managed to get me a little drunk, which is nice.

We headed to the Villard Street Pub in what might be referred to as downtown Eugene.  It was crawling with track people.  Most notably, we spotted Larry Rawson, of  the always entertaining announcing team “Dwight Stones, Carol Lewis and Larry Rawson.” I really wanted to ask him how many beers he thought I drank based on my turnover.  I’m not really sure I know what that would have meant, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

I’m off to bed now in preparation for tomorrow’s LIVE BLOG EXTRAVAGANZA, and an extra special surprise that might be happening after the super sick 5k final tomorrow night.  Peace, I’m outta here.

–ben

The fix is in. It’s official. Tyson Gay just topped his American record of yesterday with a 9.68. 9.68 is special. The wind was illegal and I’m pretty sure he had ‘pocket hercules‘ actually push him out of the blocks, but covering 100 meters in 9.68 is something. Besides, the wind was 4.1, which is strong but certainly no tornado, and ‘pocket hercules’ is like, a hundred years old by now, so Gay deserves a lot of credit.

Unless, you know about the “resurfacing” of Hayward’s track that was happening not very long ago.

You have a perfectly fine track and Vin decides to “repaint” the lines.  I think I counted 97 meters when I walked it yesterday.  HHHHMMMmmmmm…

–ben

For those of you who will be spending tomorrow afternoon and evening either A. Bored at work or B. Lamenting your life of unemployment or C. Trying to wash the sin from the past weekend of debauchery off your skin (tip: You’ll need something stronger than Irish Spring), we have something to pass the time:

A LIVE BLOG!

Jeremy and I will be sitting in the Eugene08 festival zone all day tomorrow letting you poor saps in other parts of the world know how its going down in Eugene.  The festival zone is full of great things like fans, beers, food, and booths where I can play Nintendo Wii.

We will spend the day posting pictures and videos as well as letting you know JUST what it’s like to be here in Eugene soaking in the fantasticness of the trials.  If you are just watching the races on TV and listening to the “amazing” “coverage” that your favorite track announcers always provide, you are gonna be missing out. Just saying…

Also, you’ll be able to interact with the blog by sending us comments, insults, and fashion tips.  When was the last time you could send in a comment to Carol Lewis?  All the excitement will lead up to the men’s 5k which is scheduled for 9:40 pm.  So get ready to tie on that bib extra tight tomorrow morning because it’s gonna get SLOPPY.

–ben

On the first day of competition Galen Rupp did something to stir the pot a little. I like that. Throwing up the number one sign in a prelim is a strategy that has rarely worked out. It takes guts. His post race interview showed that he is pumped up right now. The guy is geeking out big time.  I don’t know if that means he will race well in the 5k and/or 10k or not, but he’s acting like this is the most fun thing he’s ever done. I think we can all learn a little something from young Galen.

Some so-called “old school” track fans always get upset about crap like this. “Young whippersnappers don’t have respect and blah and blah.”

First of all, throwing up the “number one” sign is as old school as it gets. There have been some great premature “I’m number one” gestures in history. New England Patriots fans before the Super Bowl, Custer before the Battle of Little Big Horn, Lucifer to the archangel David, to name a few.While Patriots fans are, by and large, huge douches, Custer and Satan?  Talk about bad ass.  And it doesn’t get much more old school than Custer’s mustache.

The 5k final tomorrow is going to be nuts.  We will be live blogging from the Eugene08 Fan Festival outside the stadium where the beer will be cold and the hotties at the Party will be shaking their bodies.   We are finally getting our bearings here in Eugene and I have given my phone number out to every hot chick I have seen, so “business”, as they say, will be picking up soon.

–ben

At this point yesterday, I legitimately hated this Jeremy guy and I’m pretty sure he had a rusty shiv hidden somewhere on his person ready to stab my eye once I turned my back. Oh, that’s not gonna happen, old friend, I am on to you, I remember thinking to myself. Oh, the road! The memories!

We finished our 3000 mile road trip last night. I think “harrowing” is how I would describe it. Perhaps, “tragic.” Or, simply, “unhealthy.” However one describes it, the main thing to focus on is that its over. And the Jeremy and ben duo are well on their way to less homicidal thoughts toward each other, so there’s that.

We managed to arrive at Hayward field last night just in time to watch everyone leave. The women’s 10k had just finished and I can only assume it was the most inspiring experience in the history of track at Hayward Field. Amy Begley ran the race of her life to get in the top three and, just as importantly, dip under the Olympic A standard. To say it was a gutsy race is not doing it justice. As one woman put it last night on her way out of the stadium, “that Amy Begley has on huge set of balls.” That one woman’s name: Maria Mutola.

The road was fun at times and miserable at times, but seeing the excitement of the first day has made the trip an afterthought. It’s time to get all up in this trials’ business. We’ll be back later today with some more crap for you to look at.

–ben