Travel Day to Nike Elite Camp started with a 6:15 plane flight out of TF Green Airport. That meant waking up at 4 a.m. and being out the door at 4:30. After a two-hour layover in Atlanta, and a flight to Portland that was just under five hours I was greeted by a Nike Elite Camp representative at the airport. Along with a few other athletes we were taken to the Nike Headquarters where we would spend a majority of the day.
Almost immediately the "red carpet" was laid out for us, and the experience and focus was all on us. From Interviews, to photo shoots, to intimidation videos at Nike's Track, the Camp truly made us feel like professional athletes. We even got a chance to sit down with some of Nike's lead designers in men's apparel for a chance to help improve Nike's future product. When it came time to run, we were given the opportunity to run with Alan Webb, the current American record-holder in the mile. It was a fantastic opportunity and a very fun and relaxed run. And if all that wasn't enough, then we got to see the gear. Top of the line running shirts, shorts, training shoes and a brand new pair of Nike Elite spikes.
The afternoon at Nike was concluded with some tacos and a great campus tour put on by Simon Bairu, an Elite Camp coordinator and former Nike Pro. We then went back to the hotel in an unbelievable coach bus. Day 1 of Camps was a success, and the group of guys on the trip is a fun, relaxed group who has some great goals for Saturday's race. Day 2 looks to be better than the first, as the group packs up and travels down to Eugene for the beginning of the Olympic Trials.