I am a broken record in repeating how lucky i am to live in flagstaff. Especially when the luck is due to running. Running in Flagstaff is like snowboarding in Aspen. Everyone has done it at some point and the top pros come to train. Case in point: Lumberjack Stadium.On any given day during the afternoon, you might see the (literal) top runners in the world. And, if not the top in the world, the top in the US. Here is my story.I had a class cancelled today. It afforded me some time to either swim or run and i chose run, because i haven't done it in 5 weeks or so. I cruised on down to lumberjack and found it full with people. Not in the stands but out running. You could tell from the skinny, yet fit physique of these athletes that they were pros in their respective distances. I always feel intimidated by the presence of someone who i, although without motivation, aspire to be. As i jaunt across the field i can see one man of african descent is striding down the front stretch of the track. another couple are jogging the grass just inside the edge of the track and even more doing 200m repeats, in what i overheard, were about 23 seconds. The final few were stretching or giving assitance to other running comrades with starting instructions or stretching advice.You can get the friendly assumption that these guys were all friends. All there for one similar purpose. In flagstaff for the legal "doping" that occurs when at high altitude. Although an air of competition can be felt and the knowledge of these men racing each other for those few coveted spots amongst the rest of America at the Olympics.I couldn't tell you who 90% of them were, but i recognized a few. Chris Gomez, a local, who, and i say lightly, isn't as fast as some others on that field with a low 4:00 min mile and a solid 1:49 800m. The man of african descent who was alluded to earlier, was no one but the unique Abdi Abdirahman. A marathoner and 10,000m specialist, who has Arizona roots as well, attending high school, community college and ultimately university in Arizona after his transfer from Somalia. He is one of the top marathoners in the country with a PR of under 2:10 in the 26.2 mile slog. Unfortunately, he suffered a small injury at the marathon trials and eliminated his chance of making the team in new york.The last and final familiar face i saw whilst spending time at the stadium might be the most acclaimed and tenured runner of all. Another African transfer, but fully american in his ambitions. Bernard Lagat. Where to start with this gentlemen may lead to a wrongful view of his accomplishments, as there are so many. His recent trophies came at the World Championships in Osaka last July where Lagat became the first american to get gold in the 1500m.. He was also the first to pull down the gold in the 5000 in american history, and it happened to be the only medal of any kind at that distance for America. An Olympic veteran of the last two games, and a medal winner at both, lagat might be the top hopeful for a medal at the games in august.i could go on and on about the accolades of these runners filling the elite niche in flagstaff this year, but i will leave you with this. Be aware of your surroundings because you might be passing someone who might be on TV starting August 8th.
