When I first realized the U.S. track and field Olympic trials were spread out amongst 10 days I thought it was ridiculously long. But, hey, these athletes have sacrificed four years of their lives (at the very least!) to prepare for this moment. I can sacrifice 10 days to cheer them on and hopefully be entertained in the process.
And boy, was I.
For anyone that thinks "track on t.v. is boring," I don't think you've been following the jaw-dropping, record-breaking, plot-twist filled U.S. Olympic Trials.
For those of us who did nothing but that the past week or so, here's what was probably going through your head.
1. Getting prepared for the trials is like the 12 days of Christmas in July.
2. You try to convince your non-runner friends to join in- "Trust me! A 10K on t.v. is exhilarating!"
3. The trials start off without a hitch.
4. Then Droddy happens.
5. You soon realize that the Hunger Games might be a more appropriate title- no one is safe.
6. Everything (or everyone) comes crumbling down from there.
7. Women's 800- need I say more?
9. At least the high schoolers are doing fine!
10. You get some major feels when Boris crosses the finish, an Olympian. (Or were those just McDonald's cravings?)
11. Between the new AeroBib technology, Craig Engle's mullet/stache combo, and Galen Rupp's not-so K-tape, by day five, nothing can throw you for a loop anymore.
12. Until Rule 40 issues continue...
13. The field events are a nice break from all this, as they seem to be doing quite well, setting records, achieving standards, without all the drama.
14. Then the 1500 prelims- didn't we learn anything from the women's 800?
15. And the EPO news (on Kara Goucher's birthday!) brings the chaos back up to speed.
16. The steeplechase just had too many favorites and great breakthroughs. There was no way you could be watching that without feeling torn.
17. And Bernard freaking Lagat in the 5K. If you didn't get PUMPED up during that last 150 I don't know what you were watching.
19. But no matter the drama on the track, you really didn't maximize your viewing if you weren't following @DumbFlotrack.
Note- There were many great performances and moments during the ten days I had to pick and choose with the ones included. Also, the author is a bit of a running nerd and totally uncoordinated and uninformed with most field events. Any commentary I had on these events would not suffice! I apologize in advance for lack of inclusion.
