HogPen Hill Climb 2008

Wow, what a race....Jason, Hadley and I set out for Helen GA in the North Georgia Mtns to face off with a race that had a great history of being a challenging course. The anticipation of a heavy snowfall was not going to keep us from going to see what all the hype was about. The blog recommendations suggested that the first 6.2 miles should be all out because the final 4 miles would be the toughest and nearly straight uphill.

This morning the threat of heavy snow and freezing temperatures closed the last 4 miles off so it was to be an out and in course, 5 miles up and 5 miles down the hill. We were not sure what the heck people were talking about when they said to go all out in the first part of the race, because it was as challenging (if not more) than the famed Boston Heartbreak Hill!

I stayed back early, using the Walk Run method to rest my legs, not really knowing what to expect throughout the day. It was snowing alot, not too windy, but every time you thought you might be getting to the top and and the possbility of a downhill ride, another hill opened up in front of you.

Hadley was hitting on all cylinders and managed to lead the women through 7 or 8 miles but was overtaken. She finished a strong second in 1:15 (just over 7 minute miles)....

Jason stayed out in front of me from mile 3 on. I thought I might catch him in the last mile, but his steady pace, and the lead in my legs held me back to finish directly behind him. He finished in a strong 1:25 and change and I finished in 1:25 and a few seconds more.

We had planned to get some more miles in after the race, but it was quickly evident that we would not be going out again after we finished. We truly left it all on the course.....

A great experience, a great race, and one we want to do again...

The legend of HogPen will grow as we recall the stories, but suffice to say "It was uphill both ways, in the snow, with no shoes..." If we can do it, so should you....

JK

Time to Go

Ok folks, we are heavy into the winter running season. Here in Atlanta we've started the Winter Time Improvement Program or TIPS as it is known. We have a small but hearty group of runner seeking to improve on their PR or discover what their PR can be.

Honestly, I haven't been running to my potential, getting out on a semi regular basis to grab some miles, but otherwise lazy in my approach. Are you feeling me? Those O Dark Thirty wake up calls keep coming, and they are opportunities. Opportunities to give in or FIGHT BACK against laziness.

Sometimes it's difficult to find the motivation to get out the door. But once out there, once you are up to pace and running, all the reasons for stopping seem to drift away. One more mile you tell yourself, I'll just go a little more and the next thing you know, your run is done for the day. Better off and motivated to boot.

I wish I could tell you that I get up every day excited at 0445 to face 5-10 miles of running. But I don't. Sometimes its damn hard, sometimes I give in and roll over and go back to sleep. But on most days, I crawl out of bed, put on layer after layer, and I run. I run for me. And thats who you have to run for. Why do we run? Because somewhere, someone can't run, because there is a part of you that is seeking something more.

Go, BE a runner...