The Nationals Enquirer August 1, 2008

NATIONALS ENQUIRER “Enquiring Swimmers Want to Know”

AUGUST 1, 2008

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NATIONALS ENQUIRER

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What coaching advice should we have listened to months ago? What's the latest poolside gossip? What's the inside scoop behind yesterday’s record swims? Enquiring swimmers want to know. The infamous Nationals Enquirer has dispatched its intrepid reporter to churn out copy for these hardto-put-down, photo-filled pages. Old news, rehashed, performance enhancement breakthroughs explained, the unavoidable serious article about competing in our sport, and real-life human-interest stories are all here. Look for updates , every day of the meet, and then some. Don't miss a single lurid issue! Pre-meet issues available exclusively on-line; limited numbers of abbreviated meet issues available in print at the Aquatic Center.

Inside This Issue Meet Announcements----------3 Editors’ Welcome--------------4 Coaches Corner----------------6 Volunteers’ Venue-------------8 Oregon Trail Day Trippers-13 No.1 The Gorge--------14-15 No.2 PDX/WA Park---16-20 No. 3 PDX Streetcar & Tram--------------21-25 No.4 Mt. Hood Loop--26-28 In the Next Edition----------29

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Important! Meet Notices Heads up, Swimmers: •

All events 200 meters and longer will be deck-seeded, and positive check-in is required.

•

Due to the number of swimmers entered in the meet (1,130), the USMS Championship Committee has decided that swimmers' sixth events will be dropped.

•

The USMS Championship Committee has also determined that Warm Ups Thursday through Sunday will start at 6:30 AM and end at 7:20 AM. Competition will start promptly at 7:30 AM. The 25-yard indoor warm-up pool will remain available as stated in the Meet Information.

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An additional warm-up period in the competition pool will be inserted in the time-line immediately prior to the distance events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The distinctive seal for the 2008 USMS National Long Course Championships is based on the hammered-copper statue “Portlandia,” by renowned American sculptor Raymond Kaskey. Portlandia adorns the Portland Building in downtown Portland, Oregon, designed by modernist architect Michael Graves. Hammered copper is an anachronism among modern sculptors. Portlandia is the second in size only to the Statue of Liberty among hammered copper sculptures. Thanks to artist Kaskey’s gracious grant of permission to use her image, she will appear on medals awarded at the meet, and her image on a bronze plaque will forevermore grace the Aquatic Center when the plaque is permanently set in concrete on the pool deck, commemorating the meet. Look in the Meet Program for additional information on Mr. Kaskey.

WARNING: This publication (if you want to call it that) is not the official, or any, communication of USMS, OMS, Mt. Hood Community College, or any other responsible organization, nor is it a communication attributable to the Meet Directors, who are men of few words (but mighty deeds in most situations). This publication is intended solely as entertainment by athletes, for athletes. The opinions expressed by the editors and contributors are entirely their own, God help them.

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EDITORIAL ERUDITION AT THE CROSSROADS Peripatetic swimmers of the world, WELCOME to the aquatic “ecotopia” known as the Pacific Northwest. Can you believe this place? Mt. Hood rising in the distance, the mighty Columbia River winding its way past the orchards of Hood River and the waterfalls of the Gorge, the docks of Portland and Vancouver landing the produce and grains of Pendleton, grapes ripening in the vineyards of Washington and Yamhill counties, and the Pacific coast beaches less than two hours from the pool! What a magnificent place! But what of competitive swimming? What indeed? The sport stands at a crossroads, and we can see it all right here at this USMS 2008 Long Course National Championships. Four years ago the Mt. Hood Aquatic Center pool was an outdated hunk of cold concrete in a backwater suburb. Today, because of the vision of Aquatics Director Brandon Drawz, and the investment of the local swimming community and Mt. Hood Community College, the pool is the fastest 50-meter pool in the state, and the preferred venue for every major meet in Oregon. Four years ago in Long Beach, they thought a portable pool for the Olympic Swimming Trials was a nice idea, but it probably wouldn’t catch on, what with the problem of filling 10,000 seats for 8 days, and the expense of disposing of the pool afterwards. In 2008, the Qwest Center in Omaha seated 17,000 screaming fans for 8 days, and had the portable pool sold to a swim club before the Trials began. Four years ago, swimming was barely covered by the national media, and then only in Olympic years and usually with a focus on Phelps or the other celebrity athletes. In Omaha, there were over 250 members of the international press corps, including clutches of reporters from foreign swim powers who were collecting intelligence on USA Swimmers and sending it back home to eager fans. Today, we have media outlets on the web focused only on competitive swimming, like www.floswimming.org and www.swimnetwork.com. Last time we looked on www.youtube.com we saw postings from every major meet in 2008 from around the world, numerous posting of every world and national record setting swim, and there were well over 100,000 videos on some aspect of competitive swimming.

BUT WAIT, YOUR EDITORS HAVE MORE TO SAY . . .

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AT THE CROSSROADS, continued: Four years ago, many of the competitors at the Trials and Masters Nationals could be seen getting zippered into their Speedo Fastskins, but not everybody wore a full body suit. Today, if a swimmer wants to win, not just at the Olympic Trials or Masters Nationals, but even at regional age-group championships, the choice is not whether to suit up, but whose suit to wear. All the apparel manufacturers have some version of the full body suit, and the touted attributes of the “suits” have swimmers scurrying to buy from scarce available inventory before their big swims at prices that rival those to which triathletes have long since become accustomed. Four years ago, the swimming community looked down its collective nose at sports like professional cycling and baseball: swimmers couldn’t imagine that their sport had a doping problem, outside of twisted episodes engineered by cruel governments in “foreign” countries. Today, we read that both the “A” and “B” samples of an U.S. Olympic qualifier failed, and we read of every performance enhancement under the sun being hawked on the streets of Beijing to journalists posing as swim coaches. And then, of course, there is Dara Torres. How exactly did her career work again? First she was a youthful phenom. After four successful trips to the Olympics, she became a Mom, then a Masters swimmer. Now she’s back competing in the Olympics, and showing the world that age is just a state of mind – but with longer recovery periods and higher massage costs. So, at this Long Course Nationals, in this gorgeous venue, with the Beijing Olympics running simultaneously, with one of our own Masters swimmers competing there, we have to ask ourselves: Is this the end of competitive swimming as it used to be? And, if so, what is swimming going to become? Is Masters Swimming really morphing into a sport where $500 suits are necessary to win, and we have to go through doping controls to validate our results? In the days ahead, we invite your comments, and we’ll print all that we can. Like Robert Johnson, “We are at a crossroad near Dockery’s Plantation at midnight,” making a deal with the devil. What deal will we make?

