Eyes on LA: DOUBLE RACE REPORT!

Hello all!  It's been a busy last few weeks, so lets not waste any time with pleasantries and get down to the good stuff!

Since I last wrote I've competed twice.  Let's start with race number 1.

9/27: Rock and Roll San Jose 1/2 Marathon

-4th Place, 1:03:43.

Came away from this one with mixed feelings.  I came down with a mean chest cold saturday morning, and this caused me to adjust my race plan a little bit.  Instead of going out aggressively and running at the front of things, I made the decision to run a little more conservatively early on and try to maintain more even splits.  Danny (Mercado) and I were in the chase pack for most of the first 10k, and ended up catching the leaders around 5 miles.  We hung with the front group of Meb, Jordan Chipengama, and Daniel Tapia for about 2-3 miles until they made a surge that I wasn't able to cover.  Ran in the chase pack of four for much of the remaining race, until kicking in the last 600 meters to take 4th.

Considering how I was feeling in the few days leading up to the race,  coming away with my 2nd best time and a top 5 finish wasn't bad.  I felt like I competed well in my group, and didn't let my bad patches ruin the day completely.  With that said, I still feel like it was a missed opportunity, as I was very confident that I was in sub 63 minute shape.  Sometimes you just have to grind out the tough days and survive, and hope that the next time you get out there, you'll catch that great day.

Splits:  4:45, 4:48, 4:44, 4:47, 4:48, 4:46, 4:48, 4:47, 4:59, 4:55, 4:52, 4:56, 4:50

10/11: Chicago Marathon

- DNF

So this one has many many mixed feelings associated with it.  I did very little marathon specific work going into this one, and instead focused more on 1/2 marathon speed and strength.  So I can't say my expectations should have been high, but I had some confidence that I could still turn in a good race.  I didn't have much of a race plan, and wanted to just run by feel and see where that got me.  I ended up going out faster than I wanted, but decided to go with it and see where I ended up.  Sometimes you gotta just go for it a bit.  Felt strong and ran consistently through the first 8-9 miles.  Caught a pack around 8 whom we decided to work with a bit to try and buffer the headwinds a bit.  Ended up see-sawing the pace a bit, and lost some time.  Came through 1/2 in 66:50 still feeling ok, albeit a little more fatigued then I would have liked.  Held steady for 15-16 miles then started to fall off a bit.  5:05's turned to 5:10's, which turned to 5:20's, then 5:40's, then the wheels fell off.  By 19 miles it was pretty much over.  I struggled for a few more miles, then decided to pull off course as to not compromise my recovery.  Definitely a disappointing finish.

Disappointment aside, I still learned a ton through this race.  I know the kind of training that I need to do to maintain that kind of pace.  It gave me some clarity as to what I need to do in my build up for the trials.

I lost my splits on my watch, but here is the info from the runner tracking: http://results.chicagomarathon.com/2015/index.php?content=detail&fpid=search&pid=search&idp=999999107FA30900001756E7&lang=EN_CAP&event=MAR&lang=EN_CAP&search%5Bname%5D=Hilton&search_event=MAR

I received a TON of well wishes and notes from people in the lead up to Chicago, and it reminded me of how incredible my support group is.  Thank you to everyone who reached out before or after the race, I wouldn't be able to continue doing this without all of you.

I'm blessed to be a member of such a supportive running community here in Flagstaff, and without the likes of that, I don't think I'd be seeing the success that I am.  So despite my disappointment in recent finishes, I'm still incredibly grateful of the community that I am a part of.

I was given the chance to speak to some young athletes at the BASIS school here in Flagstaff, and that reminded me that our sport is SO much more than just a sport.  It's a lifestyle, a way to meet lifelong friends, and a wonderful community.  Thanks to them for letting me tell my story, and answer their incredibly detailed questions!  So if you're from BASIS and reading this, consider it a shout out! Best of luck with the remainder of your season!!

Nick Hilton
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

Eyes on LA: Week of 9/7-9/13

Fall is here in Flagstaff!  Definitely my favorite time of the year.  It's also the start of racing season!

I'm starting off my season in sunny San Jose, at the Rock and Roll San Jose 1/2 Marathon on 9/27.  I'm really pumped to get the racing going, and to get back out on the roads again.  I think this fall has the potential to be a big one for me, and I'm hoping to start building some momentum going into LA in February.  Just gotta stay healthy, and get the work in.

Here's what went down the week of 9/7-9/13.

Weekly Mileage: 120

First Workout: 5 mile warm up, 10 mile steady state on Lake Mary Road, 3 mile cool down.
This one was tough as myself and Kiya went out and back this time instead of straight out.  Lake Mary Road is net downhill if you go straight out, and has some daunting climbs on the way back.  Considering that, I was pretty pleased with how this one went.  I definitely didn't knock it out of the park, but that is OK, sometimes you just have to get on base and be happy with a good effort.

Splits: 5:24, 5:18, 5:18, 5:18, 5:17, 5:15, 5:15, 5:22, 5:14.

Second Workout: Planned: 12 mile run into 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 fartlek, with a 2 mile jog at the end.

DNF'd this workout.  Was having some pretty bad stomach issues through the fartlek, and had to call it 1/2 way into it.  Ended up being a little crunched for time after the bathroom break, so just decided to cut my losses and rest up for a big session on Tuesday.  I was just generally feeling crappy during the whole thing.  Don't think that I gave myself enough to recover from the first session of the week.

Long Run: 20 miles, 6:30 average.

Overall this was a good week.  Bad workout aside, everything else went smoothly, and I was able to get in my desired volume.  I'm lucky to have such an awesome support crew who helps me get through some of the tougher parts of the week.  Working full time and trying to run higher mileage can sometimes strain me a bit, and makes me a little sullen throughout the week. Sarah is always brilliant about it, and does her best to make me smile and make my days a little easier.  I wouldn't trade my life for the world, sometimes its tough, but when things come together, it is always worth it.

