Olympic Trials or Indoor World Champs?!

The Olympic Trials are a unique opportunity to see the best ~1000 US athletes in all events, and the meet is spread out over 9-10 days at 3-4 hours/day with ~2 rest days. There are usually lots of events going on in Eugene, opportunities to see the athletes walking around, and places nearby to explore during the downtime (coast, mountains, Portland, etc.).

If you are more interested to see top international athletes (including the US athletes who made the selection) without a lot of extras in Portland, then that would be world indoors. I don't know what the schedule is like, but it is likely fewer days, for most of the day.

Was thinking about the same question. Looks as though World Indoors is basically over a long weekend. Logistically would be fairly straightforward (at least for me - coming from the East Coast). I've always wanted to go to an Olympic Trials as well. I wonder if World Indoors will be sold out? I'd think they'll figure out a way to fill the stands and have a capacity crowd.

I have been to both. 2012 Olympic Trials in Eugene and World Indoors last year in Poland.

Discounting the fact that World Indoors was in another country and it was my first time overseas, I would definitely pick the Olympic Trials.

Both were great meets and had some exciting races. And World Indoors is a global championship so it has that going for it, but the Olympic Trials is just a different kind of experience. World Indoors is similar to a Diamond League meet. At the Trials, the atmosphere with everyone trying to make the Olympics makes every race very meaningful. The fight for third can be epic rather than an afterthought. All the best runners in the US are there, no skipping this one. No guarantee all the best runners in the world will be at World Indoors. Some will skip, (although I'm sure many top Americans will do it since it's in Portland).

At the Trials everyone is really into it and the meet is getting attention from the general US population since it's "the Olympics" so it's a cool thing to be a part of. Even with it being in the US, I'm not predicting World Indoors will get the same kind of national media attention or hype (although I could be wrong). After the meet each day at the Trials you'll see the elites at the local restaurants and bars and there will be a lot of athletes who didn't make the meet (or who don't make the finals) in town just to watch.

There are some downsides to the Trials though since it's long and drawn out over 9-10 days. So you'll have to take time off of work and spend more money on travel expenses/lodging/tickets. Hotels in Eugene are competitive to get during big events. My advice would be to find a group of people and rent a house together close to the track.

World Indoors is only a 3-4 days, so easier to manage the travel and it's a lot more action packed into a couple key days and you don't have to pay for tickets on as many days. I have no idea about ticket prices for either meet though.

But as the first poster mentioned, it also depends what you're into more. Do you want to see the best in the world or the best in the US? Which are you a bigger fan of? I'm huge into both, but if I'm honest, as a fan of the sport, I think I'm more invested in the races when it's all my favorite American runners going head-to-head to make the Olympics as opposed to many international athletes I'm not as invested in going for a world indoor medal. (If it was an outdoor championship it'd be a different story.)

Lastly, I'll add a plus one for World Indoors would be seeing a US athlete win a global medal on US soil. The atmosphere during the men's 800 in Poland was crazy when (initially, before a DQ) Poland went 2-3:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2014/03/mohammed-aman-comes-behind-win-15th-straight-800-race-championships-2014-worlds/

Hope that helps.

-Steve

If you could only see one of the halves of the Olympic trials, would you go for the first half or second half? Per the 2012 trials schedule, I didn't really have a preference for either side in terms of the events. Would be pleased either way, didn't know if one had cheaper tickets or more to do during the events or things were better at the end or beginning. Thanks.

I have seen WC (I) Toronto, WC (o) Gotenborg, and several USA Trials.

For me WC (o), USA Trials and then WC (I) would me my favorites.

I'll echo what Steve said. The Olympic Trials are da bomb! Like a hardcore baseball fan being at a Yankees fantasy camp. The volunteers who work the event are awesome. Group runs almost every morning. Ran with a nice lady one morning gabbing about our kids. About 6 miles, well under 7 min. pace. Was getting hard for me to carry on a conversation at the end but she was fine so I asked if she ran much. "Not anymore, used to though" Turned out it was Nicole Teter. They have mile races on the track during an off day where you're on the big screen and an announcer is calling out your name. (I beat Bridget Franek's mom!). Can't speak for other cities but after '08 and '12, I'll never miss a trials held in Eugene no matter how tight money is….

I will also jump on the Trials bandwagon, especially when they're in Eugene. Phenomenal experience. I'll second the recommendation to rent a home near Hayward Field. We did it for both the '08 and '12 Trials. It was cheaper than a hotel and certainly more convenient. We were a short walk from Hayward and had access to restaurants, a grocery store, a pub, a bakery, and an ice cream store.

If you don't have a bunch of folks to share a house rental with, splitting a hotel room 2 or 3 ways is not a bad alternative especially when you're seeing athletes all over the place - in the hallways, elevator, breakfast buffet, lobby…..Lots of opportunities to engage them in conversation.

teepee wrote:

If you could only see one of the halves of the Olympic trials, would you go for the first half or second half? Per the 2012 trials schedule, I didn't really have a preference for either side in terms of the events. Would be pleased either way, didn't know if one had cheaper tickets or more to do during the events or things were better at the end or beginning. Thanks.

No idea on the ticket prices, and don't really remember the atmosphere being different based on the first half or the second half of the week, but rather the event going on. People obviously got up for some races more than others. For 2012 whichever half had the women's 5000 would be my choice. Could be a completely different answer in 2016.

Thanks for all the responses, they are really appreciated! I think I am leaning heavily on OTs in Eugene. We Americans are so predictably ethnocentric. :)