LIKE ROBERT “WE ARE AT A NEAR EVIL. W

JOHNSON, CROSSROAD DOCKERY’S

Frank and Robin Parisi, editors, publishers and roving reporters for The Nationals Enquirer, live and swim (but having recently retired, do not work) in Portland, Oregon, and Kona, Hawaii.

WLL E MAKE?

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COACHES’ CORNER Strategies for the Big Race By Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen: 2004 and 2007 World Masters Swimmer of the Year

Don’t sabotage your taper: Stay off your feet: This is a BIG one. You might not be aware of this, but standing on your feet drains your legs (although a little walking is OK). If you are having a conversation . . . grab a seat and chat away. You have done your best to prepare for this competition . . . don’t let it all go to waste by standing around at the event. Easy does it! Many athletes want to prove that they are still FAST by doing too many sprints or starts in the days leading up to the meet or in warm up. Too much of these activities will leave you feeling flat at race time. At this point in your season the hay is in the barn, so listen to your coach or to the on-deck coach, do a few sprints and starts, then call it quits. Schedule some time AWAY from the pool: Cheer for your teammates, but save some energy for your events. To keep yourself fresh, find a quiet spot or plan breaks away from the competition. There are tons of sightseeing opportunities in the Portland and Mt. Hood area.

Be Prepared: Get to the meet on time: Have a separate plan for each day of the meet. Know what you will be swimming and when. Arrive early to get a good warm up. Do not add more stress to the event by rushing around or getting lost. Pack well: Extra suits, caps, towels and 2 pairs of goggles (in case your favorite pair breaks). You may also need WARM clothes, hat & socks. The Mt. Hood pool deck is in the shade in the morning and tends to be fairly chilly early in the day. Bring food and drink: Pack a small ice chest filled with easy to digest snacks for your pre- and postexercise nutrition. I pack Accelerade, soy drinks, low fat chocolate milk, Cliff bars and PB & J’s.

READ ON, KARLYN’S TIPS CONTINUE . . .

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Strategies for the Big Race, continued: How to swim a GREAT race Swim your own race: You can only control how YOU swim. Sure, check out the competition, but don’t psych yourself out thinking everyone else is faster than you. You deserve a great race, too! Warm up & cool down: Don’t short yourself on a good warm up. If too much time has elapsed since warm up, get in again. The 25-yard indoor pool at Mt. Hood is available for warm-ups and cooldowns throughout the meet. A long cool down is insurance that your next race will be a good one, too! Finish STRONG! Unless it is a sprint, try not to push too hard early. At the beginning, find your “easy speed” then build to a strong finish (think “build” or “negative split”). Ask your coach or the on-deck coach for race suggestions.

Motivation Have fun! This is Long Course Nationals, not the Beijing Olympics. If you are having fun, you will be relaxed and perform better. Share your energy and other will share theirs with you. Mental strategies: Stay away from the Unknown, which is fear based. Stay in the KNOW! Know that you are ready to swim fast and do well! Try not to “over think” your race: Have a clear race plan and visualize a positive outcome. Set a goal time and SEE that time on the scoreboard. Achieving your goals at Nationals is going to be FUN!

Aquatic Edge Inc. is located in Kona, Hawaii, and offers clinics and camps in Hawaii and around the world. For more information, visit www.aquaticedge.org or email Karlyn or Eric at [email protected]

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VOLUNTEERS’ VENUE NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT . . .

VOLUNTEERS! How many volunteer hours does it take to run a meet for 1,130 adult swimmers? According to the OMS organizing committee, there are 569 job slots during the 4-day meet, each having a duration of 4 hours 15 minutes. That adds up to over 2,418 volunteer hours, but doesn’t include the time of the assigned officials (referee, administrative referee, starter, etc.), the meet directors, members of the organizing committee or the meet announcers. Those jobs add at least another 1,000 hours to the tally. If you allocate the volunteer hours among participants, each participant is the recipient of over 3 hours of donated time. So, if you have the chance, shake the hand of an official or timer, send a love note to the announcers, or grace the ears of the safety marshals with a “thank you;” your gratitude is all the remuneration that they seek or need!

VOLUNTEERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT – NEXT PAGE

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THE “VOICES” OF THE 2008 LC MASTERS NATIONALS In terms of excitement, twelve-hour days watching competition at the Mt. Hood Aquatic Center could rival watching paint dry. Thanks to several generous volunteers, however, your days should fly by as you listen to astute descriptions of races as they unfold. Our play-by-play announcers will provide the grease that keeps the timeline rolling forward, and our color commentators will provide exceptional insights made possible by their extensive swimming experience. The following profiles contain facts that even the subjects may not know about themselves (in which event we feel certain that they will take the opportunity to set the editors straight, publicly):