I'm hoping to just keep chipping away throughout the next few months and to whip myself in the best shape that I possibly can.  Everyday I believe in myself a bit more, and raise the ceiling a little higher on what I think I can achieve in this sport.  I know there will be some tougher times between now and the trials, and certainly some moments of doubt.  It's time like that when having such a great support system can make all the difference in the world.

I think I'm going into Rock and Roll San Jose in the best shape of my life, and I hope to showcase some of the work that I've been putting in.

Nick Hilton
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

Eyes on LA: Weeks of 8/17-9/6

Three more weeks of training is in the books!  The first two of this edition were impacted by a vacation that my girlfriend and I took, so the volume wasn't ideal.  But it was good to get out of Flag and enjoy some time with Sarah.  Definitely needed the mental break, and it'll be the last real break before the trials.  So overall, I think it was very needed.  Here's what the weeks looked like!

8/17-8/23: 80 miles

1st Workout: 8 mile steady state @ Lake Mary Road.
- Definitely my best 8 mile effort at altitude.  Progressed really well, and felt strong and in control throughout.  Splits: 5:20, 5:15, 5:14, 5:14, 5:09, 5:04, 5:02, 4:55.  Always pumped to close any workout under five minutes, and to run the last four miles in that range was really exciting!

2nd Workout: 10 x 1k repeats on the track.
- 1k's are always tough for me, and tend to be the bane of my existence.  This time I tackled this one with ease.  The goal was to start around 3:00, and get a little faster.  I felt incredibly smooth at 3:00 pace, and was able to drop it strongly through the end of the workout.  This one, and the previous workout this week were probably two of my better workouts that I've done here in Flagstaff.  Splits: 2:59, 3:02, 3:01, 2:59, 3:00, 2:59, 2:58, 2:57, 2:55, 2:47.  Ran these with 1:30 recovery between intervals.

8/24-8/30: 80 miles

1st Workout: 1min.-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 Fartlek, with 1/2 the time of the next interval as rest.
- Ran this one while on vacation.  Wasn't my strongest effort, and didn't feel great.  Just glad to get out and get the work in.

2nd Workout+ Long Run: 20 miles total, with 4 miles faster from 15-19.
- This one I think I was still shaking off the vacation rust.  Felt pretty good through the first 15 miles, and my pick-up was ok. Ran 5:14, 5:08, 5:14, 5:17 for the faster section.  I like getting work in during long runs, to simulate that mid-race "dead leg" feeling.

8/31-9/6: 110 miles

Back onto some real volume this week!  Always feels good to get back into the routine and to post a good mileage week.  Definitely was an up and down week in terms of how I was feeling, but that's just how it goes sometimes.  Felt strong through the last few days of the week, so it'll be good to carry that momentum into next week.

1st Workout: 4x2mile repeats @ Buffalo Park. 2:30 rest between intervals
- This was really a grind for me, as it usually is.   2 mile repeats just hurt, and there's no way around that one.  Still had one of my better 2 mile sessions, so I'm happy to walk away from this one with a positive state of mind. Splits: 10:22, 10:08, 10:14, 10:10.

2nd Workout: 10x2min. on/1 min. off @ Buffalo Park
- Always a sneaky workout.  I tend to go into this one with the "this one isn't so bad" mindset.  Then I'm always rudely reminded how much it hurts.  was running between 4:45 and 5:00 min. pace for my hard sections.  Felt markedly better on this one then I did on the 2 mile repeats.  Definitely recovered off of that one well.

Long Run: 22 miles w/o fluids or carbs
- Always good to simulate burning fat through the latter stages of the long run. Averaged 6:31 pace on a hilly course.

Thanks for following!  Looking forward to some bigger mileage weeks and some racing on the horizon!

Nick Hilton
- The Moderately Talented Distance Runner.

Eyes on LA: Week of 8/10-8/16

This week didn't hit the volume that I was hoping for.  Missed a double or two for a few different reasons.  Starting to get into a good rhythm with the mileage, and feeling good on a daily basis.  Reintroduced the "medium long run" back into the weekly regimen, and it felt good to start getting into the my marathon training routine.  You can check out most of my runs and workouts HERE.

8/10-8/16 Weekly Mileage: 102

Workout #1 @ Buffalo Park: 3 mile warm up, 2 mile tempo, 2 min. rest, 10x 200 meter hill, 2 min. rest, 2 mile tempo.  Hit the first tempo in 10:18, feeling smooth.  Powered through the hills, and got through the second tempo in 9:54 with a strong second mile.  Felt good about this one, I haven't gone sub 10 in Buffalo Park very often, so to do so this early in a training cycle bodes well.

Workout #2: Integrated this one into my long run this week.  Did 18 miles, with 5 miles of 3min.-2min.-1min. fartlek from miles 10-15.  90 seconds rest in between each interval.  I like integrating fartlek into my long run to mimic changing pace and running faster while being fatigued and depleted deeper into my long runs.  I didn't take any fluids or carbohydrates through this one, and felt surprisingly good on my hard sections.

So far so good on this cycle of training.  Just need to keep getting the miles in, and building up a little more volume through the next few weeks.  Excited to get racing soon, and will be hitting the roads for the first time this fall at the Rock and Roll San Jose 1/2 Marathon!  Will be looking to run somewhere near my PR, or at the very least cracking 64 minutes again.

Until next time!

Nick Hilton
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

Eyes on LA: Weekly Write Up 8/3-8/9

We're about 6 1/2 months out from the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials.  From here on out, that is the sole focus.  Every other race is secondary, and every run, workout, gym session is done to prepare myself as best as humanly possible for that race.

The next 3.5 months will be spent putting together the biggest strength block that I've ever done, followed by 12 weeks of lower volume and sharper workouts to get me ready to handle 26.2 miles of running at close to 5 minute pace.


So, after years of inconsistent blogging, I had the amazing idea (that dozens of others have also had) to write a weekly blog (instead of random 6 month updates).  I wanted to chronicle the final few months of training and racing going into my first Olympic Marathon Trials.  These weekly updates will go in depth into my training, racing, and my mindset going forward as I prepare for the most important race of my life.  So without further delay, let’s get started.
 

