I thought the kenyans competing in the ncaa were killing the sport? looks like it is already dead if you can't make the short drive to see some of the best americans. would you rather post here instead?
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sport already dead wrote:
I thought the kenyans competing in the ncaa were killing the sport? looks like it is already dead if you can't make the short drive to see some of the best americans. would you rather post here instead?
That is a really good point honestly. My 3 favorite won't be there, but it is still going to be a very high level meet.
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gidbob wrote:
Er... wrote:
How can there be no parking? How far a walk is it from the closest realistic parking for spectators? I would go if it were within 2.5 hours almost certainly.
There's a college they say to park at and get a shuttle to the course from.
Glendoveer is a public golf course with about 300 total parking spots. Those spots will supposedly be closed to all non-staff/event personnel. There are very limited spaces in adjacent neighborhoods. As noted, you can wait in line for the shuttles for both arrival and departure. On a 40-50° morning, standing in the rain for 4 or 5 hours isn't my cup of tea, especially when I could be sitting next to my fireplace at home watching rivalry week football.
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If you aren't willing to make a 20 minute drive to spectate, then you are part of the problem. You don't have to go, but I better not see you back here bishing about low turnout.
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I’m curious, what is it about Fisher, Mantz, and Hocker that makes them your favorites? Is it their fast times and accomplishments? If so, consider that Young and Blanks are only 23, then compare their times and accomplishments to those of Fisher and Mantz at the same age. You might be impressed!
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Definitely go. Get your run in, dress appropriately for the weather, and do it.
We're as disappointed as you about Mantz, Fisher, and Hocker but it's still a US Team spot on the line.
Worst case realistic outcome: it's a sloppy cold day but you get to witness some incredible athletes duke it out and then after a traffic induced 35 min drive home you get come post here about your experience and make me jealous.
Best case realistic outcome: it's a sloppy cold day but you get to witness some incredible athletes duke it out and then Graham Blanks' family takes you out to dinner bc they heard you cheering for him by name and then Graham shows up and gives you his medal b/c he heard you cheering for him. Then they drop you off at home and before you get frustrated about having to sort out your car situation you come post here about your experience and make me jealous.
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McRunnin wrote:
I’m curious, what is it about Fisher, Mantz, and Hocker that makes them your favorites? Is it their fast times and accomplishments? If so, consider that Young and Blanks are only 23, then compare their times and accomplishments to those of Fisher and Mantz at the same age. You might be impressed!
For Fisher and Hocker it's the Medals, for Mantz it's his accomplishments combined with my sharing a religion with him
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gidbob wrote:
sport already dead wrote:
I thought the kenyans competing in the ncaa were killing the sport? looks like it is already dead if you can't make the short drive to see some of the best americans. would you rather post here instead?
That is a really good point honestly. My 3 favorite won't be there, but it is still going to be a very high level meet.
You say it’s a high level meet, but yet you don’t want to drive 20 minutes? You can’t make your decision without starting a thread about it?
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gidbob wrote:
McRunnin wrote:
I’m curious, what is it about Fisher, Mantz, and Hocker that makes them your favorites? Is it their fast times and accomplishments? If so, consider that Young and Blanks are only 23, then compare their times and accomplishments to those of Fisher and Mantz at the same age. You might be impressed!
For Fisher and Hocker it's the Medals, for Mantz it's his accomplishments combined with my sharing a religion with him
Which makes perfect sense. The rest of the field is mostly a scrub fest now. It will be like watching your local 5k Turkey Trot; heck you will probably have more fun at one of those than at US XC Champs. Don’t listen to these idiots who are telling you that you should go just because it’s 20 minutes away, and that you should somehow feel guilty for not wanting go. For analogy’s sake, let us say there is a landfill dump 20 minutes away from where you live. Just because it’s there doesn’t mean you have to go to the landfill now does it? Shoot you would have more fun at the landfill than US XC champs. Don’t listen to these mega nerd losers trying to convince you to attend a race you know isn’t worth seeing. Spend that day doing something worthwhile and fun, instead of the second rate scrub fest that is USA XC.