Tom Boak

has long been in demand as an announcer of choice at USMS National Championships. Few individuals have Tom’s swimming, or Masters swimming, credentials. Tom was a Middle Atlantic (collegiate) Conference Champion in 1963. When Tom started his Masters swimming career in 1977 at The Woodlands Masters Swim Team of Texas, his goals were not lofty – he wanted to lose weight and get back in shape. Tom was a little under-ambitious in his goals .... Tom soon got back into the swim of things, and after he had been competing in masters meets for several years, The Woodlands bid to host the USMS short course nationals. Tom agreed to be the meet director. In his meet director role, Tom attended his first USMS convention in October 1981, where, by the end of convention, he found himself appointed as Chairman of the Championship Committee, initiating his now twenty-seven year involvement in USMS. Tom is currently serving as Treasurer of USMS, has chaired the Championship, Rules, and Finance Committees, and served as President of USMS from 1985-1989. Tom has attended every USMS Convention since 1981, and was awarded the Ransom Arthur Award in 1990 (given annually to the person who has done the most to further the objectives of Masters swimming) and the Meet Directors award in 1994. In 2006, Tom’s efforts to put Masters Swimming on the map were acknowledged. The International Master Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHF) gave Tom its Pioneer Award. The IMSHF Pioneer Awards pay tribute to individuals whose pioneer efforts helped launch the Masters swimming program. Meanwhile, The Woodlands, with Tom as meet director, hosted the 1982 short course, and the 1987 and 1990 long course, USMS Championships, and has hosted numerous other masters competitions including the annual Woodlands Relays (now in its nineteenth year), and many local meets and zone championships. Tom has been coaching at The Woodlands since 2002, where he is joined on the coaching staff by his wife, Carolyn. In addition to his coaching and administrative contributions, Tom has continued as a Masters swimmer. Tom is primarily a breaststroker, and has been a national and world champion, and multiple record holder. When he is not behind the microphone during this meet, look for Tom in the 65-69 age group, swimming 50 and 100 breaststroke, 50 and 100 freestyle, and the 100 backstroke.

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THE “VOICES” of NATIONALS, continued: Jon French is the go-to guy in Oregon for swim meet directors. Jon’s first profession was as an electrical engineer for the Bonneville Power Administration, a post from which he retired, after 39 years of service, in 2005. Jon’s avocation, however, has been announcing, specifically the play-by-play for most of the major swim meets hosted in the Pacific Northwest. Jon and his wife Jeannette have two daughters, both of whom were competitive swimmers from a very early age. As they moved thru agegroup swimming, Jon filled all of the positions that a parent is called upon to fill, from head timer to meet director, but he found his calling behind the microphone. In addition to just about every meet held at the Aquatic Center in the last 20 years, Jon has announced at the Washington Open (Federal Way), the USA Swimming Western Zone Championships (Federal Way), Junior Nationals (twice in Federal Way), all State Games of Oregon since the late 1980’s, the 1998 World Masters Games (Portland) and, this year alone, the YMCA Western Championships, the USA Swimming Speedo Western Long Course Championships and the USA Swimming 2008 Western Zone Championships. Jon has annually announced at Oregon’s most prestigious and memorable meet, the Oregon High School Championship, since 1989. Jon’s extensive experience includes duty at numerous Oregon Masters Swimming meets since the late 1980’s. If you detect a straight spine in the timbre of Jon’s voice it may be from his four years in the Air Force, or from his duties with the Oregon Air National Guard where he retired in 1988 with the rank of Lt. Col. Look for Jon behind the microphone, but not in the competition pool: the snorkel and mask he needs to feel comfortable in the water have still not been approved by FINA. Jon is famous in Oregon for his meetenergizing musical interludes, so be sure and listen for them during the meet!

READ ON; MORE GREAT ANNOUNCERS ARE PROFILED BELOW ~

GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR “INNER VOLUNTEER” We need your stories and photos! If you have a memorable swim, whether for good or ill, or anything else you would like to share with the world, make a contribution to the next day’s Nationals Enquirer. Send your photos and stories to the editors at [email protected] or [email protected], and we will do our best to get your work published!

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THE “VOICES” of NATIONALS, continued: Mark Gill

of Swim Kentucky Masters has 20 years of coaching experience with age group, YMCA, USA Swimming, Masters and College athletes. Mark is a member of the American Swim Coaches Association, and was one of two coaches invited to work at the USA Swimming 2004 National Open Water Camp. Mark is currently a coach with Swim Louisville Masters and the University of Louisville. All of this activity is just moonlighting for Mark; as “Dr. Gill,” Mark is an assistant Professor in the Computer Information Systems department at the University of Louisville. Mark began attending USMS National Championship meets in 1992 (Chapel Hill) when he was a wee lad in the 18-24 age group (19-24 back then). He is now a seasoned veteran in the 40-44 age group and has rarely missed a short or long course Nationals since Chapel Hill. Mark has served on the USMS Championship Committee and International Committee, and is currently the USMS Vice President of Member Services, a position he has held since 2005 (which is a long time to hold the same position!). In 2003, Mark was the short course Nationals meet director (Tempe, AZ), and he has been the meet director for a number of local masters meets in Arizona. Mark originated several meets that have become annual events, including the Sun Devil Invitational, the Louisville Invitational, the Cardinal Invitational and the TYR Masters Grand Prix. Mark also originated the Arizona Open Water Series, a 5-race annual event. Many of you will recognize Mark’s voice as a regular USMS Nationals announcer since 2004. Mark was also one of the announcers at the 2006 FINA Masters World Championships at Stanford University, where he called some of the races in both English and Spanish. In addition to announcing at USMS National Championships, Mark announces NCAA dual meets for the University of Louisville, and has announced the Big East (collegiate) Conference championships. Mark has also emceed the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremony. If this is your first time to Nationals with Mark as the announcer, you are in for a treat – it is well worth your cost of admission to the pool. You will soon learn why his friends affectionately call him “The Voice of Masters Swimming.” Those same friends warn participants to swim fast: the faster you swim, the less time you’ll be in the water for The Voice to have a little fun at your expense. And you may discover, from personal experience, why you should never be the last swimmer out of warm-ups. If you’re keeping track, you will see that Mark’s schedule doesn’t leave him much time to train, which explains why most of his events at the Aquatic Center will involve one turn or fewer! Whether moral support or retribution is your goal, look for Mark in the 40-44 age group, swimming 50, 100 and 200 freestyle, and 50 and 100 butterfly.

. . . AND THE FINAL ANNOUNCER IN OUR PRESTIGIOUS GROUP IS . . .

