Sunday, November 18, 2012

2012 Griffith Park Trail Half Marathon Results - HOLLYWOOD



After stressing all week about the race start time, my finish time, and making my flight back home at LAX, race morning came and I was ready to get going. Admittedly, stress of the elements kept me up a little later than I would have liked; however, no worries. Race day was here and I was out of my Long Beach hotel by 5:45am. Traffic was lovely through Los Angeles at 6am. No barriers on the 710 or the 5 and I was at my exit at Los Feliz in good time. I stopped at Starbucks – my pre-race ritual always includes coffee to help open my asthmatic lungs – and headed toward Griffith Park. Aside from packet pick-up at A Runner’s Circle Running Shop, I had never visited this area of So-Cal. Thank goodness for Mapquest on the I-Phone 5 – you get me everywhere!
Back up Los Feliz, into Griffith Park, and I was at my destination two hours early. I headed to the top to the Griffith Observatory to take some pictures after deciding not to take my camera on the run – I was way too pressed for time. If you have not had the chance to take the view up there in, please do so and thank me later. I was amazed at the beautiful skyline I had seen pictures of or viewed in movies, with little appreciation. No more. Between the Observatory, the beauty of the Los Angeles skyline and the infamous Hollywood sign, I was speechless.

After my picture-taking frenzy, I drove back to the hill to park near the Greek Theater. I organized for my departure and prepped for the upcoming race. To the start I jogged lightly to warm up my legs.
At the start, the Naked Juice guys gave me a drink of Carrot Orange – yummy! After that treat, I finished off my Cucumber Lime Gatorade – the best flavor EVER! (not to be found in KY). Then, after expecting a light drizzle, the downpour of rain hit us! What? Rain in LA? What is up with that? I found a dry spot and took cover there – I was afraid of melting (Ha). While waiting for the start, I met a guy, Mike, which told me about the race in 2011 and described the route, which helped a ton. We talked about our running experiences, our wives, and other things that led us to this point. Start time came, I wished him luck, and got into running mode. I did get the opportunity to say thank you the Keira Henninger, the Race Director, for communicating with me leading up to the race, with details on where to be and when.
Now, to the start, where the rain calmed down to a drizzle and runners were ready to make like horse poop and hit the trail. We were off at 8:30am sharp, as promised. Here is how my second ever trail half marathon went:
Normally I use sections of milage to map out my race; however, trail races are not that easy to breakdown, so here is a summary:
Uh oh, I started too fast! The first left hand turn went up a great hill with soft sand-like terrain. I was trying to run fast and getting little tread. I had to mentally regroup and remind myself I was not on road, which makes up most my experience is. I hit the reset button and took it a little easier the rest of the way. This was a tough one – I walked a couple times and became worried about my flight. All good because we were already started and there was no turning back! I run/walked on the tough inclines and made up good time on the declines. Over-exertion is tough to accomplish when you hit an incline or terrain where speed is not an option – or maybe I just played it smart. Throughout the rest of the race, runners were blessed the majestic views. A few times we were so high into the clouds, the only sight was the trail in front and drop-offs on both sides of the ridge. I felt like I was in heaven and realized this is why LA is known as the City of Angels. This race was nothing but hills and history. Whether inclines or declines, looking at the city, around Bronson Caves where the old Batman was filmed, or gettin a birds eye view of the Hollywood sign, the route was amazing.
RD Keira Henninger awaited at the finish, gave me the AWESOME finisher’s medal, and told me to “GET TO LAX and catch your flight!” I stopped long enough to get a Naked Coconut Water (delicious) and reset my Garmin. I ran the rest of the way to the car, changed and drove away from there in a frenzy!

Official Results:
Time: 1:47:14
Pace: 8:11/mi
Overall Place: 16 of 349
Age Group Place: 3rd


Though I was running hard, I did take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the sights seen from this route. The city in all directions, the Hollywood sign, the Griffith Observatory, lookouts, clouds, peaks, valleys and many other sights made this race the most scenic in my tenure as a runner.

About the race organization:
You guys were all AWESOME! Already mentioned was how helpful Race Director Keira Henninger was in making my decision to participate in this race and getting me to the start and to the airport from the finish. The route was excellently marked for runners to find their way with signs and flags. The volunteers were most helpful in cheering us on with encouragement and excitement. I joked with a couple of them telling them their signs were pointed the wrong way – I hope they found it funny.Aid stations were well-equipped with volunteers, water, Hammer, gels and snacks. They cheered and asked runners what they wanted as they approached. Parking was a breeze, both in and out. RD, you really know how to organize an awesome race! Sponsors were terrific, the medal and race shirt were uniquely AWESOME, and you even turned on the rain to cool runners off. I could not have asked for a better experience. THANK YOU!
Next, for me in 2012 is a little rest - or at least for a couple of days. December may bring another trail run in Otter Creek Park – undecided. The main focus for the upcoming Winter Season will be getting miles in and staying healthy so I can run more and run faster! Scheduled in 2013 so far is the Rock ‘n’ Roll Lexington (KY), the Little Rock Half (AR), and the Wickedly Fast Half (Olathe, KS). We will see if any other opportunities pop up!
I love running so much I am going to keep writing about it, so I hope ya’ll keep reading.

