Kicks: adidas SL 72

The words ‘cult’ and ‘classic’ are starting to feel a little over used, but the SL 72, with its low-cut, grooved midsole, forked forefoot, deserves the thumbs up. Simplicity always ages with dignity, but via a helping hand from a vintage treatment, the softer textures and faded colors carry an extra resonance.

Originally released in the early ’70s with training intent to coincide with 1972’s Olympic Games, the SL 72 which standsfor appropriately standing for Super Light performed well but was elevated to trend level by an European audience hunting the mix of cleanliness and subtle eccentricities adidas effortlessly unleashed in the ’70s and early ’80s.

Eugene is #1

Tracktown U.S.A. stands tall as the biggest winner of 2008.  The will of a city convened forces to present the sport at its best, putting the Eugene in the national spotlight.

It becomes obvious while in Eugene that it is a city of doers.  Thousands lace up their shoes each morning, running the winding trials that populate the city.

The energy behind Eugene ‘08 was made up of: the citizens of Eugene, The Oregon Track Club, and the Eugene 08 local organizing committee including surrounding governments and municipalities.

The city known as “Tracktown U.S.A.” vindicated itself from its detractors that cried foul at in the city being awarding the 2008 Olympic Trials, landing the trials and subsequent national championship meets.
It is beyond denial that the superbowl of track and field was gorgeous with a massive injection of money from Nike.  Hayward Field is splendid after $8 million in renovations, and the 20,000 fans are testament to track and field’s popularity not only in Eugene but in the surrounding region.

It is not anything new to have the Olympic Trials in Eugene considering the world-class facilities and the athletes that train at the University of Oregon.  The real question that is circling is whether Eugene will serve as host to an Olympic Games within our lifetime.

Vin Lananna: “I think the fans were treated to something very special this week, the spectators enjoyed it but more importantly I think the athletes had a great experience here.  We hope they have.  That was our objective when we put this thing together.”

A review of the U.S. Track & Field Trials brought three foreign born athletes qualifying in the 1,500 meters to compete in Beijing.  Jennifer Stuczynki reigned in a new U.S. record in the pole vault.  Marshevet Hooker took a spill in qualifying for the 200 meters, emerging with a sense of humor.

Tyson Gay’s American-record 9.77 seconds in a 100 heat and a wind-aided 9.68 in the final, the fastest time ever run in any conditions. The men’s 800 final highlighted the meet when Eugene-based runners finished 1-2-3 to a deafening roar from the nearly 21,000 fans.  Bryan Clay recorded one of the best decathlon scores in history.

The meet left most happy and hungry for more.  The 2009 and 2011 National Champions and World Championship Trials return to Eugene, in addition to the 2012 Olympic Trials.

You can not properly say goodbye to 2008, without saying hello to the prospects of track and field in Eugene 2009.

Track & Field 2009 Wish List

It is about that time again, as we run into a new year.  Will anything be different this year? We hope so, and took the opportunity to put together a list of wishes for 2009.

A rivalry
I am not calling for the overthrow of the Usain Bolt, that is why we run the sport. But nothing makes track and field more interesting than a couple good rivalries. Squaring off against the top talent, including a fully healthy Tyson Gay is not only good for the fans, it is good for the sport in general.

Indoor track remains alive & well
Competition is a great thing to have in track and field.  It brings out the best in athletes and in the sport.  While many of the sport’s top names chose not to run indoors, it is a source of entertainment for the fans and a paycheck for the athletes that chose to run indoors.

Wanted
Is getting on the medal stand in Berlin asking for too much? A break through American middle distance or distance runner is needed.  Elite U.S. middle and long distance runners are few and far between.  Excellence in this area will draw in the mainstream fan that has not tuning in to track and field.

More Live TV
So now I can view track meets from around the world on my computer.   LIVE streaming has revolutionized the way track reaches fans, and it would be wonderful if it got even better in 2009.  However watching more live track meets on HD are what everyone wants to see.

Kicks: Nike Black Lunar Racer

After dropping the Blackout pack by Nike Sportswear, here is the recently released Lunar Racer offered exclusively at 21 Mercer in New York. The designers chose to keep the body of shoe black, while adding in pops of color for energy and interest.

Five different colors for the five styles of Lunar Racers were chosen: Purple, blue, green, yellow, and red. The yellow colorway is releasing in May 2009.

2008: Heroes and Heartbreaks

This year was another success on the track, highlighted by incredible performances delivering fast times and fierce competition.

