2014 LLTH Results & Race Recap

The 2014 race results are in.

Some excellent photos have been posted by Shawn Snapp & Terry Fletcher w/SPORTZbizz.  Terry is offering FREE full size downloads of his photos -- prints are available at a nominal fee.  Links to videos have also been posted here. 


With the devastating ice storm early in the week, this race could have easily have been postponed or cancelled.  With the gritty determination of Cynthia Heady with Headfirst Performance & the Forest Service, the 11th running of LLTH is now history. 
 Photo courtesy of Terry Fletcher w/SPORTZbizz:

This 26" tree fell across the trail in 2 places & was just one of the larger obstacles that were cleared only days before the race:

Those who braved the conditions were rewarded with a most memorable experience.  First words out of most runners mouths was how beautiful the scenery was.  The ice coated trees & snowy hillsides made for stunning views thruout the course.
 
 Cynthia Heady w/pre-race instructions:

Photo courtesy of Terry Fletcher w/SPORTZbizz:

 weather:

The race began under cloudy skies with a temp near 20 degrees.  It would remain cloudy & in the 20's all day.  Winds were calm in the morning with a very light breeze later in the day.  There were a few light snow showers thruout the afternoon.  
 Photo courtesy of Terry Fletcher w/SPORTZbizz:            

                                     a cold day:

 

 course conditions:

There was a lot of ducking, weaving & climbing intermixed with the running on the entire course.  The 1st section had the most obstacles.  At times runners had to deal with near continuous ice laden branches & trees overhanging the trails.  It was difficult to get into a running rhythm.  Backups were not uncommon.

ducking:

 weaving:

Getting traction in the powdery snow was an issue for most.  Only areas easily accessible to the public during the week around the Welcome Center & the 1st part of the Siltstone Trail were packed down fairly solid.  There was ice on the course, but was limited to the start & end of the 1st section of the course.  You could hardly tell there was a gravel road beneath the thick layer of ice.

glitches:
 
In going ahead with this race with so many adverse conditions, there were understandably a few issues.  Hopefully these will not come up again:

2nd section:  When entering Yost, there are no turns required to begin the loop section.  The trail keeps straight & you begin the loop by keeping straight.  There were no flags or signs to indicate a left turn, yet apparently there was confusion & some runners turned left running the small 1.25 mile counter-clockwise loop in a clockwise direction (resulting in confusion for others).  This wasn't a critical error since the net elevation change & distance were the same in either direction.

The aid station at Bearcamp Rd became unattended & the spigots on the coolers froze.

The port-o-potties did not make it to the start location.  The park road was snowy & icy during the week & was closed for extended periods Thursday & Friday so trees could be removed along the road & power restored to the Horine Center.  One potty was eventually delivered too late & then dropped off a 1/4 mile from where it was needed.  I would guess that the icy parking lot at the Scott's Gap aid station was the story there.

 
times:

Many runners chalked up a personal worst for their respective distances.  The winning finish times were the slowest in the history of LLTH, yet they were quite impressive considering the conditions this day.

                2014 winners                                2013 winners  
50k
Avery Collins       5:13:26                 Scott Breeden      4:07:38
Michelle Bichsel  6:56:13                 Andrea Ring         6:11:37

15m
Samuel Morgan   2:24:36                  Ryan Althaus       1:53:55 
Ashley Ruberh    2:37:52                  Rebecca  Boyle    2:07:53

6m                               
Gerry Emerson       58:05                 Daniel Blandford     40:39
Alicia Heyne       1:02:53                  Rella Faye Harmon 52:58 
 

 6 mile winners:

Photos courtesy of Terry Fletcher w/SPORTZbizz:

  

15m winners:
   

50k winners: 

Congrats & Thanks to all runners who made 2014 LLTH a BIG success this year!  Thanks also to the Headfirst Performance crew & all the volunteers.  Special thanks to Cynthia Heady who made this race happen & once again provided some great homemade soups for everyone!

 goodies:

 

If anyone has pictures they wish to share with others, post your link or send it to edibo@insightbb.com.  Also, you can send any name spelling or results corrections to the same address.  Thanks.  

2-6-14 LLTH last minute notes

Online registration from the Headfirst Performance website has closed.  Late registration is available at packet pickup on Friday (7th) at Ken Combs Running Store from 12 noon to 6:00 pm EST and on race morning from 6:30 - 7:30 am EST at the Horine Center at the FINISH area.

Quest Outdoors recently announced they're having a FREE pre-race pasta dinner again this year at their store at 2330 Frankfort Road in Louisville (same location as the last 2 years) from 5:30 to 8:00 pm EST Friday night (7th).  A feature running movie will be showing.  All items in the store have been discounted 30% or more.