Week 1: 8/3-8/9. 

Note that this isn’t my first week of training in this build up.  I actually began about a month ago.  It is my first week of substantial (100+) mileage, which seems like a natural place to start.  

Weekly Total: 104 

- Didn't get all my runs on my watch this week, but you can check out the Strava data that I do have HERE

First workout of the week was a 6 mile progression run at Buffalo Park.  Two mile splits: 11:02, 10:48, 10:24.  Danny Mercado and I closed it in about 5:09, definitely a nice way to end the day.  I think the progression was a good way to get back into the steady state running, and I felt pretty good about the effort.  

Workout #2 was the Dave McKay Memorial Big Brothers Big Sisters ½ Marathon up here in Flagstaff.  Happy to say I got the win in some muddy conditions, and was about 30 seconds off the course record!  Pretty solid day on the whole. 

Always fun racing this guy in the Run Flagstaff Summer Series

 

Long run this week was 18 miles, averaging 6:30 pace. Ran with a big group on Forest Road 700 in the little town of Mountainaire.  Hilly, but beautiful run.

Also hit the gym once this week.  My sessions are mainly plyometric based, with some kettle bell and body weight work included as well.  We’ll see how the gym feels once the volume starts to increase.  I haven't done this type of gym work during a big marathon bulk block, so I'll be curious to see how my body handles the specific strain of this type of work.  I think it's beneficial and it allows me to hold on to some speed, so I'm committed to keeping it in the regimen. 

 

I feel like every time I come back off of a break my baseline fitness is better than the previous time, and I’m able to get into the meat of my training a little quicker.  This time is certainly no exception. 

The first big week of training is always a bit tough, and it takes a few weeks to get into the full work day-big mileage groove.  The first few days were a bit rough, and I probably wasn’t the most pleasant person to be around (sorry Sarah!!) but I think I’m getting into the groove now, and am ready to dive head first into the good stuff! 

All I can think about on many of my runs, especially the solo ones, are the trials.  I've been in Flagstaff for almost 3 years now, and all this work is starting to pay big dividends.  I know that as long as I'm smart and can keep myself healthy, that I will line up in the best shape of my life.  

The Build-Up

If you guys have been following any of my social media posts recently, you'll know that it's been going pretty darn well for me since my last blog. 

Last race for me was the Aramco Houston 1/2 Marathon, which served as this year's USATF 1/2 Marathon Championships.  It was there that I made my first big step in the right direction in quite some time.  Dropping my 1/2 marathon PR from 1:04.41 to 1:03.23.  

I may seem underwhelmed about the result, but for me, it was just a step toward where I want to be in LA, not the end result.  The LA Marathon is the basket where I'm putting all my eggs this winter.  

Training has been going really well.  I'm handling the volume and the workouts MUCH better this time around, and have been able to really nail a few good ones.  The key for me at this point is to just keep my eyes on the prize, and keep this consistency going through February.  

It can be scary knowing that you're in the best shape of your life.  Terrifying in fact. It's comfortable here in my moderate performance world.  There's no pressure or expectation when no one knows your name.  But comfortable is not where I want to be.  Uncomfortable is where my dreams lie, it's where the glory is.  

From now until March, I need to come to terms with the fact that I'm ready to take the next step in my career.  I'll stand on that line in the city of angels and be ready to embrace the discomfort.  I'll be ready to weather the grinding pain and agony that comes with the marathon.  I'll be ready to start that race one man, and finish as a different one.  

I just have to get to that line in one piece.  Only a few more 130+ mile weeks stand in my way.  I am so ready.  

Nick Hilton

The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

Chocolate Milk, Diamonds, and Clubs!

Being an unconscientious blogger is not a good thing.  So I apologize for my lack of updates over the past few months. 

Sorry.

Radio silence aside, it’s been a good few months since the last update.  When you last heard from me I was down for the count with a stress fracture in the sesamoid bones (who knew those even existed?) of my right foot.  Well after four weeks of cross-training and chomping at the bit, I was able to start training again!

Albeit, cautiously at first.

After a few light weeks, I was able to ramp it up and get in some workouts, and actually stick to most of my fall racing schedule that I set up pre-injury.

First, I was honored to be able to compete in the Run 10Feed 10 event in NYC on September 21^st.  If you don’t know what Run 10 Feed 10 is, then look it up (or check out the link above). Essentially, it is an awesome series of races that raised millions to feed hungry children across the country.  I was partnered up with Chocolate Milk for the event, and was honored to be able to promote smart recovery as well being able to attend a fantastic event.  If you haven't seen it, look for yours truly in the December issue of Men's Health.

The Rock and Roll Savannah Marathon was next on the schedule.  Post Run 10 Feed 10, I was able to really put together a solid block of training, which led me to believe that I was ready to handle the marathon distance once again.  The point of Savannah for me was to erase the memories of Eugene from my brain, in order to line up at my next marathon ready to go after a fast time.

I must say, it was certainly a successful venture.  I ran 2:21:33, not a PR, but a very good day considering my build up.  I spent much of the race running 2:17-2:18 pace feeling very strong,  which I think bodes well for my future marathons.   Along with running well and feeling good, I was also able to take him the victory and course records, which to me were the cherries on top of a positive day.  There's a good article on the event linked above. Post race interview HERE

The people of Savannah were incredible, and I was fortunate enough to spend some time talking with the crowd and taking pictures, along with sharing our stories from the race.  Always good to connect with other runners.  Thanks Savannah!

Post Savannah was all about recovering and trying to run some easy workouts to prep for the next race on the schedule.  For me this was a big one.  I cut my post-collegiate running teeth in Northeast Pennsylvania, and had to opportunity to meet many great people and run some awesome races in the greater Scranton area.  First was Dino Oberto’s Run for the Cannoli, second was the Berwick Run for the Diamonds on Thanksgiving Day. 