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THE “VOICES” of NATIONALS, continued: Phil Whitten is currently the Executive Director of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. Before becoming a full-time advocate for college swimming, Phil served as editor and Chief Media Officer for Swimming World Magazine for nearly 20 years. He is the author of The Complete Book of Swimming (Random House), is the author or coauthor of eighteen books and over one hundred major articles on a wide variety of topics, and has appeared on television (including the "Today Show," "Good Morning America," "Dateline," etc.) and radio (including a recent series on NPR). Phil has lectured throughout the United States and several foreign countries on swimming and fitness, health and the aging process. He has published pioneering studies on exercise, aging, sexuality and the effects of exercise in forestalling biological and psychological aging. As “Dr. Whitten,” Phil is acknowledged as one of the world's leading authorities on swimming. Among others issues, his articles address the Chinese doping scandal, the effects of Title IX, minorities in swimming, East German drug use, and swimming and academic performance. An anthropologist and gerontologist, Phil earned an interdisciplinary doctorate from Harvard University and has taught at Harvard University, Bentley College and Endicott College. Phil was a successful college swimmer at San Jose State University, where he earned All-America honors and was elected co-captain. The Spartans went undefeated over Phil’s three-year tenure (beating Stanford, and Cal, among others). After a hiatus, Phil joined Masters Swimming in December 1971 and has trained regularly since then. Phil currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, and swims for the Phoenix Swim Club and Arizona Masters. Phil’s participation in Masters swimming turned his focus on the revolutionary potential that the activity held for lifelong health and fitness. In 1991, Phil published the first results of a longitudinal study of Masters swimming using data that went back to 1975. In this study, he discovered that Masters swimmers did not experience the average one percent per year physiological decline that begins in most of the population at age 25. Masters swimmers actually improved until age 32 or 33, then declined very gradually, not reaching a one percent decline until their seventies! Phil's study showed physiological decline to be the consequence of an inactive lifestyle, not just natural aging. Through the years, Phil has remained swimming's most persistent advocate, maintaining that this is the sport of a lifetime. Phil brings his expertise and enthusiasm, as well as significant previous experience in the announcer’s booth, to his commentary at this year’s Long Course Masters Nationals. Since he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease five years ago, Phil has continued to swim and compete, maintaining that swimming was key in forestalling the progression of the disease. A study published in October 2004 was the first to corroborate Phil’s assertion that there is a link between regular exercise and forestalling the progression of Parkinson's. Cheer Phil on as he competes in the 65-69 age group, in 50 and 100 breaststroke, his signature events, as well as in 50 and 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle.

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THE OREGON TRAIL DAY TRIPPERS: TRAVEL ON A TAPER Only a troglodyte or an obsessed senior athlete would come to Oregon and confine his site-seeing to the Aquatic Center pool, the warm down pool, the rest rooms, the shuttle bus and the parking lot. The Nationals Enquirer will be giving the troglodytes and obsessives a nudge out the door, in the following pages, with day-trip guides to The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Downtown Portland and Washington Park (accomplished completely on Portland’s award-winning light rail system) Portland’s hottest art, cultural, educational and shopping districts (accomplished completely on Portland’s downtown streetcar and aerial tram) Mt. Hood, Timberline Lodge and the Hood River Valley Each guide is designed to preserve the scarce but presumably mounting energy of the tapered athlete and keep him or her off his or her beer-weakened legs (as Karlyn reminds us). Alternative activities are also suggested for athletes with a “devil may care” attitude, and for bored but energetic traveling companions.

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DAY TRIPPER NUMBER ONE: COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE NATIONAL SCENIC AREA The Columbia River Gorge is a spectacular river canyon cutting the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range. It's 80 miles long and up to 4,000 feet deep with the north canyon walls in Washington State and the south canyon walls in Oregon State. You can start your tour at Vista House, an interpretive center and the most photographed icon of the Columbia River Gorge, located only ten miles from the Aquatic Center. An energetic person could do this whole trip on a bike, but a tapering swimmer may wish to view the following sites from the front seat of his energy-efficient car.

Historic Vista House

Cycling the Historic Highway

From Vista House, travel east on the Historic Columbia River Highway, and visit Multnomah Falls (or one of the other 77 waterfalls on the Oregon side, classified into eight forms: plunge, horesetail, fan, cascade, punchbowl, block, tier, and segmented).

Multnomah Falls

Bridge of the Gods

Cross the Mighty Columbia on the Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks, and grab a gourmet meal at Skamania Lodge, located just opposite Cascade Locks on the Washington side.

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Day Tripper Number One, COLUMBIA GORGE, continued: If you don’t explore the Skamania wine list too extensively you’ll have enough energy to head west on Washington Highway 14 for a short but exhilarating hike up 850-foot tall Beacon Rock (swimmers may wish to demur and await their traveling companion’s report about views from the top). Return to Gresham via Highway 14 and the I-205 Bridge.

Skamania Lodge

Beacon Rock

PASTE THIS ADDRESS IN YOUR BROWSER TO SEE A MAP OF THIS ROUTE: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=2087403598202688867,45.537843,-122.246813%3B8682931841487216921,45.686522,121.905368&saddr=NE+Kane+Road+and+NE+17th+Dr.,+Gresham,+OR+97030&daddr=45.537843,122.246813+(Crown+Point+State+Scenic+Corridor)+to:multnomah+falls+to:bridge+of+the+gods+to:1131+SW+Skamania+Lodge+Way,+Stevenson,+ WA+98648+(Skamania+Lodge)+to:beacon+rock+to:45.580406,122.174835+to:NE+Kane+Rd+%26+NE+17th+Dr,+Gresham,+OR+97030&mra=dpe&mrcr=5&mrsp=6&sz=10&via=6&sll=45.604431,122.124023&sspn=0.478461,1.213989&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=10

DIRECTIONS FOR THIS ROUTE (86.1 mi – about 2 hours 7 mins): Start at: Mt. Hood CC Aquatic Center, NE Kane Rd & NE 17th Dr Gresham, OR 1. Head north on NE Kane Rd toward NE 18th Ct 0.7 mi 2. Turn right at SE Stark St - 2.5 mi 3. Turn right at Historic Columbia River Hwy - 6.8 mi Arrive at: Crown Point 4. Head northeast on Historic Columbia River Hwy toward 426th St NE - 8.4 mi Arrive at: Multnomah Falls 5. Head east on Historic Columbia River Hwy - 3.8 mi 6. Slight right to stay on Historic Columbia River Hwy - 0.3 mi 7. Take the ramp onto I-84 E/US-30 E - 8.0 mi 8. Take exit 44 for US-30 toward Stevenson/Cascade Locks - 0.4 mi 9. Slight right at US-30/WA-Na-PA St - 210 ft 10. Slight right at Bridge of the Gods Partial toll road - 0.4 mi Arrive at: Bridge of the Gods 11. Head west on Bridge of the Gods toward WA-14 0.2 mi 12. Turn right at WA-14 - 1.5 mi 13. Turn left at Rock Creek Dr - 0.3 mi

