I Dare You to Read This

Cancun, Mexico: July 2-9

I'm going to try to sum up everything without dragging on. I went with my Cuz Alex, and Kevin, 2 other guys Paul and Ryan, and my aunt and uncle. Cancun was sweet! I think the coldest it ever got was 90. I finally got to practice my Spanish with many merchants. I always bargained for my gifts. Once i got it from $20 to $11 for a shirt. He said "Doce!" and i said "Once!" ONCE!!" and eventually gave it to me haha. I even gave one guy a breadstick and i picked out something for free.
Biggest downside in Cancun was the running. the 1st day i got a 12 mile run in, and it took so damn long. Easily the hardest top 3 runs ever. I ran at 8 AM but it was already 95 or so AND HUMID, making it feel roughly 110. I even stopped 3 times and i almost passed out on the sidewalk and into the bushes. WHen i finally got back, i had the best tasting cold water in Mexico. I survived. Although the next morning as soon as i woke i had the "Reversal of Doom" or whatever u call it. Didn't feel good. i went on my run. then when i came back, i felt even worse and puked badly for a long time. I decided my body wasn't used to the weather.
Besides all that, we did many things. I went on this Jungle Tour and i got to ride these fast little boats on a crusade with other boats. You were supposed to stay in a big line but my boat was harder to control since the shifter was built farther away from me than the others. I had some "problems" and when we got there (Snorkeling area) the leader was mad at me and just said, "YOU LOCO!". The beaches were so NICE, omg, perfect sand and the water felt amazing all week. Maybe Kelsey could describe it better. i went to cool restaurants, and once my waiter was like "wanna nother tequila?" and i said "ohh i dont know.." and he said "OH C"MON!" and gives me more. they dont care how old u are haha. Later on, Paul and I went to a night club "Dady Rock" and it was a free bar all night. Things were gettin pretty crazy and tshirt contests but ya Paul had like 30 drinks. i probably had 10 and then i could handle any more. my white beaded hair was popular since there was a blacklight. Anyways we left at 3am and somehow got back to the hotel (i was acting like Gollum getting back and hiding in the dark) and we got to my floor. I crawled out of the elevator finally after pushing every button in there and we were like 30 feet from my door and then this "hotel worker" was like "COME WITH ME" and all of sudden i was scared. He grabbed my arm and was trying to take me and Paul was at our hotel door and he yelled at him, "LET HIM GO!!!" and i just kept saying LO SIENTO over and over. HE could have kidnapped me or made me pay $$ or something but finally he let go after awhile and left. Strange night. All and all good week. I also saw a bullfight.

Hedley, Canada, BC: July 15-17


This was my sister's graduation/ brother's 27th b-day/ family reunion party. It's a SMALL mining town in the mountains and my sister's dad has his own shop there and also where he lives. Its next to a rapid river. I drove up with my Chris (my sisters bf)and i found out that he also likes techno and house music. we saw Wedding Crashers on the way up and it was pleasantly surprisingly funny. WE drove by a homeless guy and i gave him a packet of fruit snacks. That night we got there and i got to see my bro Karl. we had a good convo and i learned alot of things about our family history (evil things) and about my real dad. the next day i went on a mountain run, straight up. good times. the ATV was a blast too. i recommend em. my sister made a slideshow that night under the stars, really good. people were crying. my new uncle was way too drunk though and he went up and was dancing everywhere and lipsynching to Elvis songs. the next morn, i caught a fish on the river with my bro.
then we went on a 7 man rafting trip. my brother was sooo funny and we kept making sarcastic jokes about having to abandon ship. Well we came up to "Dead Man's Corner" as my bro called it and we were almost home...just one last choppy area left. We came up and avoided lots of rocks and avoided the one on the right.. WELL there was only the BIGGEST ROCK IN THE RIVER on the left still and we just nailed it bullseye. the boat was filling up with water and well, we abdandoned ship after all. someones glass bottle was in there too and we tossed it out! One of the oars got away too! i was thinking "hmm not good".


Eugene, Oregon: July 24-25

Time for orientation and signing up for classes. i met alot of new people like Jeff, Miles, Brian (there should be a BRIAN club) Phillip, Jenna, Jon and Robert. So they told me that i should take just 3 classes in the 1st quarter since i'm a new incoming student and doing cross-country. then i just take a little more next quarter. i also learned i never have to take another math class again. (unless i decide to be physical therapist or something?). Then i met Jon Thomas. the only other freshman i knew about running at U of O next year. He was Iowa state XC champ as a junior and 2nd this year. Apparently ran 9:07 too. he was really cool and went on a run together.
i discovered so many more trails this time around at Oregon from when i was there last summer. So Jon called me and invited to go meet Bill Dellinger at his house (helped set up by Pat Tyson). Dellinger was Prefontaine's day to day coach at Oregon and assisted Bowerman for awhile too. He coached Oregon from 1972 to 1998 and coached Rudy Chapa and Alberto Salazar... He once held the world record in the 3 mile and another event! And he never lost a cross country race! EVER. It was sooooo awesome! he had a millon pictures from track and cross country. He just had a stroke 4 years ago which was really sad. he wrote down a lot of things and has trouble saying things but really genuinely nice. He seemed real sad about Pre still. I hope i did not bore anyone but i had to do it


Fort Steilcoom Park, Tacoma: July 23

I was off in the Senior All-star race. I never felt better... i went through mile 1 in 4:55. This year's field was really strong compared to last year. The course was mostly flat except for about 3-4 moderate hills towards the end. I went for it and i ended up getting 6th (16:07). I beat some fast ppl...i challenge current Woodinville runners to beat this in next years.



Keith