I lined up that day ready to run hard, and I did, but got out kicked in the final mile of the 9 mile race and lost by under a second.  It was the closest finish in the race’s 100+ year history. Ouch.  After that, I knew I would be back to secure that win.

I went into the race this year with the mindset that I was going to run hard, and not give anyone the chance to outkick me.  I pushed the first four miles, opened up a gap, kept pushing, and was able to feel the glory of crossing the finish at the Run for the Diamonds in first place.  To me this was a big one, and one that I’m incredibly grateful to experience. 

2011 Results

2014 Results

Now, I’m back in Flagstaff, looking forward to the next event.  For me, it’s the 2014 USATF Club Cross-Country Championships, which will be held at Lehigh University.  This event is incredibly important to me, because it is one of the rare occasions that my club, Team Run Flagstaff Pro, gets to line up and competes as a team.

We’ve been spending a ton of time together on the roads, trails, and off getting ready for this event, and there is some really positive energy on this squad.  I absolutely can’t wait to line up next to these guys. 

That will all go down on December 13^th.

Thanks to the incredible outreach of support following my wins at Savannah and the Diamonds.  I can’t truly express what it means to me to hear from all you guys, and how it continues to motivate me to keep pushing my limits.  Thank You.

Nick Hilton

The Moderately Talented Distance Runner.

It's Been Awhile

A lot has happened since I've last updated this blog.

Since then I ran a PR of 14:12 at the Mt. SAC invitational, crashed and burned at the Payton Jordan Invitational 10k, running 29:35, recorded a top 10 finish at a US road championship, crashed and burned in a marathon, and found out that I had a stress fracture in a sesamoid bone in my right big toe. 

So right now I'm at the tail end of taking four weeks off from running to get this toe healed up and ready to roll again. 

Let's step back and talk about some of the things that have gone on this summer. 

First, the positives!

PR's!  I've essentially re-written the "Personal Best" column of my running resume, thanks to some of my performances this spring.  29:00 and 14:12 weren't as fast as I was hoping for coming into the season, but they're both a significant step forward in the right direction for me.  We didn't try to peak for either of those races, but trained through instead, so that leaves me to believe that there's more in the tank for the next time I step on the track.

Which leads me to positive #2.  Next season I'll be returning to the Steeplechase.  It's been a few years since I've hit the barriers, but I think that it's high time to go back to the track race I love the most.  I think with my progressions in other events, that a big jump in the steeplechase could put me in a position to be competitive on the national stage.  Time will tell, but I'm confident that it will work out.

Positive #3: First top 10 finish at a US Championship!  I ran the US 25k championships a week after tanking the 10k at Payton Jordan, so considering how bad that race went, and how bad I felt most of the week leading up to the race, I was pretty pleased with the outcome of the 25k.  I think that if I went in fresh that a better finish would have been possible, but we live and we learn.  That was a lesson that I learned throughout the spring, after a few frustrating finishes.

The big negative of the spring, and of 2014 thus far, was the Eugene Marathon.  I had my best solid block of training leading into the race, and even though I had a few hiccups, I was confident going into race day.  It was simply not my day.  We went out pretty conservatively and on pace for 2:17, but I could not get comfortable and couldn't get relaxed.  I was trying to convince myself that whole way that it would turn around and that I would have a good patch, but it just didn't happen.  By 13.1 I was feeling pretty waxed and started to slow, and by 17 my race was pretty much over.  I limped in to a 2:33 finish, and with my tail between my legs, came back to the mountains.

Trina and I met a few days later and talked about the race, and talked about my training.  We agreed to adjust some things and take a different approach with my next training block. 

After the meeting, I was taking some time down.  I had had some pain in my foot for awhile, so I decided to go get it checked out. 

Turns out there's a stress fracture in a stupid little sesamoid bone in my right big toe. 4 weeks out. 

So that's a bit  of hiccup in my training, but I've been cross-training my buns off, and am really REALLY chomping at the bit to get back on the roads again. 

Soon. Very soon. 

Then it's time to train for some breakthroughs. 

Nick Hilton
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

Cruising Through Racing Season

Here we are in the meet of track season!  (I hope SOMEONE gets that pun.)

First two outings were solid.  3:52 in my season opening 1500 at ASU.  Considering the fact that I've done 0 speed work, I was relatively happy with the race.  It could've been better, but it also could've been worse. 

After that race, I hit a pretty hard wall in training, and it was definitely affecting me in my workouts the next week or so.  I found out that it's really not terribly feasible to run high volume weeks, and pair them with high intensity track work. 

Trying to push through those weeks set me back a bit and had me feeling a bit run down.  Luckily we took a day off, backed off the volume, and my legs came around in time to feel ok for the Stanford Invitational 10k. 

The 10k was a good effort for me overall.  Landed a 52 second PR, and ran 29:00.  (I actually PR'd through 5k as well, 14:25, but hopefully that one doesn't last long). 

I was with the pace until 8k, and then began to struggle a bit.  Ran splits of around 70-72 through the last few laps and closed in 65-66 to try and salvage a good time.  Thankfully it wasn't a fiery crash and burn, just a slow die off.  I think I can thank my current aerobic fitness for that. 

Check out the video HERE 

So we've backed off some on the volume, and am now hitting the pool a few times a week to supplement.  My legs are definitely coming around, and feeling much better.

Had my best workout in awhile down in Sedona this week, running 6xmile cruising from 4:43 down to 4:39, feeling relaxed and in control.  That bodes well for my fitness, and indicates that I'm ready to break through and run another good PR. 

Next week I'll be heading out the famous Mt. SAC Relays, the site of my best race of the 2013 track campaign.  We won't be backing off too much for this one, but I think that regardless of how my legs feel, I'm going to post a good time. 

After Mt. SAC it's two weeks to the Payton Jordan Invitational, where I'll chase down another big 10k PR. 

All roads point to Stanford on the 4th, than the US 25k Championships on 5/10 where I'll try to land my first top 10 US Championship finish. 