14. Turn left at SW Skamania Lodge Way - 0.3 mi 15. Turn right to stay on SW Skamania Lodge Way 364 ft Arrive at: Skamania Lodge 1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way, Stevenson, WA 98648 16. Head southeast on SW Skamania Lodge Way 364 ft 17. Turn left to stay on SW Skamania Lodge Way 0.3 mi 18. Turn right at Rock Creek Dr - 0.3 mi 19. Turn right at WA-14 - 9.3 mi Arrive at: Beacon Rock 20. Head west on WA-14 toward Walmea Falls Rd 27.0 mi 21. Take exit 6 to merge onto I-205 S toward NE Portland/Salem/I-84 Entering Oregon - 5.2 mi 22. Take exit 22 to merge onto I-84 E/US-30 E toward The Dalles - 7.0 mi 23. Take exit 16 for 238th Dr. toward Wood Village 0.3 mi 24. Turn right at NE 238th Dr - 1.0 mi 25. Continue on NE 242nd Dr - 0.6 mi 26. Turn left at SE Stark St - 0.7 mi 27. Turn right at NE Kane Rd - 0.7 mi Arrive at: Mt. Hood CC Aquatic Center, NE Kane Rd & NE 17th Dr Gresham, OR 97030

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DAY TRIPPER NUMBER TWO: DOWNTOWN PORTLAND AND WASHINGTON PARK VIA THE MAX BLUE LINE Downtown Portland, with extensive urban trails and half-size city blocks, is a perfect city for walking. But if you are an athlete trying to preserve your taper, you may wish to take advantage of Portland’s extensive public transportation system to see the City. Portland’s awardwinning light rail system is one of the best in the country. Nicknamed "MAX," this 38-mile network of rails can take you right from Gresham to downtown Portland, and beyond to Portland’s zoo. Today’s trip stays exclusively on the MAX blue line; in Day Tripper Number Three, we will expand our use of public transportation to Portland’s streetcar and tram. You might want to pack a picnic for this trip.

MAX is free downtown!

MAX in the “City of Bridges”

Your itinerary starts in Gresham where you can pick up the westbound MAX blue line at the Cleveland Avenue Park-and-Ride Station (from the Aquatic Center, turn left onto NE Kane from NE 17th Dr., in about 0.3 miles turn right at NE Division St, in about one mile turn left at NE Cleveland Ave; the station is just ahead at 8th and Cleveland). Buy a ticket at the automatic vending machine. If you would prefer to use your car to get closer to Portland before boarding MAX, park near the Convention Center station (directions below), located inside Fareless Square, where rides on MAX are free, and take the westbound blue or red line. Portland is divided into East and West sides by the Willamette River, and into North and South by Burnside Street. Keep this in mind during your tour. Before crossing the Willamette from east to west Portland, you will see the Oregon Convention Center with its famous twin glass spires (how do you suppose they wash those windows?), and the Rose Garden Arena, home of the Portland Trailblazers. REHYDRATE DOWNTOWN USING PORTLAND’S UBIQUITOUS “BENSON BUBBLERS”

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Day Tripper Number Two, PORTLAND AND WASHINGTON PARK, continued: Your trip across the river will be via the Steel Bridge, one of ten Willamette River bridges that give Portland its nickname the City of Bridges. You should be able to see at least five of these while MAX journeys over the Steel. As you travel through Portland’s downtown core, see if you can spot a few of Portland’s nearly 100 pieces of public art.

Oregon Convention Center

“Expose Yourself to Art”

The first MAX stop on the west side is Old Town/Chinatown, just one block away from the Portland Classical Chinese Garden – maybe you can catch of glimpse of its surrounding walls from MAX, but seeing the interior requires only a short walk. The next stop is at Skidmore Fountain. Located on Burnside Street, the bronze fountain marked the center of Portland when it was placed there in 1888 (this is one of fifteen municipal fountains in the downtown core).

Classical Chinese Garden

Skidmore Fountain

Participatory Fountain!

After traveling parallel to the Willamette for a bit, you will turn west into the heart of downtown.

SEE THE LINKS FOLLOWING THIS ARTICLE FOR MORE SITE INFORMATION . . .

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Day Tripper Number Two, PORTLAND AND WASHINGTON PARK, continued: At the Mall/SW 5th Avenue stop you will see Portland’s premier downtown shopping mall, Pioneer Place, then you will pass Pioneer Courthouse, the oldest federal building in the Pacific Northwest, and the second oldest west of the Mississippi River. Just beyond is Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland’s “living room,” the single most visited site in the City.

Pioneer Courthouse

Pioneer Courthouse Square

A bit further on you will reach PGE Park Station, and the end of Fareless Square. You’ll need a ticket to continue on MAX; they are available at any stop from automatic ticket vending machines. PGE Park is the home of the Beavers, Portland’s Triple-A Baseball Team, and of the Timbers, Portland’s First Division team in the United Soccer Leagues (the Beavers play at home August 12 through 15; the Timbers play at home August 16). The Park’s renovation in 2001 brought back an old-time baseball atmosphere, featuring a huge hand-operated scoreboard in leftcenter field, and street-friendly public viewing from the outfield fence adjacent to the MAX line.

PGE Park Public Art

The Portland Beavers Take the Field

PGE PARK IS IN THE “GOOSE HOLLOW” NEIGHBORHOOD

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Day Tripper Number Two, PORTLAND AND WASHINGTON PARK, continued: Shortly after leaving PGE Park, you will enter the 3-mile long Robertson Tunnel, location of your final destination on MAX, Washington Park Station, the only completely underground station in the system and, at 260 feet below the surface, the deepest rail station in North America (and the second deepest in the world, after Moscow's Park Pobedy at 318 ft). An impressive geological timeline—created from drilling samples saved during tunnel construction — runs along the platform walls. Two high-speed elevators are located at either end of the underground station, and take passengers to a surface level plaza surrounded by the Oregon Zoo to the east, World Forestry Center to the west, Portland Children's Museum to the south, Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the northwest, and Hoyt Arboretum to the north, all located in Washington Park.

