The Long Prefontaine Weekend

This weekend was the big trip for the Mazama Cross Country Team (and many other high school teams in the area): the Prefontaine Memorial Run in Coos Bay.

Friday:

We left after school. Randy and I got started a little late getting to the car rental place because we couldn't find Marvin at Mazama (he is the head coach and had the check for the vans). But we made up time at the rental agency when we breezed through the rental process. Marvin headed back to Mazama to round up the troops, while Randy and I took care of our kids, he picking up his babysitter and I dropping Zoe off with Amy at ponderosa.

I picked Randy up at his house, he had left his van back at the rental agency while driving Isaac around. We found when we returned that he could not open the passenger side door from the inside. Not a big deal, but we wanted to be sure that they knew that there was a problem so that we didn't get charged for it.

We loaded everyone up and headed west. The trip was uneventful except for the near accident that we were in. A semi slowed almost to a stop in front of about six cars (three of which were in our caravan). I was driving the last car. The car behind us slowed and was fine until the car behind it slammed into it, pushing it off the road with a bang. It wasn't a big accident but it was a bit scary and surely would have ended our trip had we been hit.

We arrived in Coos Bay Fire Station (they are nice enough to host us in their weight room/meeting room each year) just after 9, got our sleeping areas set up, went to the store for some junk food, then settled in for a movie and went to sleep.

Saturday:

We awoke around 7, the kids included, which was quite odd; usually, they sleep until eight or nine. The race started at ten. I went for a 15 minute walk, then a 30 minute jog to get warmed up. I tried to go a different way than I have gone before and found that there are about five thrift stores in a five block radius in downtown Coos Bay. I was scoping them out because I had forgotten my book and so wanted to find a place to buy a new one. I had to wait until after the race as they were closed until 9:30 or ten (plus, I had left my wallet back at the fire station).

The race went better than I had expected. I was almost three minutes faster on the way back in than on the way out. I was timed in 45:32, not my fastest but much better than the sub 48 that I was hoping for.

After (most) everyone finished, we made our way back to the fire station for showers, then a walk through the street fair where we had oriental noodles, teriyaki beef on a stick, and fudge. We also watched a bit of the parade, and went to one of the thrift stores to finally get my book. I picked up four: "LaBrava" by Elmore Leonard, "Eight Great Comedies", "The sinners" by W. Somerset Maughm, and "Nice New Neighbors" by Franz Brandenberg (for Zoe). Then we went to the beach.

We played tackle football, I made it for about half an hour before I dislocated my left shoulder for the fourth time (in 15 years). Luckily, I had read of a technique where sitting on the ground you lace your fingers across the opposite side knee, relax and gently pull. It popped back in on the third try. It wasn't as bad as sometimes, but it is quite tender today.

After the beach, we picked up some pizzas, and ate them back at the firehouse while watching the duck game. We put on a movie, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and I was asleep by 8:45.

Sunday:

We got off early (these kids like to get up!) and then were home by 2:30. I had Marvin drop me off at the Hill house, where we had dinner, then home for early bed again: All that travel, running, and chaperoning (sp?) wears a guy out.