If you haven't checked them out, check out some of my recent blogs for other sites!

5 Reasons to Get Pumped for Competitive Running

Oiselle Rising: A Profile of the Women's Apparel Company that's Shaking Up the Track and Field Community

Nick
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

15k-1500

Today kicks off an exciting time of the year...

TRACK SEASON!!

This year we're going to pick it up where I left off last year, the 1500.

It's going to be UNcomfortable. For a few reasons.

1.) I'm training for the 10k-Marathon this season.  More mileage + less speed + 1500 = PAIN

Well that's actually the only reason.

Regardless of how unpleasant this particular race is going to be, I'm still very much excited for it.  Going off of how surprisingly well I raced throughout the indoor season, I'm hoping to at least run close to my PR tonight.

Even though the speed might not necessarily be there, I'm a lot stronger than I ever have been, and I'm hoping that carries me through this race.

As my coach likes to tell me Strength = Speed.

Funny enough, my last race was exactly ten times as long as the one I'm about to run.  That was the Mountain to Fountain 15 down in Fountain Hills, AZ.

That race was a pleasant surprise, as I took 2nd place (behind Olympian Andrew Lemoncello), and also brought home hundreds of beers (literally) and a pretty good pay day.  Giving me some confidence heading into 10k season.

On a side note: If you live in the Flagstaff-Phoenix Area, you gotta run the Mountain to Fountain 15k next year.  Fun course, GREAT prizes (Chipotle and BEER), and it's incredibly well organized.  One of my favorite road races to go to.  Awesome people.

While I'll miss the roads, I'm certainly excited to run some PR's and beef up my track resume a bit (it's pretty laughable in the 5k-10k column).

The schedule for the next 2 months:

Tonight: Baldy Castillo 1500
Next Week: ASU Invitational 5k (tempo run)
Week After That: Stanford Invitational 10k (Sub 29)
2 Weeks Later: Mt SAC Invitational (Sub 13:50)
2 Weeks Later: Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational (28:40)
6 Days after that: USATF 25k Championships (Top 10)

Nick
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

The Start of a Great Year

Time to do some catching up.

In brief, here are my last few weeks.

BU Valentine: 18 sec. 3k PR: 7:57

USATF Cross-Country Championships: 19th Place

USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships: 3k- 13th Place.

Needless to say, it was an exhilarating few weeks there.

The PR was great, especially considering the lack of specificity at this point in the season.  We've been focusing on strength, so to get out and run a huge PR gave me a big dose of confidence.

The next 2 weeks were OK.  The experience was great, and getting the opportunity to run with the big boys was great, but the finishes were not.  Next time I line up at a US Championship, I want to contending for a top spot, and not just running off the back.

I'll have to wait until May for that opportunity though.

The performances of the winter, I think, set me up for a great spring.  Originally, my goals were to crack 14 min. in the 5k, and 29 in the 10k, but considering recent times, I think I need to raise the bar a bit.

How about, 13:45 for 5k, and 28:40 for 10k.  That seems a bit better.  '

Training continues to go well, and I continue to stay healthy (knock on wood).  If those trends continue, than I'll be heading into outdoor with a lot of confidence.  I've been able to get many weeks over 100 miles while continuing to have good workouts, so I just need to keep this momentum going.

Next up for me is the Mountain to Fountain 15k in Fountain Hills, AZ just outside of Phoenix.  It has a strong field, but I believe that I can hang in contention and put up a good fight.  My strength is definitely there, I just need to translate it onto the roads.

If you haven't checked it out yet, take a look at my weekly blog for the iRunnerblog.  I write the column titled "The Running High", and its an opportunity to see me write about something other than myself.

I've heard from a lot of people after my run at the US Indoor Champs, and it was fantastic and I can't thank everyone enough for just being out there and following.  Hopefully I can keep it up.

Also I want to thank the companies that have been helping me out thus far this year.  I've been added to the Powerbar Team Elite roster for 2014, and I'm truly exciting to be representing such a great brand.  Also a thanks to Swiftwick, for keeping my feet happy, and supporting me!
Nick
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

Train...Train...Train... RACE RACE RACE

Hello all!

I'm not too sad to say that the winter out here in Flag hasn't been nearly as rough as the one that my east coast brethren are dealing with.  There's not much better than a 50 degree day in late January to get you pumped up for training.

Not that I need anything to help me get pumped.

Left to Right: Adam Vess, Forrest Misenit, Me

Training is going excellent.  Been putting in some really good weeks (past 3 were 105,110,115) and getting in some really good workouts.  Not to mention a solid little mile race at altitude. 

Last weekend me and a few of my TRF pro bros decided to have a little fun and knock some rust off, so we entered the mile at the recent NAU Invitational. 

I haven't touched much speed work, so I was just hoping to compete with the guys and have some fun with it.  Video is below, I'll spare you the details and let you check out the action for yourself.

Since then I've just been grinding out some miles and good workouts, getting ready for a fun series of races. 

8 mile SS @ Buffalo Park: 5:17 avg.

This weekend I'll head out to Boston to run a 3k, with none other than Adam Vess, and attempt to run under 8:03 and qualify for the US Indoor T&F Champs.  I'm not keying up for this one too much, just want to get a good quality race in.  At the very very least, I hope to knock off an old PR of mine (8:15). 

What I'm really getting ready for are the US Cross Country Championships in Boulder on 2/15.  I've been putting in the miles, and a lot of strength work to prep for this one.  I've had some of my best tempo efforts since I've been up here, so I think I'm really rounding into form at the right time

After that is hopefully US Indoor, which would be a nice bonus to finish off the winter season. 

Just want to stay healthy, and stay fit.  A big spring is to come.

If you haven't seen it yet, and want some different insights from yours truly, check out my other blog: http://www.irunnerblog.com/ 

My column is titled: The Running High

The Moderately Talented Distance Runner
Nick

A Look Back and a Look Forward

Well I guess now is the time that everyone is looking back on 2013, and looking forward to 2014, and I guess I shall join them as well.

