It's taken a while, all afternoon and evening really, to fully understand the gravity of the announcement I heard today at the Bowerman Building at the University of Oregon: that the 2009 and 2011 National Championships as well as the 2012 Olympic Trials are going to be hosted by the Oregon Track Club at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field, a.k.a. my backyard. 

I moved here four years ago and have run PRs every year I have lived here.  My life purpose right now, and for the last 6 years has been to answer one question and check a line off my life's to do list: how fast can I get?  After running a PR in the mile in February (continuing my PR streak!) I injured myself the next day doing a stupid hill run and have been out ever since.  It's now December and I'm running healthy again but feeling barely the shadow of the athlete I used to be and wondering how I am supposed to regain the motivation I once had.  

With today's announcement, I realized if I can't get motivated by having 4 out of the next 5 National championships in my hometown, I'm no longer an athlete.  I'm being handed the opportunity to train to be as fast as I can be on a silveer platter with all the most potent ingredients in place, hosting huge meets, having spectacular local competition, having great training partners, coaches, and fans, and being in a place tha truly understands track and field.  

I kind of equate it to the opportunity I had in high school when the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus" was filmed at my school and I didn't try out to be in it.  I have so many friends in that movie I can't even name them all, but I can only say "that movie was filmed at my high school," rather than "I'm in that movie."  

This is my opportunity to take a part and to fulfill mine and so many other's life dream.  This announcement meant more to me than I thought it would.  I'm frickin pumped, and super motivated.  I'm excited to be getting back in shape and look forward to more opportunities to be as fast as I can be!