Who will win 2017 USA Cross Country Championship in Bend Oregon this Saturday afternoon?

Needs a group wrote:

[quote]dogfarts69420 wrote:

Ryan Mahalsky will crack into the top 10[/quote

This kid is good but needs some training partners.

Why?

still_freezing_in_PDX wrote:

With the freezing ice storm headed our way tonight, so you think you will be able to drive from Portland to Bend tomorrow?

That's what I'm worried about.

We got 2-3 inches yesterday but shouldn't get much more, maybe a little freezing rain. It's supposed to be in the 40's tomorrow. It will be tough conditions but nothing too crazy for XC. Certainly not a disaster. Soft footing, hills, a little altitude - folks will get 12k of value out of the 10k course.

Looks like the course is still being worked onhttp://www.bendbulletin.com/exports/newsletters/main/5037807-151/organizers-still-clearing-xc-nationals-courseIf you're heading over from Portland today, it looks like there is some ice/snow on the pass, but nothing major. I live in Bend, drive in this stuff all the time, so I'm prepared for driving over the pass, but I can imagine some trepidation from folks coming from the Eugene or Portland side of the mountains as you likely don't have snow tires. Get some chains from Les Schwab, as you can return them if they're unused. The roads in Bend are a bit messy in spots for folks who don't have decent tires. The roads in/around the golf course should hopefully be better taken care of (as that's a bit of a higher-end neighborhood -- they always get taken care of first), and if you stay to the main roads around town and just drive slow, you should be fine.

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

With the freezing ice storm headed our way tonight, so you think you will be able to drive from Portland to Bend tomorrow?

That's what I'm worried about.

If you're going to try to be funny, you better succeed. Otherwise you come off like a douchebag.

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

still_freezing_in_PDX wrote:

With the freezing ice storm headed our way tonight, so you think you will be able to drive from Portland to Bend tomorrow?

That's what I'm worried about.

There's a lot of ice on the roads in Bend, slick out!

It's First Friday in downtown Bend, lots of breweries, art galleries and live music. Police are out so don't get caught drinking and driving

Whose bright idea was to have it out there to begin with? It's not as if Oregon is known for having mild winters? Maybe this meet would be fine for xc skiers or snowshoers, but how can this meet determine a fair competition? And then they also have age group races where old timers are risking breaking a limb, twisting a knee or two on a course that is slanted and now ice covered.

You can't tell me that this meet shouldn't have been run somewhere else. I am sure other locations have breweries, art galleries and live music.

It's not going to be dangerous, just slow and sloppy. Mid 40s, soft wet grass.

californiacarlson, your wish is granted starting next year: 2018-19 races to be held in Tallahassee.

californiacarlson wrote:

Whose bright idea was to have it out there to begin with? It's not as if Oregon is known for having mild winters? Maybe this meet would be fine for xc skiers or snowshoers, but how can this meet determine a fair competition? And then they also have age group races where old timers are risking breaking a limb, twisting a knee or two on a course that is slanted and now ice covered.

You can't tell me that this meet shouldn't have been run somewhere else. I am sure other locations have breweries, art galleries and live music.

I love running this course, by scheduling this event in early February is a mistake!

The course will be slick, icy and doubtful any grass will be seem under the packed snow. Times will suck and I can't believe people are running tomorrow and flew here to race.

californiacarlson wrote:

Whose bright idea was to have it out there to begin with? It's not as if Oregon is known for having mild winters? Maybe this meet would be fine for xc skiers or snowshoers, but how can this meet determine a fair competition? And then they also have age group races where old timers are risking breaking a limb, twisting a knee or two on a course that is slanted and now ice covered.

You can't tell me that this meet shouldn't have been run somewhere else. I am sure other locations have breweries, art galleries and live music.

NW Oregon is known for mild winters but not central Oregon. I agree...this race should be held in a more favorable site like Eugene, Portland or Seattle.

Almost like real cross-country… If you want to run a fast time, go to a track. This is a race - the time is irrelevant.

Come to England and watch the old guys slogging for 12k through freezing mud behind 2000 other runners if you think these guys will be damaged by a bit of snow on the ground.

The course will not be slick or icy or packed snow. This is just wrong.

Cue a tender footed Californian who will complain about the conditions in 3, 2...oops too late:

californiacarlson wrote:

Whose bright idea was to have it out there to begin with? It's not as if Oregon is known for having mild winters? Maybe this meet would be fine for xc skiers or snowshoers, but how can this meet determine a fair competition? And then they also have age group races where old timers are risking breaking a limb, twisting a knee or two on a course that is slanted and now ice covered.

You can't tell me that this meet shouldn't have been run somewhere else. I am sure other locations have breweries, art galleries and live music.

This is a great place to have a true test of cross country at any time of the year.

Jefe in the CO wrote:

Cue a tender footed Californian who will complain about the conditions in 3, 2...oops too late:

californiacarlson wrote:

Whose bright idea was to have it out there to begin with? It's not as if Oregon is known for having mild winters? Maybe this meet would be fine for xc skiers or snowshoers, but how can this meet determine a fair competition? And then they also have age group races where old timers are risking breaking a limb, twisting a knee or two on a course that is slanted and now ice covered.

You can't tell me that this meet shouldn't have been run somewhere else. I am sure other locations have breweries, art galleries and live music.

This is a great place to have a true test of cross country at any time of the year.

Not really a true test.

This surface is not relevant to any major x-country race run in the world including world champs. The Bend guys put in a good bid and won.

We might be better served to look at what the world champs course is and have bids tailored to a real race simulation.

This is a great place to have a true test of cross country at any time of the year.[/quote]

Not really a true test.

This surface is not relevant to any major x-country race run in the world including world champs. The Bend guys put in a good bid and won.

We might be better served to look at what the world champs course is and have bids tailored to a real race simulation.[/quote]

Good point but I expect that the choice of local is driven by time, funds, and willingness to put this on. Maybe not many places have that.

reminiscent of 2004 Indianapolis,

https://www.usatf.org/events/2004/USAXCChampionships/photos/

Looking for Dunbar, Gray and Smyth to perform well.