2013 was a good year for me.  I ran a PR in the 1500, met and moved in with my girlfriend Sarah, hit the Olympic Trials "B" Standard in the 1/2 Marathon, and ran my first full marathon.  I was top American in 2 relatively major road races, posting two top 5 finishes, won a 10k in California, and even ran some XC again!

While 2013 was good, it also had plenty of bumps in the road, and growing pains.  Learning how to be a professional athlete with a job hasn't been easy, and getting that down played a crucial role in beginning to post better performances.  Along with that, I also recruited the help of an experienced coach, Trina Painter, who has led me to the successes of the fall.  Her ability to take my ambitions and turn them into reality has been nothing short of incredible, and I can't thank her enough for what she's done for my career. 

There are tons of people to thank for 2013 and I'll try to list as many as possible: Vince and Sarah Sherry (for employing me, and guiding me through the maze that is professional running), Sarah Grothe (for being my biggest fan), the aforementioned Trina Painter, Kym Wilkens (for keeping me healthy), all my teammates and friends: Adam Vess, Steve Soprano, Forrest Misenti, Ryan Blood, Becky Belanger, Matt Walsh, Forrest Boughner, Julian de Rubira, Rivers Puzey, some other groups that have helped me out: Swiftwick Socks, and of course my Parents who put up with my relative poverty and support throughout whatever I'm trying to do.  I'm sure I've missed some people, which I don't mean as an insult, sorry.  I can't thank any of you enough for the support and help. 

So now 2014. 2014 is the year where I begin to make my mark.  If 2013 was the year of gaining experience, than 2014 will be the year I gain some scalps.  I'm more motivated than ever to make big things happen on the track and on the roads.  This will be my year. 

Keep an eye out for some familiar faces in Runners World in the coming months, and keep an eye out on my blog because some big things are hopefully coming here in the next few weeks.  Below is my tentative 2014 racing schedule.

Nick Hilton
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

2014 Spring Racing Schedule

1/24 NAU Invitational (Mile or 3k or Both)

2/7 NAU Mountain T’s Invite (3k)

2/15 USATF Cross-Country Championships 12k Boulder, CO

3/9 Mountain to Fountain 15k Fountain Hills, AZ

3/21 Baldy Castillo 1500 Arizona State

3/29 ASU Invite 5k

4/5 Stanford Invite- 10k

4/18-4/19 Mt. SAC Relays 5k or 10k

5/4 Payton Jordan Invitational 10k

5/10 USATF 25k Championships at the Fifth Third 25k

6/21 Grandma’s Marathon

7/4 Downtown Mile

(Several of the Flagstaff Summer Series Trail Race through July and August)

9/3 USA 20k Championships at the Stratton-Faxon 20k

10/5 USA Marathon Championships at the Twin Cities Marathon

11/16 USA 12k Championships in Alexandria VA

12/13 USA Club XC Championships Bethlehem, PA

Some thoughts, plus a quick Club XC wrap-up

So I’m on a flight to San Francisco, and I’m getting a bit tired of reading, so it seems like the perfect time to type out a blog post. 

I had a dream last night that I was, for all intents and purposes, fully sponsored by Saucony.  It was certainly a fantastic dream.  What runner in my position doesn’t dream of being fully sponsored by someone?  To have all your gear taken care of, travel money, cost of living stipend, and everything else involved with being a fully funded representative of a shoe company. 

I’m sure that there are some pressures involved with that as well.  I can’t imagine what it’s like when your contract is about to be up, the gut wrenching feeling of not knowing if your main source of livelihood is about to be taken away.  That is a pressure that I don’t believe I have felt yet, and one I’m not sure I want to feel. 

I remember waking up this morning, and being pretty disappointed at the fact, that no, I’m not a Saucony sponsored athlete, and that nope, there is no check in the mail from a shoe company on the way to pay my rent. 

I could quit being a distance runner and go get a full time job that makes 40k+ per year.  Be way less stressed about my expenses, and when my prize money is coming because well, I have a car payment due, and student loans to pay.  But what fun would that be?

I have the best day job in the world.  Regardless of what people say, I’m still a Professional Athlete, and what kid doesn’t dream of being that at some point?  Maybe I’m not doing it the most glamorous of ways, but shit! I’m still doing it. 

Maybe I live paycheck to paycheck, and maybe every race I run that has prize money involved is a critically important race, because that $300 pays for the next trip. Maybe living like this is stressful, but it’s LIVING at its finest.  Here I am, on a plane, sitting next to one of the best runners in the USA, on our way to a National Championship race where we’ll go mano-a-mano with some of the other top runners in the country.  How is this not wonderful?  How is this not life at it’s finest, in its full glory?  Who needs handfuls of the green stuff, when at 12:45 Saturday morning I’ll be spiked up, amped up, and running balls to the wall in the mud, hurdling hay bales.  Sounds like living to me.

And I couldn’t ask for a better life.

I won’t say no if Saucony comes calling though, they have some pretty sweet shoes.

In news, I was honored to be a part of the first EVER Team Run Flagstaff Pro XC Team at this years USATF Club Cross Country Championships.

We finished 3^rd Overall with a stud team (Ben Bruce, Nick Arciniaga, Matt Llano, Adam Vess, Forrest Misenti, Steve Soprano, Rivers Puzey, and myself).  It was a truly incredible experience.

The course was tough, (thanks Max King) as was the competition, but overall was a great time.  The best part by far though, was the feeling of being back on a team.  We had a great synergy, and I think we certainly developed that sense of belonging to something.  It was definitely a piece that I’ve missed since college, and I’m glad to be back a part of a team, with fantastic teammates.  I look forward for what the future holds for this fledgling organization.  I think there are going to be some really great things coming out of this.

Good things are a-coming.

Nick Hilton

The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

The Marathon

First off, Thank You.

Thank you to everybody who reached out before the race, Thank you to everybody who came to the marathon, and Thank you to everybody who reached out after the race.  I can't express what it really means to me to hear from all of you.  You provided the emotional energy necessary to go the distance, and the continuing motivation to move on the next race.