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Go find a bird to take home and stuff. Gobble Gobble!
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If you plan on watching world xc and want to watch the top runners in the world you will not be watching Americans. XC in US ends at college level. Beyond that it is all on the track or marathons for money.
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Watch the kids early.
Grab some lunch and beers at Von Ebert Brewing on the Glendoveer grounds.
Watch the pros race afterwards. With team spots on the line, the racing should still be good.
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I would go for Allie Ostrander alone. She's fit, super funny, a dark horse in these races, and her youtube channel is a great journey to follow along with.
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You had me at cross country race! Good enough for me.
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did wrote:
Definitely go. Get your run in, dress appropriately for the weather, and do it.
We're as disappointed as you about Mantz, Fisher, and Hocker but it's still a US Team spot on the line.
Worst case realistic outcome: it's a sloppy cold day but you get to witness some incredible athletes duke it out and then after a traffic induced 35 min drive home you get come post here about your experience and make me jealous.
Best case realistic outcome: it's a sloppy cold day but you get to witness some incredible athletes duke it out and then Graham Blanks' family takes you out to dinner bc they heard you cheering for him by name and then Graham shows up and gives you his medal b/c he heard you cheering for him. Then they drop you off at home and before you get frustrated about having to sort out your car situation you come post here about your experience and make me jealous.
Lol your best case realistic outcome feels only marginally more likely than getting a date with Parker Valby, which is to say not actually realistic. Sure would be fun though
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It takes me more than 20 minutes to get to the closest Dairy Queen. It's not that far.
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gidbob wrote:
NXN? wrote:
NXN races are the same day at the same place an hour or two before the USATF races. Get to see the best high school runners as well as some of the best american pros.
I talked about doing that when I thought Mantz would be there, but I was told that you shouldn't watch HS athletics in person unless you personally know someone competing. I also have a 19 miler planned that day, so seeing all of NXN would require a very early start to that
A few thousand people in Portland, Oregon enjoying cross country in 46 degree weather during a light rain shower on Saturday, December 6th. 14015 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97230
- 12:30 p.m. PST USATF Men's 2 KM Championship
- 12:40 p.m. USATF Women's 2 KM Championship
- 12:55 p.m. USATF Men's 10 KM Championship
- 1:50 p.m. USATF Women's 10 KM Championship
- 2:50 p.m. USATF U20 Men's 8 KM Championship
- 3:00 p.m. Packet Pickup Closes
- 3:30 p.m. USATF U20 Women's 6 KM Championship
Cool Course Map:This post was edited 13 minutes after it was posted.00 -
18x20 minutes wrote:
Parker Valby is a goddess wrote:
Parker Valby.
I'm looking at a 6-hour drive to Tallahassee and if Valby qualifies, that will probably be enough to convince me to go. I've never seen her run in person and will take advantage of it. Unfortunately, living in the Southeast, we almost never have any pro track nearby. Everything is in Oregon, California, or (indoor) NYC or Boston. I did go to Atlanta and Gainesville last year for nice pro meets but neither meet was held this year.
Asking because I really don't know. Is this an open course for spectators where you can run from point to point or is there a gate to get in?
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Honestly, even without Mantz/Fisher/Hocker, a US championship on your doorstep is still worth the 20-minute drive. You’re still getting to see national-level guys racing for real stakes, not some low-key tune-up meet. Young, Blanks, and the rest of the field are fit, hungry, and way easier to actually watch up close than the headliners would’ve been.
Plus, Portland almost never gets legit elite races where you can stand right on the ropes, hear coaches yelling splits, and see how fast these guys actually move in person. That alone is worth the price of gas.
If you pair it with even part of NXN, that’s basically a full morning of top-tier racing, and you don’t need to know a high-schooler personally to watch a championship race. Tons of people go just for the energy and the course vibe.
Worst case? You’re out an hour of your morning. Best case? You get a front-row seat to some legit racing you’d regret missing later.70 -
depends. do you have anything better to do?
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