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.



HOME



. 

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.


HOME

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!


HOME

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.




HOME