Welcome to Eugene Oregon
2 followers
Following
1
A Runner’s Guide to Eugene
Eugene | If you’ve been hearing the buzz about TrackTown USA, it’s for good reason. Eugene has long been an international destination for runners and fans of the sport, and with the 2020 Olympic Team Trials — Track & Field and the 2021 World Athletics Championships Oregon 21 on the horizon, now is the time to see it for yourself. Here’s our checklist of what you’ll want to put on your TrackTown itinerary.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE SHOES
The first Nike shoes were crafted in Eugene
The Nike shoe was invented when University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman was experimenting with lightweight soles made in his waffle iron. Bowerman’s track team sold the waffle-soled shoes from the back of a VW bus like the replica on display at Eugene’s Nike Store in Oakway Center (a new Nike store will open in downtown Eugene in late 2020).
The Graduate Eugene Hotel has a large collection of Nike shoes on display in their grand lobby. Their 1972 Nike Moon Shoes are extra special: these are one of 12 prototype pairs made by Bill Bowerman himself and worn by athlete Dave Russell, who loved them.
It’s not just the first Nike running shoe that is celebrated here — the Museum of Natural and Cultural History displays ancient footwear unearthed by UO archaeologists during a 1930s dig in Oregon’s high desert caves. The shoes, dubbed the “Great Basin Sandals”, discovered in the Fort Rock Cave are made from sagebrush bark and are 10,000 years old (twice as old as the pyramids)!
EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF HAYWARD FIELD
The site of hallowed ground for runners
The new Hayward Field stadium and track will be unveiled in 2020, transforming the historic location into a beacon of the future. Athletes who have competed at Hayward Field all describe a similar experience — feeling the energy of the cheering crowds, connecting to the spirit of champions that have won before, and being emotionally and spiritually awed to be here.
Now, expect that power to be amplified with the new innovative stadium design, state-of-the-art track and the gleaming tower. A ticket to any meet held here — from the Pre Classic to the Pac-12 Tournament to the 2020 Olympic Trials — Track & Field — is a must-do for track fans and for sports fans of any kind.
PAY TRIBUTE AT PRE’S ROCK
A simple memorial to Prefontaine draws the faithful
Track fans come from all over to remember Steve Prefontaine as well as to feel a sense of community with others who were touched by his story. Prefontaine (known as “Pre”) won seven NCAA titles for the University of Oregon in the 1970s, breaking multiple records and fueling the rise in popularity of track and field. The Coos Bay native and Eugene resident held every American record from the two-mile to the 10,000 meters when he died tragically at the age of 24. The memorial rock placed at the spot where his car crashed is often covered with shoes, bib numbers and notes left by fans. The rock is located on a curve on a narrow street without parking. If you are compelled to visit, please use caution and do not block the roadway.
- Share
- 1Like
