Running trails abound around Eugene
Eugene isn't the seif-proclaimed 'track
capital of the world' for nothing. An abun
dance of well-groomed trails for runners
and hikers alike lie within the city — and
many are close to campus.
Probably the most well-known and
popular is Pre's Trail, named in memory of
the late University track star, Steve Prefon
taine. The four-mile scenic path skirts the
Willamette River and winds through Alton
Baker Park, just north of campus. The cedar
chip trail leads the runner through both
Oregon 'jungles' and open fields. Several
exercise stations also line the mostly flat
trails.
A summer restoration project of about
$100,000 poured new cedar chips onto the
trails and installed a new drainage system,
which should make the trails operable dur
ing heavy rains.
There are four different trails within Pre s
Trail, ranging from .6 kilometers to 2.6
kilometers. For a longer workout the run
ner can jog several trails. A trail map just
south of Autzen Stadium charts their routes
and distances. The trails lie across the foot
bridge that leads to Autzen Stadium.
The Adidas Oregon Trail (formerly
Amazon Parkway Run) is a mile-long loop
that winds around a miniature forest and of
fers prime views of Skinner's Butte to the
north and Spencer's Butte to the south.
Adidas recently renovated the trail, install
ing a new drainage system and cedar
chips.The flat trail also has a shorter 1,500
meter cut-off loop. Although the trail is a
favorite of Alberto Salazar and many other
world-class runners, weekend joggers
abound as well.
The Oregon Trail is about one mile from
campus on the corner of East 24th Avenue
and Amazon Street. Follow University
Street to 24th Avenue, turn right on 24th
Avenue and go up about one-half mile to
Amazon Street.
Eugene's newest — and most scenic —
hiking/running path is the Ridgeline Trail
located on Spencer's Butte in Eugene's
South Hills. Although the trail traverses the
butte, the steep grade seems like it goes
straight up, especially the first 400 yards
through an open meadow.
Once atop the initial climb, the dirt trail is
like a long roller coaster, going up and
down through densely wooded forests
which occasionally afford splendid views of
Eugene, the Coburg Hills and the Cascade
Mountains.
The trail stretches for 3.5 miles, but there
are two cut-off points along the way, in
cluding one which leads straight up to the
butte's summit.
Wildlife abounds along the trail, especial
ly tree frogs, brush rabbits and deer.
For more information on area running
trails, maps and guides are available at the
Eugene Park and Recreation Department,
By Joan Herman
Monson
Continued from Page 8
"We've looked at an offense this
summer that can get the ball into
(Blair) Rasmussen when we want
to," Monson says.
Rasmussen, a junior who stands
seven feet tall and weighs 250
pounds, is the Duck's returning
starting center. He was named to
separate Pac-10 all-star squads by
the league's coaches and media.
Rasmussen toured Russia this
summer as a member of the
Pac-10 all-stars that played local
Russian teams and he was a
member of the USA all-star team
that played in South Korea and
Malaysia.
Monson stresses he will take ad
vantage of Rasmussen's abilities,
but winning will take more than
getting the ball inside to the big
man.
"He certainly is the one stan
dout that we have now. But you
can't win ballgames or league
titles with one kid," Monson says.
"The thing that I noticed that we
need to work on is some
quickness," he says.
"We're going to run some
match-up zone, some straight
zone and some man for man. The
more quickness you have team
wise, the better defense you have.
"If we're going to fast break as
much as we like to do and if we're
going to be able to defensively
change up as much as we've tried
to do in the past the ingredient we
need is quickness," says Monson.
The three players his staff has
recruited for next year have that
ingredient.
While Monson admits the cur
rent Duck roster may not be
perfectly suited to his style and
that maybe USC and UCLA back
to-back are as rough as playing
Montana at Missoula, he hasn't
conceded any games on this
year's schedule.
"I think most coaches are
egotistical and most coaches think
they can whip the whole world
and I'm one of those I guess,"
says Monson. "I just figure every
game I go into I can win
somehow. Maybe when there's
only two minutes to go in the
game you finally realize there's no
way you could win, but you go in
to the game thinking you could."
Monson laughs at himself as he
talks about winning each game,
then he reflects on his last job.
“I went into Idaho in the same
type of situation and we ended up
last in the league the first year and
I keep reminding myself of that,"
r
he says. "But after that we flew
and hopefully we can do that even
quicker here. That's certainly the
way you feel when you take a
job."
He knows he was hired to pro
duce a winner, but says he feels
only pressure from himself to win,
not from outside sources, even
though he realizes the expecta
tions are great.
"You compete, you try to win
and you try to make the kid a bet
ter person and a better citizen.
By Jim Moore
Graduate into the fast lane.
Your college degree could be your ticket to becoming a Marine Corps Officer and flying with
us. If you’re an undergrad, you could also qualify for:
• Tuition assistance in Platoon Leaders
Class (PLC)
• A starting salaiy from 17,000
to $23,000
• Free civilian flying lessons in
PLC aviation
• Summer training only
An appointment withyour Marine Corps
Officer Selection Officer set up through
your college placement officer will answer
all your questions.
Or call First Lietenant B.J. Toynbee in
Eugene at 687-6425 or Corvallis at (503)
757-4801 (call collect)..
few.The pioudThe Marines.