5 Things we are looking forward to at Foot Locker Nationals

1.  Without a doubt, after seeing the frozen, cold, damp, rainy, windy weather at NCAA's and NXN most recently, it's the weather.  It's a large part of why this is our favorite national event.  True, every once in awhille it's get's a little nippy for us Floridians in SOCAL, like the 60's, but for the most part it warms up nicely during the day and is rather holiday like in the evenings.  Give us San Diego over Portland in December, 10 times out of 10.

In case you're wondering, here is the beautiful forecast for Foot Locker Nationals this weekend:

Need a little reminder of why California beckons us during December- The Beach Boys fit the bill.

2.  The Boys from the "Dirty Durty South" doing battle with hopes of getting the "Triple"; their 3rd consecutive team title at Foot Locker Nationals.  You know, if you think about it, it wasn't that long ago that the South was the laughing stock of the regional teams at Foot Locker Nationals.  The overarching thought was the South wasn't tough enough, hardy enough to compete with the rest of the hardened racers from the around the rest of the country.  The South was seen as flatlanders who couldn't handle the "Hill" at Balboa once, much less a second time around, and they just always, well,  ran out of gas. 

All of that has changed now and it seems rather coincidental with them getting a little bit of an edge once they embraced being the "Dirty South".  Extra points to those who point out how the "Dirty South" came about and who spear-headed the change in confidence?  With Furman bound, 3200m ready, Aaron Templeton leading the fastest South team in recent memory, in a year when even 14:55 didn't cut the muster, we're seeing multiple hand gestures for the South Boys come Friday and Saturday.

3.  The Introductions and pageantry of Foot Locker Nationals ranks 3rd on our list.  It always give us chills when runners we've followed, who have worked so hard to realize their dreams, pop out from behind the Foot Locker stanchion and into the national spotlight, quite possbily for the first time ever in their careers. 

They say everyone in their lifetime gets their 15 minutes of fame.  Can it ever be more so true than at Foot Locker Nationals?  When Tim O'Rourke starts reeling off your accomplishments in his deep baritone and the internet masses are solely focused on you, there is nothing more bone-chilling than realizing the Foot Locker experience is alive and well and "Dreams" do come true.

4.  The characters.  Yes, those individuals that stay with us long after the races are over.  We've seen them in the results, the headlines, the video interviews and news articles but then you get to know them in person and it makes the event just so much more enjoyable. 

Case in point. Jakub Zivec, 2008 Foot Locker Nationals.

5.  A trip to Foot Locker Nationals is special because it's held at the charmingly beautiful Hotel Del Coronado.  Built in 1888, this historic and some say spooky, if not haunted hotel on the Beach, is a real gem whose exterior and interior beckons us each and every December. 

Built with this is mind,

""It would be built around a court...a garden of tropical trees, shrubs and flowers,.... From the south end, the foyer should open to Glorietta Bay with verandas for rest and promenade. On the ocean corner, there should be a pavilion tower, and northward along the ocean, a colonnade, terraced in grass to the beach. The dining wing should project at an angle from the southeast corner of the court and be almost detached, to give full value to the view of the ocean, bay and city."

With a slow creaky elevator, a huge welcoming christmas tree in the foyer and the sweet melody of old-time carolers greeting us through her doors in the early evening, the Hotel Del beckons once again.

The Hotel Del Coronado has found its' purpose as the home away from home to many a Foot Locker finalist over the years.  From the ice-cream sundaes to the skating rink to the beach football, the Hotel Del makes us realize that like all things, you need a vision of where it is you want to go in life and being a Foot Locker finalist or fan alike is a step in the right direction.