MAX, Deep in Robertson Station

Aboard the Zoo Train

From the MAX Station, enter the Oregon Zoo, Oregon's most attended paid attraction, with more than 1.4 million visitors yearly. The 100 yard walk to the entrance shouldn’t hurt your taper, although exploring the zoo’s 64 acres on foot might not be the best preparation for your next event. Instead, buy a ticket on the “hippest little railway in Portland,” the Zoo Train. Its four mile route will take you around the zoo and through the forests of Washington Park, which has over 400 acres of trees, gardens, attractions and playgrounds. Hop off at the station above Portland’s famous International Rose Test Garden and inhale the fragrance of the garden’s 6,800 rose bushes, explore the nearby Japanese Garden (free shuttle bus from the parking lot to the admission gate), or simple admire the Portland skyline from its most flattering vantage point. Pick a spot here to enjoy that picnic you packed along.

BOZ SCAGGS PLAYS AT THE ZOO AUGUST 17, 7:00 PM

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Day Tripper Number Two, PORTLAND AND WASHINGTON PARK, continued:

Inside the Rose Garden

Portland Skyline

Japanese Garden

Before exhausting yourself in one of the world’s great urban parks, retrace your steps, from Zoo Train, to MAX, and return to Gresham ready to race!

PASTE THIS ADDRESS IN YOUR BROWSER TO SEE A MAP OF THE DRIVING ROUTE FROM THE AQUATIC CENTER TO THE PORTLAND CONVENTION CENTER:: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13541868035633251226,45.528245,122.661645&saddr=NE+Kane+Rd+%26+NE+17th+Dr,+Gresham,+OR+97030&daddr=777+NE+ML+King+Blvd.,+Portland,+OR+97232+(Ore gon+Convention+Center)&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=45.023285,-122.386182&sspn=3.866897,9.711914&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=12

DIRECTIONS FROM THE AQUATIC CENTER TO THE PORTLAND CONVENTION CENTER (16.9 mi – about 26 mins): Start at: Mt. Hood CC Aquatic Center 1. Head north on NE Kane Rd toward NE 18th Ct 0.7 mi 2. Turn left at SE Stark St - 0.7 mi 3. Turn right at SE 242nd Dr - 0.6 mi 4. Continue on SE 238th Dr - 1.1 mi 5. Turn left to merge onto I-84 W/US-30 W toward Portland - 13.2 mi 6. Take the I-5 N/US-30 W exit toward Seattle - 0.1 mi 7. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Convention Center/Rose Quarter - 0.2 mi 8. Turn right at NE Holladay St - 0.1 mi 9. Turn right at NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd - 0.1 mi Arrive at: Oregon Convention Center 777 NE ML King Blvd., Portland, OR 97232

USEFUL WEBSITES FOR A MAX VISIT TO DOWNTOWN PORTLAND AND WASHINGTON PARK: MAX Information and System Maps: http://trimet.org http://trimet.org/pdfs/trimetsystemmap.pdf http://trimet.org/fares/farelessmap.htm Guide and walking map of downtown municipal fountains: http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cf m?id=126641 Guide and walking map of Portland public art: http://www.racc.org/publicart/docs/WalkingTour.pdf Portland Classical Chinese Garden: http://www.portlandchinesegarden.org/ Portland Beavers: http://www.portlandbeavers.com/ Portland Timbers: http://www.portlandtimbers.com/ Washington Park and Attractions: http://www.washingtonparkpdx.org/attractions.htm Oregon Zoo Summer Concerts http://www.oregonzoo.org/Concerts/

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DAY TRIPPER NUMBER THREE: PORTLAND BY STREETCAR AND AERIAL TRAM Portland’s sleek Streetcar connects Portland's Cultural District to Portland State University, the Portland Aerial Tram, the art gallery-filled Pearl District and the Northwest/Nob Hill neighborhood, known for its outstanding restaurants and upscale shopping. This trip can be done as an extension of Day Tripper Number Two (using the MAX Blue line to travel to the start point), or on its own. If you travel into town by car, park in the “Smart Park” garage at SW 10th and SW Yamhill Streets (directions below). If you have traveled to Portland on MAX, hop off at the Galleria/SW 10th Ave. stop. The Streetcar route map will make this trip more enjoyable; see below for a downloadable version.

Most of the Streetcar route is free

The tram is free downhill!

On the west side of SW 11th Avenue, look for the southbound Streetcar stop at the corner of SW 11th and Taylor Streets. On your two-block walk to the stop you will see Portland’s Central Library, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, on the block bounded by SW 10th, 11th, Salmon and Taylor Streets. The Central Library is worth a look inside: among other artwork, you will find a grand staircase with etched granite steps, reaffirming the building as a "garden of knowledge," and a bronze tree-of-learning sculpture. Climb aboard the Streetcar for the next part of your taperer’s tour. The first segment of the Streetcar route takes you a few blocks west of Portlandia, located at 5th Avenue between Main and Madison Streets, which you will surely miss unless you risk leg fatigue by taking a brief walking excursion to see it.

Portland Central Library

Portlandia in person

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Day Tripper Number Three, PORTLAND BY STREETCAR AND AERIAL TRAM, continued: After traveling south for a bit on SW 10th Ave., the Streetcar will turn back to the east, toward the river, and pass by Portland’s “South Park Blocks,” twelve city blocks of parkland stretching through the heart of downtown Portland from Salmon Street to Jackson Street, each featuring public art. The Park Blocks are home to the Portland Art Museum designed by native son Pietro Belluschi, a leader of the Modern Movement in architecture, the Portland Historical Society Museum, and Portland State University.

