Random notes from Des Moines

A few random thoughts as we anticipate our athletes' races later today in the searing Midwest heat ...

--The NBA Finals Game 7 last night was truly epic. The whole series was, but given the late start times I rarely watch it. With the slight time difference out here, coupled with the fact that we were at Drake Stadium watching the Senior 10km races into the evening, I was able to watch the completion of the game. This final series truly brought out everything good in sports. It was good, clean competition with no thuggery or bad sportsmanship, which are so prevalent in big-time team sports these days. Both teams truly respected each other, and you could see that with the outpouring of emotion after the game. I'm not a basketball guy, at all, so if this analysis isn't great please forgive me: When you have two evenly matched teams like the Heat and the Spurs, it seems that randomness and chance play as much a part in the outcome as anything else. That finger-roll layup that Tim Duncan missed in the final minute, the one that would have tied the game? He's probably made that same shot thousands of times. This time, the ball bounced away. If that shot, or his tip-in attempt that he has probably made hundreds of time, falls, maybe the outcome is different. There are an infinite number of little moments like that, all of which can turn the game and the series on a dime. For great reads on this topic, and where I got the idea for this analysis, check out this link and this link.
--Des Moines is a lot better this time around. Three years ago, when we were out here for USA Juniors, I ranted quite a bit about this place. Perhaps all we needed was a change of venue. It's rare that an airport hotel will do that. But this area around the airport has everything we need -- stores and restaurants, and a great park to run. Turns out, Des Moines has miles of wonderful trails. I went for a long run/walk from Gray's Lake Park early this morning and it was far better than any of the jogging I did out here three years ago. Live and learn. We would gladly come back to Des Moines if given the opportunity for future championship meets.
--The aforementioned 10km men's race last night was a study in tactics. The whole field bunched up through 5km, going through anywhere from 14:57 to 15:00. Then, things got real interesting. Galen Rupp and friends starting cranking big-time over the last 3km. Rupp closed his last 1,600 meters in an eye-popping 4:10! It was great and inspiring to see the pros do their thing out there.

Today's schedule ...
Women's 1,500-meter: Kristen Traub, at 1:10 local time (2:10 in the East)
Men's 10,000-meter: Johnny Lee and Ryan Colabella, at 9:00 local time (10:00 in the East)