Off to Eugene!

     Yesterday was a grand day of travel as I set off for Eugene, Oregon.  Check out my musings as I crossed over the Rocky Mountains on the last leg of my journey:

Right now, I’m somewhere between Minneapolis, Minnesota and Portland, Oregon.  I’m on leg two of my great voyage to Eugene and can’t believe that this much anticipated adventure is finally here!

            I was up at 7:10 this morning and dad and I left for the airport at 7:30 so I could have ample time to get through security and find my gate before my 8:50 flight to Minneapolis/St. Paul.  We had gone over all my travel arrangements and my schedule last night, so I felt confident that I could get myself from point A to point B.  I’ve also traveled frequently, so I feel like I know the ins and outs of it.  Still, there was a certain apprehension that gripped me as I hugged my dad goodbye and walked up to security.  My dad said something as I looked to him from the TSA scanning belt for the umpteenth time.  “Huh,” I asked, perplexed.  “Your liquids,” he said and pointed to my backpack.  Oh ya, I’d forgotten I had to take those out.  I gave him a look of relief, knowing he’d just saved me from the embarrassing and nerve-wracking TSA question: “Is this your bag?”

            I safely got through security and sniffled a little as I waved goodbye.  I persuaded myself to pull it together. After all, I rationalized: I had just completed my first year at college.  A long weekend in Oregon was nothing to shake my head at, but I was more than prepared to do it on my own.

            After that, things went fairly smooth.  I got a little nervous in Minneapolis when I realized that the G Concourse I needed to find didn’t seem to exist.  No worries: I discovered there is indeed a G Concourse at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport.  It is stealthily hidden but there nonetheless.

            The flight I’m on now will take me to Portland where I’ll catch my last flight—which is a quick 60-minute connection—to my final destination! 

We saw this peak about 45 minutes before
landing in Portland

The three-hour time change is certainly messing with my system, but I’ve been napping all day so far.  I figure I’ll get to my hotel around four o’clock PST.  I plan to get out for a run and workout first thing, because I know my body will soon crash—four o’clock is really seven for my body. 

Right now, we are flying over the Rocky Mountains and I’m amazed at how vast the ranges go—as far as the eye can see.  I’m also reminded that the God who etched every peak and cliff before me, is the One who has blessed me with this great adventure and time with Him.  
A lot of people were incredulous at the idea of me, a nineteen-year-old girl, flying across the country all by herself to watch a track meet.  I’ll admit: I was as well.  But will I really be alone?  Heck no!  I’ll be exploring around Track Town USA with God at my side and hoards of other running fanatics that God has already placed in my path.  This is going to be a time of retreat with God, a time of utter enjoyment and discovery of myself.

After I get in a quick workout tonight, I plan to grab dinner and head to bed early.  I know I’ll be pretty exhausted and I want to be ready to go tomorrow morning for the meet.  Other than the Prefontaine Classic—which will be the main event— I’m prepped for adventure with my camera and a Pinterest board full of “Must Dos while in Eugene.”  

So get ready Track Town USA: I’m coming!