Feb-1-2017 LLTH last minute notes

Online registration thru Ultrasignup closes tonight.  Late registration is available at packet pickup on Friday (3rd) at Ken Combs Running Store from 12 noon to 5:00 pm EST and on race morning from 6:30 - 7:30 am EST at the Horine Center at the FINISH area.  There are a limited number of race buffs in the packets for the 50k & 15 mile runners only.

It has come to my attention that the sidebar of this blog may not be visible with all mobile web browsers -- sorry.  The sidebar contains useful links about the race & is visible on a PC.

All races start at 8:00 a.m. EST. Sat 2-4-17

QUEST OUTDOORS has announced they're having a FREE pre-race pasta dinner again this year at their new store location at 4600 Shelbyville Rd in the Shelbyville Road Plaza in Louisville at 6 p.m. Friday (3rd).  All runners are welcome.

HeadFirst Performance just recently changed their website host. Their race website is still under construction.  The location of the race start is in the Horine Section of Jefferson Memorial Forest.  The entrance to the Horine Section is at 12304 Holsclaw Hill Rd, Louisville, KY.   The start of the race is about a half mile from the entrance down the narrow park road.   The address (11311 Mitchell Hill Rd) currently listed on Ultrasignup for LLTH will take you to the Welcome Center, about 2 miles from the start and on the wrong road.   More specific directions, using Google Maps, can be found using the links in the sidebar of this blog.   If there's any question about the race, you can send it by adding a comment to this post, or you can email me directly at edibo@insightbb.com or you can email Cynthia Heady, RD, cynthia@headfirstperformance.com.  Things are really busy now till the race so will try to get out an answer if there's time.

There's been a record number of entries (383 so far, usually 300 or less) this year.  It's recommended to arrive early as the usual parking areas will likely overflow. There's been some consideration to staggering the start time of the 6 mile runners this year & in the future due to the increasing number of runners -- nothing has been decided at this time.  Everyone starts on the gravel road for the first 0.6 miles, but inevitably a bottleneck/backup eventually forms as it narrows down to single track trail at that point.

Flagging will be a light orange 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.

Current forecast is for partly cloudy skies with upper teens to low 20's at the start & highs in the upper 30's to low 40's. The streams are mostly dry.  Trails are in very good to excellent condition.  It's rare to have the trails in this condition this time of year.  If there's a frost heave race morning, that will bring some moisture to the surface -- possibly causing spotty slick spots if or when the ice melts in the afternoon.


On the Blue Trail on the 15m/50k course this morning:


The course is the same as last year with only one very minor change that those familiar with the course might notice:  the bridge just after the start of the Siltstone Trail (15m & 50k) has been replaced & relocated away from the road -- bypassing the steep, sharp rock steps (made of siltstone) and replacing them with slab rock & a short switchback.

Have Fun & Good Luck!

HOME

2017 Louisville's Lovin' The Hills 50k/15m/6m Registration

 NOTE:  If you're using an I-Phone & viewing the mobile version of this page, 1/2 the blog is not visible -- you'll need to view it on a PC.  Home page for this blog is http://llth50.blogspot.com


New this year is race registration thru UltraSignup.  The races will continue to be directed by HeadFirst Performance.

Entry Fees:
                                        After Dec 30         After Jan 31
6 Mile              $30                 $35                     $40                       
15 Mile            $50                 $60                     $65
50K                 $65                 $75                     $80
 
Online registration will close Wednesday, February 1, 2017.
 
The info & links listed in the sidebar of this blog are in the process of being updated to 2017.  All the courses for 2017 will essentially be the same as 2016 with only very minor changes.  

A last minute update has been scheduled to be posted here the Wed or Thu before race day.  HeadFirst Performance is making a website change, so links with headfirstperformance.com in them, like results, will not work -- check back later.  Some past results can be found on UltraSignup.

  



HOME - Go To Lastest Post - Click Here for UPDATE

2016 LLTH Results and Race Recap

The 2016 race results are in.

