Without Limits

Since the early days of college, it has been a tradition for my friend Adam K. to help prepare a Turducken. This Thanksgiving, along with about ten other people from the bay area, I trekked up to Eugene, Oregon to visit Adam and to share in the continuation of that tradition.

Eugene, Oregon is also known as "Track Town, USA." The beginnings of the Nike shoe company happened there at the University of Oregon, and legendary American runner Steve Prefontaine set many a record while there until his tragic death at age 24.

I had the opportunity to run a 15 mile workout while in Eugene. My friend Will H. joined me for the run. It was really inspiring to run in the area where "Pre," as he was affectionately known, had put in the miles that enabled him to simultaneously hold all of the American records for every running event between 2,000 and 10,000 meters.

This got me thinking about my upcoming race at the California International Marathon. I decided that it would be a fun way to prep for CIM by hosting a movie night for my running friends. So, on Friday night I got together a few people from PARC and friends, and had a showing of "Without Limits," which is the 1998 film starring Billy Crudup as Steve Prefontaine, and Donald Sutherland as Bill Bowerman. It was a lot of fun getting together with fellow PARC runners Chris, Donna T, and Mandy E. to watch the movie.

I'm writing this post from the Holiday Inn in Sacramento. My good buddy Derek P. (who is not a runner) and I are up here the night before the Cal International to get a good night's sleep before the marathon. Derek is prepping his cheering/hollering voice and looking over the course map. I am ready. The race starts at 7AM. Wish me luck tomorrow...