The Forest had several inches of snow Sunday night and Tuesday night there was rain & freezing rain.  The trails are snowy -- a little crunchy on top -- most of the snow is powdery.  Due to the ice, lots of branches have fallen onto the trail.  There are also MANY trees that are bent over into the trail or have fallen onto the trails.  The current forecast is calling for below freezing temps the rest of the week with more precipitation a possibility.

All the streams have been low or frozen this week.

On the Blue Trail (about mile 7) at the dam Wednesday morning:

Flagging will be pink again this year.  Trail junctions will be marked with several flags & major junctions will also have signs or a volunteer on site.  Intermediate flagging is spaced approx. 100 to 200 feet along the entire course.

I would have posted this yesterday morning, but my power & internet service have been out due to the ice storm since Tuesday night.  I'm posting this from the Fairdale library.

Just checked & am unable to access the Headfirst Performance website from this location.  Will find out what's going on with this.

p.m. update --

Access to the Headfirst Performance website has been corrected.

The Forest Service is working on removing the large trees that are down, however it's unlikely they will get them all removed by race day & more may fall in the meantime.  There are countless trees bent over into the trail that won't be removed by race day.

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1-7-2014 LLTH update

Registration is still available at the official website of LLTH.   Entry fees increase after Monday, January 20.  Late registration & also packet pickup is available on Friday, Feb 7, at Ken Combs Running Store from 12 noon to 6:00 pm EST and on race morning from 6:30 - 7:30 am EST at the Horine Center (Lodge) at the FINISH area.

The Forest Service made good on their promise and closed off the most scenic section in Yost to the public.  Since the course went thru this area, it will be necessary to make major changes this year.

With the shortened Yost section, it's been decided to add in the Purple Heart Trail including a section around Tom Wallace Lake.  The Purple Heart loop was once a part of the LLTH course 10 years ago when the Scott's Gap loop was temporarily shut off for a couple years.  Even though the Purple Heart Trail thruout its history has suffered damage from horse traffic & the total lack of any trail drainage maintenance, the scenic views atop the ridges are the broadest of any other place on the course.  Just be prepared for trails that resemble ditches on the hills.

The links to the new 50k & 15m courses are listed in the side menu of this blog and here:  

15m
50k

The 6m course is the 1st section of the 15m & 50k and remains unchanged from last year.

Highlights of the course changes:

both 15m & 50k:

Shortens the trail segment in Yost from 4.5 miles to 1.8 miles.  Most of the 1.8 miles utilizes the one trail designated for foot travel only (no horses, bikes or ATVs) in Yost.

Adds in the Purple Heart loop (2.5 miles)

Removes the aid station in Yost & at the Tom Wallace parking lot.  Adds in a new aid station at the start & end of the Purple Heart loop.  15m will have access to this new aid station twice & the 50k 3 times.

15m only:

Increases (by a distance of 1 mile) the out'n'back portion of last year's race past the Welcome Center to connect to the Purple Heart loop.  The course will be longer than last year.

A training run has been scheduled for Sunday, the 12th.  Details are listed in the FAQ and for any future training runs.

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2014 Louisville's Lovin' The Hills 50k/15m/6m Registration

Race registration is open at the HeadFirst Performance official website for LLTH.  The first 200 people who sign up for the 50k and the 15m will receive Buffs.

Entry Fees:
                  Jan 20 and before          After Jan 20
6 Mile                        $30                              $35

15 Mile                      $50                              $60

50K                           $60                              $70

Updates on the 2014 event will be forthcoming.



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2013 LLTH Results & Race Recap

The 2013 results are in.

A clear cool day with a very light breeze greeted a record number of runners for the 10th annual running of LLTH.  Some arrived concerned about mud due to the recent rain & the above normal temps.  There was a little mud here and there, but it was not a factor on this day like it's been in the past.

With the good weather & trails conditions, times were very fast overall & some in record fashion:

50k:

Scott Breeden of Bloomington, obliterated the LLTH 50k record of 4:39:35 set by Eric Grossman in 2007 with an incredible 4:07:38!  Troy Shellhamer, 2011 winner, also broke the 2007 record with a very fast 4:37:06.

Andrea Ring of Duluth made her first visit to LLTH a winning one with a time of 6:11:37.

 
15m:

Ryan Althaus of Louisville, winner of the 15m last year in a record 1:56:50, broke his own record with a time of 1:53:55.  Ryan now has a streak of 3 straight wins.

Rebecca Boyle of Indianapolis crushed the 15m record of 2:13:25 set by Alicia Heyne last year with a time of 2:07:53. 


6m:

Daniel Blandford of Louisville, easy winner of the inaugural 6m race last year in 40:38, repeated with a win in similar fashion with a time of 40:39.