The 13th running of LLTH is now history.  There was a good turnout as the weather cooperated for us again this year.  A little colder (27 degrees) than forecast in the morning but that helped keep the mud on the course frozen thru mid morning.  As the temps slowly rose to the low 50's, the mud would reveal itself although it wasn't as bad as last year when there was a similar weather pattern.
           Photo by Debi Alexander

  

Debi Alexander of Indianapolis offered her time & photographic expertise & has provided hundreds of great photos.  All are free to download -- Thank you Debi!

Photos:

Start - https://goo.gl/photos/wjZXhBuakZ5S3UFr7

Mile 6/First Water stop - https://goo.gl/photos/Vd6jkg35MpVJtu4eA

Out on the Course - https://goo.gl/photos/mEbi6jK3b75dtfkA6

Finish Line - https://goo.gl/photos/po3BP1Ji7x7dmURH6

Hunter - https://goo.gl/photos/6MHqe3ArurdNrjbR9

                                   Photo by Debi Alexander

                       

                                  Cynthia Heady (RD)                                 

2016 winners:

50k:  Troy Shellhamer   4:53:37                    Ashley Cearbaugh    6:53:13

15m: Greg Fraze           2:02:31                    Alicia Heyne            2:18:06

6m:   Lincoln Williams     40:47                     Sally Etherton            50:10


buff, shirt & finisher medal:

 

  10 year finisher award:

Congrats & Thanks to all runners who made 2016 LLTH a success.  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.

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.


 HOME

2-4-16 LLTH last minute notes

Online registration from the Headfirst Performance website has closed.  Late registration is available at packet pickup tomorrow, Friday (5th) 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.

Flagging will be a light orange/pinkish color 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.  The blue & white flagging you may see along the trail is used by the Forest Service.

The Forest had some heavy rain Tuesday night.  With dry weather thru Saturday, the course should be in good condition overall (some muddy sections).  The current forecast is for 30's to 50's on race day so the trails won't be frozen as they are most of the time for LLTH.

The Forest Service made minor changes thruout the course since last year.  These were done to make the trails easier for the general public.  The only one you might notice is the addition of 9 or 10 steps on the 2nd hill on the 1st loop -- this location had been difficult for some in snowy & muddy conditions.

Good Luck!

HOME

2016 Louisville's Lovin' The Hills 50k/15m/6m Registration

Race registration is open at the current HeadFirst Performance official website for LLTH. 

Entry Fees:
                              Till Jan 1                  After Jan 1
6 Mile                        $30                              $35

15 Mile                      $50                              $60

50K                           $60                              $70


Online registration will close February 3.

The 2015 info & links listed in the sidebar of this blog are in the process of being updated to 2016.  All the courses for 2016 will essentially be the same as 2015 with only very minor changes -- unless the Forest Service makes last minute changes (which they have done before).

Updates will be posted here as needed up to a couple days before race day.


HOME

2015 LLTH Results and Race Recap

The 2015 race results are in.

The 12th running of LLTH is now history.  There was a record number of registrants & finishers.  Most notable was the big increase for the 6 mile run.

As usual, the weather & course conditions played a part this year.  The course was still frozen at the start & for most of the morning with temps in the 30's.  But as the sun rose higher in the sky & with strong south winds, temps would rise into the 60's & the course would eventually become very muddy.

More PHOTOS by Headfirst Performance can be found here:
http://www.headfirstperformance.com/NewsMedia/PhotoGallery.aspx

https://www.facebook.com/HeadfirstPerformance/photos_stream

Most everything went very well with no glitches or mishaps that I'm aware of.  There were more problems than usual this year with course marking vandalism before the race but could probably be attributed to the unusually large numbers of visitors to the park during the week.  Cynthia Heady (RD) worked Friday night replacing signs & flagging (several times at one location in particular).  With the warm weather, it was quite crowded Saturday on the trails around Tom Wallace Park (near the lake on the 2nd section), but the hikers were very kind to runners & most stepped off the narrow trails to allow passage.

