Calling all Kamloops bloggers: Share your stories here
It’s time for worlds! Opening ceremonies at Kamloops are tonight. I can’t attend, sorry. But I can share the thrills and chills vicariously. I’ll be on the lookout for stories large and small, including those of bloggers like Australian Roger Pilkington, an M50 middle-distance runner and multi-eventer who wrote today: “We then went and bought a few things at the supermarket for breakfast and snacks, went back to the Motel and changed into our running gear and went back to the Uni and ran a few laps on their outdoor track, my legs were feeling a lot better today, the rest did them good.” It ain’t Shakespeare, but what did the Bard know of masters track? Best of Luck to Roger and everyone else.
6 Responses
At first I was very upset, but then,I know that I still am A USA masters athlete,IM not going to kamloops,because my money was funny,but I know that God wants me to chear my team mates on to victory,good luck to all mostly M50 runners,IM a hurdler and know I would have been at the tape,USA WILL TAKE 2 MEDALS in the M50 hurdles,I love the sport just as we all do god be with all those running, Keith McQuitter M50
Had a great and dry drive from Seattle to Kamloops yesterday. TransCan 1 was just amazing. I would recomend if you have the time since it is about one hour longer than the TransCan 5 route. It is about as cold here as it was in sunny Sarasota, Florida the day we left. I would say to immediately stay away from the EconoLodge in Kamloops. No heat and old! We luckily went across the street to the brand new, 2 week old Best Western. It still has a new car (new paint) smell. What a great place! The facilities look great. The LOC seems to have done a first rate job. Of course, the big event today is the hockey game. Needless to say, I’m in the minority on who will win. Safe travels to all.
I’ll shoot you my blog link when I get there. Flying into Vancouver Tuesday night and driving to Kamloops Wednesday morning. I’m not vaulting because of my strained bicep but I will declare, go on the field, pass to 4m and help my buddies. Should be fun. Bubba
I am traveling with Susan Wiemer. She arrived in Seattle yesterday evening from Maine. We left Tacoma today at 8:15am. We stopped at the market before we left town, only to realize that she left her purse with her passport in my guest room. Thank goodness we went to the store! The drive to Kamloops was beautiful we did not encounter any hassels at the border. We arrived at 1:45pm we proceeded directly to the venue. Picking up our packets was so smooth! Took about 5 minutes. Then we declared for our races another 5 minutes. We then went to check out the track.Half the track was available as the other half is going to be used for the opening ceremonies. We ran into Val Barnwell and Phillip Hill. We then proceeded to work out some of the kinks after the long drive. We said goodbye to our American teamates and told them we would see them tomorrow. We explained to Val that we wanted to rest tonight. His response went something like this: “You are coming back to the ceremonies you have to march….” He persuaded us. We will march tonight but I did not bring my flag maybe we will be able to borrow one….” We then went to our hotel(Comfort Inn) Susan broke my eggs on the way up to our room so I will be eating her eggs in the morning. :)Susan is putting her spikes in her shoes (for relaxation) and we will then head out for the ceremony. Our numbers are on our uniforms and our bags are packed and ready to go for tomorrow. Susan says,”We are lucky to be able to be able to dream big enough to do stuff like this. Many times your attitude gets in the way. We should consider ourselves very fortunate.” I concur.
Marjorie Milligan Jackson
Very nice report, Marjorie; I hope that others will soon follow. High tomorrow (Monday) should be about 53 degrees, with about a 20% chance of precipitation. Thus, the outdoor events, traveling to the venue, and taking warm-ups outside the building for those in indoor events should all be good.
Thank you so much for the great weather forecast Peter. I can confirm that Marjorie and Susan did indeed march along with many other US athletes. I am here in Kamloops with Lorraine Jasper, Maryline Roux and our very brave traveling companion, Steve Chantry. We all flew separately to Seattle and drove together from there. Yesterday, I discovered that as well as being in the 50-54 age group and living in Northern VA, Bruce McBarnette and I have something else in common. Both our suitcases did not arrive in Seattle with us. Lucky for me, mine returned from a quick overnight to Tampa, before we were due to leave for Kamloops. I hope Bruce’s luggage will show up as quickly, although I believe he has his shoes and doesn’t jump until Saturday.
We were able to run on part of the indoor track yesterday, as well as the outdoor track and artificial turf infield. All good.
From our party, only Maryline competes today in the 60M. The rest of us will be staying loose and cheering on our teammates. So far I am very much enjoying my first experience of Worlds.
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