This is the 2009 edition of my summer travel blog journaling my experiance at the World Championships in Berlin. My trip also includes competitions in Croatia, France, Italy, England and Greece. I usually have time to sit down every couple of days to write. Enjoy the excerpts below. Full journal entries, pictures and results can be found on the website, www.StephanieBrownTrafton.com <http://www.stephaniebrowntrafton.com/> Please forward this to your friends and family, coworkers, neighbors, anyone you want!
Be sure to watch Team USA at the 2009 IAAF World Track & Field Championships during the following dates, times and channels. Live coverage is also on the internet at www.universalsports.com <http://www.universalsports.com/>.
Auf Weidersehen!
(All times Eastern)
8/15/09 1:00 PM NBC
8/16/09 2:00 PM NBC
8/17/09 1:00 PM Versus
8/18/09 1:00 PM Versus
8/19/09 1:30 PM Versus (women's discus prelims)
8/20/09 1:30 PM Versus
8/21/09 1:30 PM Versus (women's discus final)
8/22/09 1:00 PM NBC
8/23/09 2:00 PM NBC
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Berlin Vol. 4 Historic Berlin (To read other volumes go to http://www.stephanietrafton.com/blog/)
It seems like the time has passed by so quickly but I have been here a week. Over the last few days I have practiced according to my schedule and even had some time off to go to visit a remaining section of the Berlin Wall, cruise on the River Spree, and speak the opening prayer inside the historic Berlin Cathedral (pictures and history at the website). At the Wall I wrote a birthday note to a friend, snapped a few pictures, and sent them back as a gift. I was too scared to write it in huge letters. I'm lucky I didn't get yelled at because it was not the official "graffiti" section of the Wall. The river cruise down the Spree revealed to me the best parts of Berlin architecture and culture. The cruise had a rocky start though as the drink waitress dropped a full bottle of beer in my lap when handing it to Chaz.
To read the full story go to http://www.stephanietrafton.com/2009/berlin-vol-4-historic-berlin/ <http://www.stephanietrafton.com/2009/berlin-vol-4-historic-berlin/>
Berlin Vol. 3 American Track & Field's Got Talent (To read other volumes go to http://www.stephanietrafton.com/blog/)
Today we walk to the accreditation center to get our credential. Credentials are like gold here; a passport to all things Championship. A credential will get you into the venue for all sessions, meals and entry to the hotels, official bus transportation and free travel on all the public transit in Berlin. I am in line to take my picture for the credential but as you already know I am super lazy so I sit in my chair and scoot it along as the line moves along. The floors are wood and the chair must have a sharp edge because after a few feet I look back and there are gouge marks in the floor.
Later I travel to the Olympic Stadium and start a practice session on the track. Today is not a throwing day but I have some supplemental training I need to do. One of the men’s high jumpers is walking with me to the track and I notice that his pants fit him perfectly in length. He must be at least 6'9" and his uniform pants go all the way to the tops of his shoes. I ask him how he managed to get pants that fit because my pants hover three inches above my shoes and I constantly have to pull them down. He says that they gave him extra long size and I am jealous. I requested long sizes but I guess I don’t have enough clout to get them. Maybe they had to make him a special pair. It starts to sprinkle but not hard. I brought my rain gear and it comes in handy now.
(Click here for full story) <http://www.stephanietrafton.com/2009/berlin-vol-3-american-trackfields-got-talent/>
Berlin Vol. 2 Lichterfeld (To read other volumes go to http://www.stephanietrafton.com/2009/)
Getting settled into the hotel is the first order of business. The first night we eat at the hotel cafe under the atrium. Cozy and comfortable dining with dim light from mini candles and soft music from the piano in the lobby. The hotel room has two twin beds, just wide enough for me to lie down on my back and not fall off either side. I am a back sleeper though so I don't mind the narrow beds. I call housekeeping and request two pillows and an extra comforter and shortly they arrive at my door. I have rearranged the room so that my roommate, who will arrive in several days, and I can each spread out comfortably in our half of the room. I slide my bed next to the window so there is a wide open space in the middle of the room to use for my stretching and tai chi.
(Click <http://www.stephanietrafton.com/2009/berlin-vol-2-lichterfeld/> here for the full story)