2015 winners:

50k:  Troy Shellhamer  4:41:02                            Jessie Miller  5:46:17

15m: Mike Baird           1:56:49                           Alicia Heyne  2:13:32

6m:   Anthony Kuntz       39:16 (course record)    Suzan R .          53:53


buffs:

Obtaining the 200 bonus buffs for the race was a real fiasco this year.  Last year was bad . . . this time with broken promises, ignored phone calls & just poor service again, it's been decided to not do business with Buff, Inc. anymore.  The "last resort" order (replacing our lost custom buff order) that was to be overnighted & received Thursday, actually came late Friday.  Somehow, working overtime Friday night, Headfirst Performance was able to add LLTH print to all the buffs. 

For those who went to Ken Combs Running Store for the early packet pickup Friday (6th) & didn't pick up a buff on race day should contact Headfirst Performance if you've not already done so -- cynthia@headfirstperformance.com or todd@headfirstperformance.com.


 shirt & finisher medal:

a look ahead:

Received sad news that Larry Hilton, the Naturalist in the Forest Service who I work thru for the benefit of LLTH for many years, will be retiring this year.  Already LLTH has lost 7+ miles of challenging single track trail in the Yost section of the Forest.  Unfortunately, I don't see this trend ending, especially not having Larry to bat for us.  With management closing the last remnant of the old LLTH course in Yost (prematurely during race week I might add), a new course design looks to be necessary next year & in years to come.

Larry was also most generous & donated 2 large boxes of sox for runners!

Some in the 50k may have noticed this sign on the Siltstone Trail -- this might possibly alter the course here next year:

I do wish to say Congrats & Thanks to all runners who made 2015 LLTH a huge success.  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 & quiche for everyone!

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. 



HOME

2-5-15 LLTH last minute notes

Online registration from the Headfirst Performance website has closed.  Late registration is available at packet pickup on Friday (6th) 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.

The time for the free pre-race pasta dinner at Quest Outdoors has been confirmed as 5:30 to 8:00 pm EST Friday night (6th).  The location will be at their store at 2330 Frankfort Road in Louisville.

The Forest had some very light rain & snow last night.  The trails are frozen with a light dusting of snow this morning.  With temps reaching the 40's & 50's the next couple days, you can expect to encounter muddy sections on race day.  Some of the stream beds will have some water flowing, but with careful stepping or jumping, you should be able to avoid the water.  This is on the Blue Trail (about mile 7) at the dam this morning:

Flagging is 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.


A couple notes about this week --

Small re-route:

A crew from the Forest Service mistakenly closed off & filled in (with brush & large downed trees) the last 200' of single track trail left in Yost.  The problem is, this short connector trail is used in the 15m & 50k to finish up the Yost loop (2nd section).  Last minute new trail construction (for one time use) is being performed today to remedy this situation.  It will be a little rough & steep but relatively short.  Apparently the Forest Service intends to close out this section permanently, so an alternate course looks to be in store for next year.

Bonus buffs (for 50k & 15m):

A phone call was received from Buff, Inc. on Tuesday informing us the custom designed buff order was somehow lost and buffs would not be available race day.  To hear this was beyond our belief.  This had been in the works since in December (sometimes with daily communications) with assured delivery.  In order to have any buffs for race day, they now have said they could deliver certain buffs from their catalog that they had in stock -- but since they didn't have 200 of any one design, there would have to be 3 different designs:  100 of one design (for 50k) and 50+50 (for 15m) of 2 different designs.  Headfirst Performance has said they could possibly add some LLTH print to the buffs, even with only a day notice.  Of course, this all depends on Buff, Inc. to come thru with delivery today.  The bonus buff is limited to the 1st 200 registered for the 50k & 15m.

Good Luck!


HOME