Rella Faye Harmon of Clarksville, blasted past the record of 57:57 set by Jenny Trevathan last year with a time of 52:58. 


 
Congrats & Thanks to all runners who made 2013 LLTH a success this year!  Thanks also to Headfirst Performance & to all the dedicated volunteers.  Special Thanks to Cynthia Heady who seemed to be everywhere getting things organized & once again provided some great homemade soups for everyone.

goodies:


For 2014:

It is highly unlikely the last remaining hill with narrow single track (and one of the most scenic parts of the Forest) on the 2nd leg in the Yost section will be available for the race next year.

There were mixed thoughts about the new, wider & flatter trails in Yost.  Surprisingly, some liked them.  Most, though, were saddened by the loss of the hilly single track there and the ongoing REMOVAL OF ALL challenging trails in the Forest.  LLTH will never be the same. 
 
If anyone has pictures they wish to share with others, post your link or send it to edibo@insightbb.com -- Thanks.


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2-6-13 LLTH last minute notes

Online registration from the Headfirst Performance website closes tonight at 11:59 pm PST. Late registration is also available at packet pickup on Friday at Ken Combs Running Store from 12 noon to 6:00 pm EDT and on race morning from 6:30 - 7:30 am EDT at the Horine Center at the FINISH area.  A map of the Start/Finish area can be found under FAQ.

Quest Outdoors recently announced they're having a FREE pre-race pasta dinner again this year at their old store at 2330 Frankfort Road in Louisville (same location as last year) from 5 to 8 pm EDT Friday night (8th).  A feature running movie will be showing.  They're also offering registered runners a 20% discount on their shoes.

Trails are damp/wet but in good condition today with only a few muddy areas.  A quarter mile section of new trail cut last December in the Yost section (2nd leg) remains very muddy at present.  The current forecast is calling for a chance of rain Thursday (tomorrow) night, so trail conditions could change.  It looks like the weather for race day will be sunny with cool temps.  All the streams have been low or dry this week.

On the 2nd leg at the dam this morning:



Flagging will be pink again this year.  Trail junctions will be marked with several flags & major junctions will also have signs or a volunteer on site.  Intermediate flagging is spaced approx. 100 to 200 feet along the entire course.

May everyone have a safe & fun race!


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1-19-13 LLTH update

Registration is still available from the official website of LLTH.   Entry fees increase after tomorrow, Sunday, the 20th.   Late registration is also available at packet pickup on Friday, Feb 8, at Ken Combs Running Store from 12 noon to 6:00 pm EST and on race morning from 6:30 - 7:30 am EST at the Horine Center (Lodge) at the FINISH area.

Each year the Forest Service removes, closes or replaces steep or narrow trails in the Jefferson Memorial Forest in order to provide more "family friendly" trails.  The new standard is 4 feet to 8 feet wide & about flat enough to be handicap accessible.  Unfortunately, they outdid themselves this year & replaced 7+ miles of challenging trails in the Yost Section of the Forest, including all of the 2nd leg (5 miles) of the LLTH course.

However, for this year, all of the original LLTH course in this section is not lost:  after negotiating an agreement, including a donation to the Forest, 1.25 miles of the Yellow Trail on the 2nd leg will be re-opened just for the race.  Once the final connector trail in the Yost Section is completed this summer, it's likely this 1.25 miles will also be closed off permanently -- so enjoy the last remnants of the old course while you can.

Can you tell just by this Yost Section profile where the old trail ends & the new trail starts? 
profile courtesy of Bob Walker
 
The new trails in Yost are not only flatter & wider, but they are also shorter in total length.  An out'n'back has been added for the 15m only.  The out'n'back branches off the 2nd leg & proceeds to the rear of the Welcome Center and back.  15 mile runners will either have to give up their bib tab, have their bib marked or otherwise be confirmed that they reach the turnaround point at the rear of the Welcome Center.  Since the 50k was long last year, the new shorter 2nd leg will bring the race distance closer to 50k.  The 6 mile fun run course remains the same & is the 1st leg of the 15m & 50k and finishes at the Horine Center.

Maps of the new courses can be found here:    50k    15m



WANTED:  Videographer(s)

Last year some video was taken and it seems that the short clips from that video were popular to some runners.  Since I plan to run this year, I'm looking for someone to take video at a couple locations.  It's not an easy task standing in the bitter cold all day -- it's easier to run.  If you're interested, contact me at edibo@insightbb.com.  If several should happen to respond, I would prefer someone who has run the race or is very familiar with the course.  I can offer a gift card (dinner for 2) and race benefits for next year.  I could also use someone to re-check critical course signs before the race since I won't be doing that either.




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