5 Things we are looking forward to at Foot Locker Nationals

1.  Our 2013 Version of what we are really looking forward to caused some flack after we openly opted for the warm Southern California weather instead of the frozen tundra and muck at NXN's Portland Meadows.  Well, not much has changed in that regard. We're just hoping the warm Hawaiian "Pineapple Express" and deluge of rainfall is done and over by the time the runners toe the line on Saturday morning. 

7:30 am Friday morning overlooking Coronado Island

Even though NXN last week was fairly mild, the mud was still a problem and over the years we've sacrificed enough footware at meets to make Imelda Marcos blush. 

We've already prepped the rain gear and umbrella for the course walk-through.  Not sure what we're going to do during the course walk-through foot gear wise except hope the rain doesn't really materialize. (Too late, it's here as we rise early Friday morning).

The walk-through is really one of our favorite events at Foot Locker Nationals.  It's our first opportunity to really see the runners we've been reading about all year.  It's also great to see all the team Captain's, alumni, fans and papparazzi turn out as well.    

Here is the forecast for Foot Locker Nationals this weekend:

Need a little reminder of why California beckons us during December- The Beach Boys fit the bill.

2.  We love a good rivalry.  During the course of the 2014 FHSAA Florida XC season, one of the better rivalries has been between "Dirty Durty South" teammates Steven Cross and Nick Diaz.  Will Foot Locker Nationals be any different?  For the most part, every time they toe the line together, the separation between them at the conclusion of 5K always seems to be the smallest of margins.  

It's almost like these guys are attached at the hips.  First, early in the 2014 XC season Nick won at the Mountain Dew Florida Invitational by a mere 1/4 of second over Steven.  15:21.12 to 15:21.37.  Round 1 to Diaz.

The next time they toed the line together was at the FSU Pre-State Invitational.  Steven was slightly btter than Nick that day but only by 3/4 of second, 15:19.58 to 15:20.22, finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively. Round 2 to Cross.

Lastly, they met at Foot Locker South and once again finished right next to each and went from competitors to Foot Locker Finalists and teammates on the "Durty South".  Steve finished 8th and Nick 9th, both clocking 15:01 and in the process setting PR's and school records along the way.  So after 15K of racing each other, the margin of difference is basically zero.  Yeah, we like rivalries. Nick is a senior, Steven a junior.  They'll never toe the cross-country line together again as high-schoolers.  Who caps off 2014 with the "win".

Speaking of rivalries, wouldn't it be quite the accomplishment if Anna Rohrer was able to come back and win a national championship again in 2014.  The last time that happened, her Foot Locker National Championship in 2012, her hometown of Mishawaka rolled out the red carpet and the Mayor proclaimed a day in her honor, "Anna Rohrer Day".  This rivalry we're talking about is overcoming injuries, set-backs and all those things that can derail a runner along the way.  One things for sure.  Anna is in great shape and ready to roll come Saturday.

The other rivalry on our mind is the on-going battle between Foot Locker and NXN.  We long for the days when we knew we were seeing the absolute best duke it out head-to-head so we could satisfy the lingering questions about who is "really" the "absolute best"?

Crowning a true national champion just seems like the right thing to long for.  Call us nostalgic but we miss the old days before the events became competitors and started diluting the fields.  We get the team aspect and both events are really top notch, but really.

Now we'll never "really" know how Tanner Anderson, Allie Ostrander or Olin Hacker or the multitude of other national caliber runners would have stacked up against the likes of a Grant Fisher, Andrew Hunter or Ryen Frazier.

Until a business incentive compromise and ego check becomes reality, we'll be stuck with diluted fields and have to live with "best on this given day".

3.  The Introductions and pageantry of Foot Locker Nationals ranks 3rd on our list.  It always give us chills when runners we've followed, who have worked so hard to realize their dreams, pop out from behind the Foot Locker stanchion and into the national spotlight, quite possbily for the first time ever in their careers. 

They say everyone in their lifetime gets their 15 minutes of fame.  Can it ever be more so true than at Foot Locker Nationals?  When Tim O'Rourke starts reeling off your accomplishments in his deep baritone and the internet masses are solely focused on you, there is nothing more bone-chilling than realizing the Foot Locker experience is alive and well and "Dreams" do come true.

4.  The characters.  Yes, those individuals that stay with us long after the races are over.  We've seen them in the results, the headlines, the video interviews and news articles but then you get to know them in person and it makes the event just so much more enjoyable. 

Case in point. Jakub Zivec, 2008 Foot Locker Nationals.

5.  A trip to Foot Locker Nationals is special because it's held at the charmingly beautiful Hotel Del Coronado.  Built in 1888, this historic and some say spooky, if not haunted hotel on the Beach, is a real gem whose exterior and interior beckons us each and every December.

It reminds us of the holidays probably more so than anything else and that's probably becuase we're here just about every Foot Locker Nationals smack dab in the middle of December.  If you're lucky, you arrive at night for that's when the Del revels in nostalgia.  As you round the corner and spy the the holiday lights, you can't help but be in a holiday mood and realize why this event returns year after year.

Built with this is mind,

"It would be built around a court...a garden of tropical trees, shrubs and flowers,.... From the south end, the foyer should open to Glorietta Bay with verandas for rest and promenade. On the ocean corner, there should be a pavilion tower, and northward along the ocean, a colonnade, terraced in grass to the beach. The dining wing should project at an angle from the southeast corner of the court and be almost detached, to give full value to the view of the ocean, bay and city."

With a slow creaky elevator, a huge welcoming christmas tree in the foyer and the sweet melody of old-time carolers greeting us through her doors in the early evening, the Hotel Del beckons once again.