South Park Blocks

Portland Art Museum

PSU Urban Planning Plaza

Beyond Portland State, the Streetcar will transport you through RiverPlace, a model of sustainable development combining office, retail and residential uses and a surrounding 73-acre park at the former location of a freeway that was sandwiched between downtown Portland and the Willamette River. From RiverPlace, you will travel to Portland’s newest urban renewal project, South Waterfront, located at the end of the Streetcar line. Get off the Streetcar here. Inspired by the skyline of Vancouver B.C., this emerging neighborhood will integrate alternative transportation, parks and trails, green building practices, mixed-use retail, and healthy living with art and design. At the north end of South Waterfront is the new OHSU Commons, an expansion of the Oregon Health and Sciences University perched above in Portland’s West Hills (“Pill Hill”). You will find the lower terminal of Portland’s Aerial Tram in the OHSU Commons.

RiverPlace

South Waterfront from the East Side

PDX: ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST TRAVEL DESTINATIONS (FROMMERS 2007)

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Day Tripper Number Three, PORTLAND BY STREETCAR AND AERIAL TRAM, continued: A $4 ticket on the Aerial Tram buys a round trip over the John’s Landing neighborhood to the upper terminal at OHSU’s Marquam Hill campus, home to the university's medical schools as well as two associated hospitals, and affords a 270-degree bird’s eye view of the Portland area.

View from inside the Tram

“Pill Hill”

After your exhilarating Tram round-trip, re-board the Streetcar and head north. You will retrace your route, then travel on SW 10th Avenue north, past the front entrance to the Central Library, and just east of the City’s business core of high-rise office and government buildings. As you approach Burnside Street, look for Powell’s City of Books on your left through the intersection of SW 10th and Burnside. Powell’s is a book lover's paradise, the largest used and new bookstore in the world. Powell’s occupies an entire city block, and stocks more than a million new and used books. Nine color-coded rooms house over 3,500 different sections, offering something for every interest, including an incredible selection of out-of-print and hardto-find titles.

Powell’s City of Books

There’s even a Swimming Section

Powell’s marks the gateway to the Pearl District, a once decaying industrial warehouse area, but now Portland's premier urban-chic neighborhood. Aging warehouses have been converted to luxurious lofts and townhouses, and new condominium buildings throughout the district have sold out before construction began.

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Day Tripper Number Three, PORTLAND BY STREETCAR AND AERIAL TRAM, continued: “The Pearl” features stylish boutiques, specialty retailers, art galleries, and trendy restaurants. Area walking maps are available from most Pearl District merchants, or you can find one on-line at the link listed below. You might wish to grab an economical gourmet meal and a pint at Bridgeport Brewpub, NW 13th and Marshall Streets. For some carbo-loading, try the sampler of Bridgeport beers, crafted on-site!

Go by Streetcar to The Pearl

The heart of The Pearl

You may wish to end your tour here in The Pearl – it’s been free to ride the Streetcar so far – or, you may wish to continue on into Portland’s Nob Hill neighborhood, a unique community nestled in the heart of historic Northwest Portland (fare required). Here, stretching along NW 21st and 23rd Avenues, from Burnside Street through the alphabet streets to the north (C, Couch; D, Davis; E, Everett, and so on) you’ll find many of the city’s top restaurants and best shopping nestled along the tree-lined sidewalks.

A Nob Hill Café

City Market, NW 21st Ave.

Once you’ve exhausted your appetite or your pocketbook, hop on the Streetcar at the nearest southbound stop, return to SW 10th and Taylor, then to MAX or your car, and back to the beckoning lane lines of the Aquatic Center.

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Day Tripper Number Three, PORTLAND BY STREETCAR AND AERIAL TRAM, continued: PASTE THIS ADDRESS IN YOUR BROWSER TO SEE A MAP OF THE DRIVING ROUTE FROM THE AQUATIC CENTER TO SW 10TH AND YAMHILL STREETS:: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13541868035633251226,45.528245,122.661645&saddr=NE+Kane+Rd+%26+NE+17th+Dr,+Gresham,+OR+97030&daddr=SW+10th+Ave+%26+SW+Yamhill+St,+Portland,+OR+97205& sll=45.528695,-122.53165&sspn=0.120258,0.303497&ie=UTF8&ll=45.528719,-122.540474&spn=0.120258,0.303497&t=h&z=12

DIRECTIONS FROM THE AQUATIC CENTER TO SW 10TH AND YAMHILL STREETS (18 mi – about 29 mins):

USEFUL WEBSITES FOR A STREETCAR VISIT TO DOWNTOWN PORTLAND:

Start at: Mt. Hood CC Aquatic Center 1. Head north on NE Kane Rd toward NE 18th Ct 0.7 mi 2. Turn left at SE Stark St - 0.7 mi 3. Turn right at SE 242nd Dr - 0.6 mi 4. Continue on SE 238th Dr - 1.1 mi 5. Turn left to merge onto I-84 W/US-30 W toward Portland - 13.2 mi 6. Take the I-5 S exit toward Beaverton/Salem - 0.3 mi 7. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for City Center and merge onto Morrison Bridge - 0.6 mi 8. Slight right onto the ramp to Salem/I-5 S - 0.1 mi 9. Merge onto SW Naito Pkwy - 0.2 mi 10. Turn right at SW Taylor St - 0.5 mi 11. Turn right at SW 10th Ave - 253 ft Arrive at: SW 10th Ave & SW Yamhill St Portland, OR 97205

MAX Information and System Maps: http://trimet.org http://trimet.org/pdfs/trimetsystemmap.pdf http://trimet.org/fares/farelessmap.htm Streetcar Information and System Map: http://www.portlandstreetcar.org Tram Information and area maps: http://www.portlandtram.org/index.htm Guide and walking map of downtown municipal fountains: http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cf m?id=126641 Guide and walking map of Portland public art: http://www.racc.org/publicart/docs/WalkingTour.pdf Guide and information on Portland Central Library: http://www.oregon.com/trips/central_library.cfm Information on the Oregon Historical Society: http://www.ohs.org/ Information on the Portland Art Museum: http://www.pam.org/ Information on Pietro Belluschi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietro_Belluschi Information on RiverPlace: http://www.terrain.org/unsprawl/7/ Information on Southwest Waterfront: http://www.southwaterfront.com Information on Powell’s City of Books: http://www.powells.com/info/places/burnsideinfo.html