With that said, let us talk about the race itself. 

Beforehand I was pretty nervous.

A. Because I couldn't poop.
B. Because 26.2 miles is a long way to run hard. 

It was actually a relief when the gun went off, because all the waiting was finally over, and I could just freaking run the race. 

The first 7 miles were very controlled (5:15-5:20ish) and were run with a big pack.  At times it was hard not to just burst away, as we were running through the incredible crowds of downtown Philly, which were LOUD. 

After 7 you hit a series of hills through University City and Fairmount Park, and let me tell you, we ran these cautiously.  My instinct is to pick it up and work up a hill, but apparently, I was the only one.  We ran anywhere from 5:32 on the ups, to 5:14 on the downs.  And after we hit ten miles, I was still feeling very good, and very antsy.

At this point I just wanted a consistent, faster pace.  5:15's or better.  I was hesitant to get out in front and push, because of my inexperience, and opted instead to sit in the pack and run 5:20's.

We hit 13.1 in 1:10.35, comfortably, but it was at this point that the race changed.  Everyone got more aggressive, the real racing was about to begin.  We hit 14 in 5:10, our fastest split yet, and our group was beginning to string out. At 1/2 way we had 9 guys, that would whittle down to 4 by 17. 

After 14 miles the surging began.  We would run a 5:10-5:12, than the eventual winner would throw in a 5:05.  We'd settle back for a mile, where I would lead and not let it slow too much, until the next surge.  This time it was back to back 5:05's.   Coming through 17 miles, I was still feeling pretty good, but the surges were beginning to take their toll. 

We were down to 3 by 19 miles, and facing a long gradual uphill climb to the turnaround in Manayunk at 20 miles.  The leader threw in a sub 5 (I ran 5:08), and finally broke away from Dube (runner-up) and myself.  I ran with second place through 21 and 22 splitting 5:10 and 5:12.  But definitely was no longer an aggressor, I was in hang on mode.  23 was 5:22 and I fell back from Dube, and was running by myself in third.  This was where I began to hit the wall.  At this point I told myself to "just hold 5:20's!"

24 was 5:32, and I thought to myself, "just hold 5:30s!" 

25 was 5:42, and I thought "Just make it to the finish without being passed you bastard"

Those 2 miles were loooooooong.  I didn't take water, I just stared straight ahead and focused as hard as I could on putting one foot in front of the other.  It was there I saw some familiar faces, which gave me a MUCH needed shot in the arm and kept me inspired to keep pushing.

26 was 5:48 and then I was in the home stretch.  The noise of the crowd brought me home, and I crossed the line, grabbed my knees, and tried not to cramp.

The race was emotional as hell.  Seeing everyone out on the course was fantastic, and every bit of encouragement through that 2nd half of the race was sorely sorely needed, and incredibly appreciated.

I can't wait until the next one. 

Nick Hilton
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

Some Final Thoughts

Being that we're now less than 5 days from the Philly Marathon, I thought it would be good to type out one last entry with some final thoughts before the big race. 

Needless to say, I'm very excited to go home for a bit, run a race, see family and friends, and just spend a wee-little bit of time back in the keystone state.  It's always a refresher to see everybody (although I practically guarantee that I'll be WAY more tired when I get back to Flag than when I left), and is a fantastic way to reset and get ready for the second part of the year.

 To say that I'm excited to run my first marathon would be an understatement, as this is the race that I feel that I've been best suited for since my formative years of running.  Even with that excitement, I'm trying to stay as even-keeled as possible, as I don't want to run a 4:45 first mile and blow up in spectacular fashion.  I've been training and racing smarter than I ever have before in my career, and I don't want that to change now.

I'm also fitter than I've ever been in my life, of that I'm 100% sure.  I have 0 doubts in my mind that my coach has prepared me fantastically for this race, and will get me to the line healthy, fit, and ready to roll.  She's taken me from a 3:46 1500 runner in the spring, molded me in 6 weeks into a 1:04:41 1/2 marathoner, and now has helped get me into a position to run a very competitive marathon.  I've been putting in a TON of consistent work since June, and am ready to toe the line and put 100% out there. I can't thank her enough for helping me out and getting me into this position.

The field is certainly pretty tough this year, as there is some talk that the course record will go down (2:16.47), but that doesn't scare me one bit, it has me licking my chops for a good; competitive race. 

So, it's only a few days until Sarah and I board the plane to come into town, and through these next few runs I'll certainly be doing lots visualizing and mental preparation for the race to come.  Along with that, I'll also be thinking of everyone who helped me get to this point.  It's been a long road, and this is certainly NOT the end, but hopefully the beginning of a new phase of my career. 

And when the race gets tough, as it certainly will, I will be using the home crowd and all of you as motivation to put one foot in front of the other, and get to the line in a speedy fashion. 

Thanks again,

I'll see you all on the other side of 26.2

Nick Hilton
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

Why not?

November 17th 2013 is definitely going to be a big day.  The plan was to run the 1/2 marathon at the Philly marathon, and try to better my time from the last time I ran the 1/2.

But...

I've decided that I want to make Philly my debut MARATHON instead.  So on 11/17 I'll make first attempt at the 26.2 distance.

Here's the rationale:

1.) I've already achieved the "B" standard for the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials, which was my original goal going into this season  (I wasn't expecting to break the 1:05 barrier at AFC).  Since my plan is to transition to the marathon anyway, why not get one under my belt, since there is really nothing to lose. 

2.) I'm healthy, fit, and running well.  I've been able to put in a really solid of uninterrupted training since June.  My workouts have been very consistent, and even before the decision to switch, I had run over 20 miles several times.  The original plan was to debut next fall, but I want to take advantage of my current health and fitness and get a baseline idea of what the marathon is like so I can have a better idea of how to run very fast next year. 

