Tracktown, USA

Eugene is a runner’s town, a place where the cashiers and clerks at the grocery store will know more about the sport than most of your local run club. It is in this place's DNA, it runs through its streets, and it shows this mostly through its people. A hotel worker well removed from the glory days is happy to pull up their slacks and show you the scars of spike marks, or maybe multiple surgeries – paying in full the price to chase glory in a town like this. At its center, you will find a testament to track and field, Hayward Field. It stands like a monolith on the outskirts of Oregon’s campus, a monument to a town built on track and field. It’s here Prefontaine’s spirit still looms large while the champions of today and tomorrow chase the shadows of legends. This week, as the world arrives, new legends will certainly emerge.

Despite its speedy nature on the track, the pace around town and campus is mellow. If you look past the history and its contribution to the sport it is but another mid-sized city in the charming (yes sometimes gloomy) Pacific Northwest. Nestled along the Willamette River, Eugene boasts a plethora of opportunities for outdoors enthusiasts – from hiking, white water rafting, mountain biking, and more.

Track Town Pizza

How does an establishment become an institution? Much like success on the field of play, it takes time, perseverance, and a little luck. For over forty years Track Town Pizza has held its own as a local favorite spot to grab lunch, have pizza night with friends and family, or watch the game and enjoy a few cold ones. A midweek lunch run offers you a chance to check out every nook and cranny of this memorabilia-adorned pizza joint. Located on Franklin Boulevard right across from the University of Oregon, Track Town Pizza has welcomed many athletes, families, and students since it opened its doors in 1978. We strolled over after taking in the sites at Hayward, grabbed a booth with Pre, and helped ourselves to a couple of slices.

Hayward Field

One hundred years ago a six-lane cinder track was built around a new football field that had just opened its doors a few years prior. In that time we have seen champions, phenoms, underdog stories, heartbreak, and much more take place at Hayward Field. The historic moments are too many to name but a single word is all that is needed to summon a feeling. TrackTown was built around it and with its new renovation complete, it looks like it will house many more big moments for a long time to come.

Dorris Ranch Loop

A few minutes outside of Eugene, this quiet but beautiful trail in Springfield offers a multitude of terrain: grass trails in a hazelnut orchard, a paved bike path along the Willamette River, and gravel paths in the woods. If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle on Pre’s trail, this is a must-run. (You can also get here by running east on Pre’s and crossing the river.)

Prince Pucklers
Ice Cream

Another establishment that can easily be given the moniker of “institution,"  Prince Puckler has been serving Eugene students and residents of all ages for almost fifty years. Decadent sundaes, classic waffle cones, and a laundry list of traditional and adventurous flavors make every runner's (and non-runner’s) dreams come true on a hot summer day. We grabbed as many samples as we could before picking what we hoped were the “right” flavors and caught some rays at Washburne Park taking in the views of Hayward Field.

Farmers Union
Coffee Roasters

A third-wave cafe, this coffee shop in downtown Eugene has an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere filled with plants and a huge pink coffee bean machine scenting the entire place with a coffee aroma. You can sit inside, at one of the large farmhouse wooden tables, or outside on their porch nestled among plants and flowers. It’s the perfect place to come with a friend, get some work done on a laptop, or read a book, with a cup of specialty coffee nearby.

The Washburn Cafe

This is a great brunch place with specialty coffee and homemade pastries in the heart of downtown Springfield (a ten-minute drive from Hayward). Located in a historic building that housed the former Springfield Armory, its exposed brick and 100-year-old floors give it a nostalgic feel, but the cafe also maintains a hipster and minimalistic vibe. Busy on the weekends, it’s worth waiting in line to enjoy the experience and food. They host local artists on the walls, with big windows that bring in a lot of natural light. For food, they have delicious pastries (massive cinnamon buns), breakfast sandwiches with avocado, sriracha mayo and a fresh roasted pork belly that are very popular.

El Super Burrito

It might not look like much from the outside (this Mexican restaurant is tucked in a strip mall) but El Super Burrito has the best burritos you can find in Eugene. They’re unusually packed with french fries, and one of the first stops to satisfy locals’ cravings. Heads up: It’s closed on Sunday (in case you want to go after a Sunday long run).

Ye Olde
Pancake House

This place is everything you’d expect a pancake house to be. A ten to fifteen-minute drive from Hayward, its booths are typically crowded with Eugene locals. True to its name, the pancakes are one of the most popular things to order on the menu, but they have healthier omelet options too. (It’s also where the fastest girls in America like to eat breakfast. A few days before Juliette Whittaker broke the high school 800m record in 1:59.04, she dined with her fellow competitor Roisin Willis here.)