Tracktown, USA

Eugene is a runner’s town, a place where the cashiers and clerks at the grocery store will know more about the sport than most of your local run club. It is in this place's DNA, it runs through its streets, and it shows this mostly through its people. A hotel worker well removed from the glory days is happy to pull up their slacks and show you the scars of spike marks, or maybe multiple surgeries – paying in full the price to chase glory in a town like this. At its center, you will find a testament to track and field, Hayward Field. It stands like a monolith on the outskirts of Oregon’s campus, a monument to a town built on track and field. It’s here Prefontaine’s spirit still looms large while the champions of today and tomorrow chase the shadows of legends. This week, as the world arrives, new legends will certainly emerge.

Despite its speedy nature on the track, the pace around town and campus is mellow. If you look past the history and its contribution to the sport it is but another mid-sized city in the charming (yes sometimes gloomy) Pacific Northwest. Nestled along the Willamette River, Eugene boasts a plethora of opportunities for outdoors enthusiasts – from hiking, white water rafting, mountain biking, and more.

Prince Pucklers
Ice Cream

Another establishment that can easily be given the moniker of “institution,"  Prince Puckler has been serving Eugene students and residents of all ages for almost fifty years. Decadent sundaes, classic waffle cones, and a laundry list of traditional and adventurous flavors make every runner's (and non-runner’s) dreams come true on a hot summer day. We grabbed as many samples as we could before picking what we hoped were the “right” flavors and caught some rays at Washburne Park taking in the views of Hayward Field.

El Super Burrito

It might not look like much from the outside (this Mexican restaurant is tucked in a strip mall) but El Super Burrito has the best burritos you can find in Eugene. They’re unusually packed with french fries, and one of the first stops to satisfy locals’ cravings. Heads up: It’s closed on Sunday (in case you want to go after a Sunday long run).