Follow me on: 
Twitter @jameshoagy,  Facebook, and on my blog: JamesRunstheNation.blogspot.com
HAPPY RUNNING!
FIT4LIFE

Saturday, November 3, 2012

2012 Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon Results

Today was a good day....

Well, I realize I have not wrote about my last two races - Bernheim Trail Half and the Bourbon Chase. It was not due to performance or any other factor other than getting caught up in life, which I love to live. A brief opinion about both:
The 2012 Bernheim Trail Half was awesome. Perfect temps for my 1st trail race. Time was 2:31:52.
The Bourbon Chase was amazing! Definitely had not participated in an event like this but performed like a champ. I ran Leg 4, which consisted of three legs totaling 19.37 miles and ran it in 2:13:14 - an average pace around 6:52/mi. What was even more fun was I ran with a group of five other runners in Van 1, none of which I had ever met, and they were AWESOME!

Now to today, the 2012 Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon.......
Being the first road half marathon I have ran since May, I had some butterflies. Temperatures were set to be around 39 deg - I knew nothing of the other elements runners would experience besides a little wind.
The morning of, all fell in to place - I woke up with ease and felt good, kissed my sleeping wife, then, headed to meet my great friend Thomas Hines on Louisville's waterfront. We talked for a few then headed our for our warm up run. Despite the intended slow pace, I realized I felt great. After a mile-and-a-quarter, we headed to the start line. No National Anthem? Disappointing, but I was ready to get running. Here is how it went:

Miles 1-3: We took off and I was in good stride. I shot out of the gate quick with my fastest mile of the race being my first at a 6:40/mi pace. I committed myself to running my own race. I focused on me. This leg averaged about a 6:45/mi pace and I felt great. I was getting warm when sleet started falling. Uh oh - I did not see that on the forecast. 
Up Lexington and toward Cherokee where Dog Hill awaited - but I was ready, I run Cherokee all to often. Not that I was thinking I was better than this hill; I respect it because Dog Hill has brought me to this speed in my training runs.

Miles 4-6: Miles 5 and 6 were my slowest of the race, 7:03 and 6:51, respectively. This leg included the two most challenging hills in the race. I was thinking if I got through them, the rest of the race would be a cinch. I have to mention a runner I talked with at this point in the race, of whom I owe the result of my race. He was obviously faster, and we pushed each other for the rest of the race. Many thanks to you
Dog Hill and Cherokee was behind me and I still felt great! After getting through the tough part of the run, runners headed out and up Grinstead. The rain started falling. 

Miles 7-10: Grinstead is always a challenge, a long stretch of gradual incline. Even better, this was the last hill of the run! After leaving the Highlands, runners head down Liberty, which was a wind tunnel last year! Wind was not bad in 2012, only the uneven, chewed up roads. While the rain was falling faster I was running faster! I looked at the clocks this race a was well aware a PR was achievable. Positive thoughts kept running through my head and there was no doubt I would post a time unique in my running history. The guy I mentioned pushed me was just ahead in my sights and I set a personal goal to catch him by the finish. This leg averaged about a 6:45/mi pace and wow, I was still feeling a lot of fuel to be used in the final leg.

Miles 11-13.1: Runners finish Liberty, turn and head toward the finish. Rain was falling, sunglasses were foggy and I could not see anything but the runner in front of me. Mile 13 was my second slowest of the race. My shoes were soaked, as were my clothes, I could see nothing, but I knew the finish was near, and so was a PR. I kept up with my goal and passed him about a 1/4 mile before the finish. I caught a glimpse of the clock, just over 1:29, and was over-joyed with my performance - a PR in a tough race with some great challenges. I turned around and thanked that fellow for his effort, which I fed off for over eight miles of the race.

OFFICIAL RESULTS:
Overall Place
37 / 2143
Gender Place
35 / 1077
Division Place
8 / 184
Pace
6:49/mi
The LSC Half is a tough race. Volunteers are awesome, especially in this one with rain falling and frigid temps. The water stops were plenty and those folks were helpful. My only gripe is those acrylic cups. I was thankful for the paper cups at the last two stops.
Other than the cups and no singing of our Nation's Anthem, the LSC is a great race even more special to me in my hometown. The exclamation point was all the chocolate milk at the finish line and the awesome Finisher's medal!

My performance was special in this race. I work hard to maintain my fitness no matter what life throws at me, whether in town or traveling. I appreciate the support of my wife and family throughout the over 6,000 miles I have put in my body over the last five to six years.

Next up for me may be a Trail Half marathon around the Hollywood sign in L.A. November 17th. After that, I should be done with races in 2012, setting my sights on 2013 with the following races already on the schedule:


 

HAPPY RUNNING!!!!!
FIT4LIFE