Information on and Walking Maps of The Pearl http://www.explorethepearl.com Information on Nob Hill: http://www.nobhillbiz.com/ The Oregonian’s “Restaurants of the Year” and City Dining Guide: http://www.oregonlive.com/diner/index.ssf/2008/06/r estaurant_of_the_year.html

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DAY TRIPPER NUMBER FOUR: MT. HOOD, TIMBERLINE LODGE, HOOD RIVER VALLEY “This iconic alpine lodge sits on the south slope of 11,239-foot Mount Hood, where it was built in just 15 months at the hands of hundreds of blacksmiths, stonemasons and farmers who scavenged the area for its timber and stones. Wildlife motifs and Native American symbols were hand-carved or welded into every corner of this three-story, 70-guest-room lodge, helping to make Timberline as much a museum as a hotel. (How many other lodges have a curator?)” (The Seattle Times, January 17, 2008)

Wy'east (Mt. Hood)

Timberline Lodge

Timberline Lodge is only 45 miles, about an hour, from the Aquatic Center. On your way there you will enjoy tantalizing views of Mt. Hood from the rich agricultural land and Cascade foothills that lie between the Aquatic Center and your destination. In addition to touring Timberline Lodge and its many architectural wonders, you may wish to sample the natural wonders of the Timberline Trail or the epicurean wonders prepared by the Lodge’s awardwinning staff. Moderate hikes from the Lodge take you to the Silcox Hut, the Zigzag Canyon Overlook and through Mt. Hood’s famous wildflower fields; tapering swimmers can await return of their hiking companions in the rustic splendor of the Lodge.

View from the Silcox Hut

Mt. Hood wildflowers

MID-AUGUST IS OFTEN THE PEAK FOR WILDFLOWER VIEWING

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Day Tripper Number Four, MT. HOOD LOOP, continued: From Timberline Lodge you can reverse course and return to the Aquatic Center, or you can complete a loop around Mt. Hood that takes you through the orchards, vineyards and fruit stands of Hood River Valley, to the Columbia River town of Hood River, the wind-surfing capital of the world.

Hood River Valley Fields

Hood River Valley Pears

From Hood River, follow the banks of the Mighty Columbia, where you may spot some of the activity for which Hood River is famous, or the sternwheeler “Columbia Gorge” making its way between Cascade Locks and Hood River (book a trip here: http://www.portlandspirit.com/sternwheeler.php).

Surfing the Gorge

Sternwheeler “Columbia Gorge”

If you need fortification for that trip down the Columbia, you can find some at Full Sail Brewing Company in Hood River. The Tasting Room and Pub is open daily from 11:30 am for lunch and dinner. Brewery tours are available daily, free of charge at 1, 2, 3 and 4pm (located on Columbia Street at 5th Avenue, just off I-84, west of Exit 63). Be sure there is a designated driver to get you back to your event on time! INVESTIGATE A RIDE ON THE MT. HOOD RAILROAD (MORE INFO BELOW)

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Day Tripper Number Four, MT. HOOD LOOP, continued: PASTE THIS ADDRESS IN YOUR BROWSER TO SEE A MAP OF THIS LOOP ROUTE: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=NE+Kane+Rd+%26+NE+17th+Dr,+Gresham,+OR+97030&daddr=Timberline+Highway,+Uninc+Clackamas +County,+OR+97028+(Timberline+Lodge)+to:hood+river,+oregon+to:NE+Kane+Rd+%26+NE+17th+Dr,+Gresham,+OR+97030&hl=en&geocode=38 6504592191349188,45.330730,-121.710320&mra=pe&mrcr=0,1&sll=45.529231,-121.941827&sspn=0.470438,0.808868&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=10

DIRECTIONS FOR THIS LOOP ROUTE (143 mi – about 3 hours 11 mins for full loop): Start at: Mt. Hood CC Aquatic Center, NE Kane Rd & NE 17th Dr Gresham, OR 97030 1. Head south on NE 257th Dr/NE Kane Rd toward NE 16th St Continue to follow NE 257th Dr - 1.6 mi 2. Turn right at SE Palmquist Rd - 410 ft 3. Turn left at Mt Hood Hwy/US-26 - 38.3 mi 4. Turn left at Timberline Hwy - 5.5 mi Arrive at: Timberline Lodge 5. Head east on Timberline Hwy - 302 ft 6. Turn right to stay on Timberline Hwy - 5.3 mi 7. Turn left at US-26 - 1.9 mi 8. Take the OR-35 N exit toward Hood River - 0.3 mi 9. Merge onto OR-35 - 38.5 mi 10. Turn left at E State St - 0.4 mi 11. Turn right at Front St - 249 ft 12. Front St turns left and becomes Oak St - 118 ft Arrive at: Hood River, OR 13. Head west on Oak St toward 1st St - 400 ft 14. Turn right at 2nd St - 0.2 mi 15. Turn left to merge onto I-84 W - 47.6 mi 16. Take exit 16 for 238th Dr. toward Wood Village 0.2 mi 17. Turn left at NE 238th Dr - 1.1 mi 18. Continue on NE 242nd Dr - 0.6 mi 19. Turn left at SE Stark St - 0.7 mi 20. Turn right at NE Kane Rd - 0.7 mi Arrive at: Mt. Hood CC Aquatic Center, NE Kane Rd & NE 17th Dr Gresham, OR 97030 Mt. Hood Railroad http://www.mthoodrr.com/

STAY CONNECTED AT NATIONALS! You can stay connected while at the Aquatic Center if you’re traveling with a wireless-equipped laptop. The Wifi point is in the “crow’s nest,” located at the top center of the spectator stands. Those in the know say that the signal is best in the area directly in front of the crow’s nest, though you may need to huddle with your laptop under a blanket in order to see your screen in Oregon’s famous summer sunshine!

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In the Next Issue: • Dennis Baker’s Tips on Swimming in the Aquatic Center Pool • A Guide to Portland-Area Brew Pubs • How Race Analysis Software, Developed for Olympians, can Help You • Participant Demographics – Who Are We?