Which races will you be talking about in 20 years?

Usain Bolt, Young At Heart
It’s no stretch to say that Bolt was as much a dominant force as a sprinter in track this year as Wilt Chamberlin was a scorer in basketball.  The 22-year-old Jamaican was so hot that he accelerated global warming.

Yelena Isinbayeva, High Flying Act
The pole vault final in Beijing matched up reigning champion Yelena Isinbayeva and challenger Jennifer Stuczynski. Facing down each other, freshly minted American Record Holder Isinbayeva soared over the bar at 16 feet, 7 inches, increasing her own world record while securing her second Olympic gold.

Liu Xiang, Failure To Launch
Can you imagine the sight of Liu Xiang lined up in 110-meter hurdles in front of his countrymen? Fans were so shocked after the defending Olympic and former world record holder walked off the track after that false start.

Angelo Taylor, Leads Sweep
Team USA got off to a slow start, however in exactly 47.25 seconds, the 1-2-3 finish changes their fortunes. Taylor regaining the 400-meter hurdle title ahead of Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson after taking gold in 2000 Sydney revived the spirits of Team USA.

Lolo Jones, Top of the Class
Dignity is not something easily imitated or duplicated. Lolo maybe the top athlete that fans are rooting for after running into the hurdle. She left the games champion, no one showed more class than Lolo Jones in Beijing.

Bryan Clay, Larger Than Life
The 5 foot, 10 inch and 185 pound Hawaiian may have been overshadowed by Michael Phelps and the Jamaicans, but his timing could not have been more on to achieve the status as the ‘World’s Greatest Athlete’. Battling through asthma in winning the decathlon gold.

Stephanie Brown Trafton, Season’s Biggest Surprise
There is no coronation in track & field, you play to win the competition. Brown Trafton surprised everyone in Beijing in becoming the first U.S. woman in 76 years to win the discus.

Dayron Robles, Solid Gold Performance
A ruthless competitor over the hurdles. The Cuban hurdle star rolled 12.87 in Ostrava, Czech Republic establishing a new 110 meter world record.

Kenenisa Bekele, Double The Pleasure
Reassuring proof that the Ethiopians have a stranglehold on the distance events. Bekele led all the way, sprinting to an Olympic record over 5,000 meters, just days after winning the 10,000 meters.

American Women’s 4×400-meter relay, Thrilling Come-From-Behind Victory
After the come-from-behind victory over the Russians on the anchor leg, the scene could have ended with Sanya Richards being carried off the track on the shoulders off Mary Wineberg, Allyson Felix and Monique Henderson.

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show - Episode 1

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Listen listen to inaugural episode of PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show.

Welcome to the inaugural show of PreRaceJitters’ Track and Field Radio show featuring Jay Hicks and John W. Davis. During this episode, we discuss the USA Track & field convention and talk with Ross Krempley of Runnerspace.com about the impact of Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) on the high school cross scene. Read more

Kicks: Nike Sportswear Blackout

Nike dropped the all black shoe line of some major classics on Christmas day in an attempt to bring some holiday cheers of their own.  Included in the pack are: Dunk Hi, Air Force 1, Air Morgan, Air Max 90, and Lunar Racer.

These five styles are exclusively available in New York City.  You can be confident the kicks brought the crowds as a simple black shoe will typically do that.

Kicks: A.R.C. x New Balance 1300

Alife Rivington Club is opening a new store across the street from its current location in New York’s Lower East Side. At the new store, you can cop a pair of the new A.R.C x New Balance, which is available in two colorways. The teal and gray hues make for an attractive pair of sneakers.

Kicks: Nike Livestrong Lunar Trainer +

In the summer leading up to the Beijing Games, Nike released two innovative sneakers. The Flywire was one and the other was the Lunar Lite Foam, and while the Flywire has been heavily written about the Lunar cushioning technology has been virtually been forgotten about.

The Nike Lunar technology can be found in the Nike Lunar Racer and the Nike Lunar Trainer. The Nike Lunar Trainer + show above is a part of the LIVESTRONG collection which the profits are donated to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

These Nike+ have a features that allows you to synch up with your Apple Ipod Nano to your sneakers to keep up with your runs.

More Track Meets Needed.

To get to the next level elite track and field needs to host more meets in U.S.  Simply put, the money trains rolls directly to Europe, which explains why professional track athletes spend most of the summer overseas. Read more

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