3.)  I can't think of a better place to debut than Philly.  It's a great running town, and I definitely have always wanted to do something big in Philadelpha (since I feel like I'll have some homefield advantage).  So what's bigger than trying to win my debut marathon in front of the hometown crowd?

4.)  When the miles get tough, I'll have family and friends to get me to the line.  There's nothing like performing in front of family and close friends. 

So, with that said, here goes nothing.  Only a little under 3 weeks remain to the big day.   Have done some higher volume workouts up here to get prepared for the longer distance.  The key one was a 16 mile steady state run, where I ended up averaging 5:22 pace at 7000 feet, with the last 5 miles at 5:17 pace.

I know its going to be a brutal test over those last 6 miles, but I trust that with my preparation and a little help from the hometown crowd that I'll bust through the wall and do something great. 

Thanks as always for the continued support, I can't wait until race day

Nick Hilton
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

A Win!

Cruising home in the final mile

 So for the first time in my competitive career I got to do something that I've always wanted to do.  Break the tape. 

In no race that I have won since the beginning of my career, have I won a race that had tape at the finish line.  Let me tell you that it is every bit as cool as you think it is.

If you haven't figured it out yet, this weekend went pretty well.  I ended up winning the 10k in 30:39, 18 seconds over the 2nd place finisher, who just so happens to boast a 13:36 5k PR.  

The race played out like this:  The pace was pretty honest early, with a 4:50 first mile, with three of us in front.  The course starts to climb after the mile mark and we slowed to 4:58 for the 2nd mile.  I noticed my competitors beginning to labor a little bit as we climbed, so I threw in a test surge, and formed a gap and just continued to push a bit through miles 3 and 4, which were a slow 5:08 and 5:17 respectively.  By the time we reached the 4 mile mark, I had increased the lead to about 100 meters, which I held through the finish.  The course cruises downhill for the final two mile, which I recorded in 4:43 and 4:40 respectively.

The time definitely was not what I wanted to be, but the race was definitely more of a tempo effort, which bodes well moving forward. 

The weekend overall was much needed,  and I always enjoy spending time with Sarah and some good friends on the sunny shores of Santa Monica. 

Results Here--->http://www.geminitiming.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/sm5000_10k_fl_131.htm

So, next up for me is the Phoenix 5k in November, which will serve as my final tune up for Philly on 11/7. 
I honestly can't wait for Philly, I'm absolutely chomping at the bit to come home and post a good race in front of friends and family.  I've put in a lot of work in the past year and am ready to do my best to put on a show for the hometown crowd. 

About 6 weeks to go, gotta keep the nose to the grindstone, hammer out some great workouts, and be ready to roll for 11/17.

I'm 100% sure that the energy from all my supporters will propel me to my best performance yet, and I can't thank you guys enough. 

Before I sign off,  A HUGE shoutout to my co-worker, mentor, and friend Nick Arciniaga for winning his 1st NATIONAL TITLE at the US Marathon champs this past weekend.  This guy puts in A TON of work, and deserves it more than anyone I've ever met.  CONGRATS!

Until next time,

Nicholas Hilton

The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

My Dad told me to blog.

Back by somewhat popular demand!  Or, otherwise known as, my Dad told me to blog again.  So!  Here it is!

Things have been great out here in Flagstaff, boringly great for the most part.  My last race was the George Kyte XC Classic at Buffalo Park, here in flag.  XC at 7000 feet didn't sound too appealing, but I was happy to get on the line and test my chops on the ole' XC course again.

Ran 24:45 (which is only 17 seconds off of my XC 8k pr at sea level) for 2nd place.  Was happy with the time, not so much with the place.  Waited too long to really move, and got caught by a speedy collegian with a little more turnover than I had at that time.  The race felt like a tempo for the majority of it, the last 1k or so proved to be my downfall, as I wasn't able to shift to the next gear.  Overall, positive effort.

Results here --->http://www.nauathletics.com/sports/xc/2013-14/files/2013KyteResults.pdf
Note: Technically I won the Open Men's Division, but both races (Open and Collegiate) were ran together, so overall through the whole thing I took 2nd.

Finishing the final 400 at the George Kyte XC Classic

Next on the docket is the Santa Monica 5000 (where I'm racing the 10k!!) I'm actually leaving for this race, in about 90 min.  I'm super pumped as always to head to California for a weekend.  Pictures should follow.

For this race, the absolute only thing that I'm focused on is bringing home the W.  For whatever reason I want this win bad.  So I'm gonna do everything within my power to take it.  The field is strong, but I've been feeling really fit and strong myself.  It should be a fun race.

Results can be found on www.santamonica5000.com.

On a different note, I just want to say that I'm incredibly grateful to the people who continue to support my career and help me grow as an athlete.  I'm getting closer and closer to being where I want to be, and everyday you guys help me and inspire me to continue pushing.

So thanks to Mom and Dad, Vince, Kym Wilkens-for keeping my stupid hamstring, sartorious, and adductors in line, Sarah, Trina, and all my teammates and fellow runners in town.

Also, best of luck to Nick Arciniaga at the US Marathon Champs, and Adam Vess who will be travelling with me to Santa Monica and racing the 5k.

Bless all of you, and Thank you!

Nick Hilton
The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

BOOM!

Well, I'll try not to get too pumped about this, but.... I QUALIFIED FOR THE OLYMPIC FREAKIN' TRIALS!!!!!!

Ok, ok I'm done.  But seriously, I'm pretty pumped.  This is the kind of performance that I've been looking for.  And while I know that it's a big step for me, I know that in the grand scheme of things I still have a ways to go and lots of work to do, but this run has done a lot for me confidence wise. 

All My Gear Pre-Race

It's just a validation that I'm doing the right things, and heading in the right direction, and gives me more motivation to work my ass off more going forward.   

I'll break down the race quickly and how it unfolded.  Gun went off, and the first two mile were pretty controlled as they were pretty rolling.  4:55, 4:50.  about 1/2 way through the second mile you start the dive downhill which made the pace start to get a bit hot.  The next two miles were 4:38 and 4:25 (Hot damn!)  and a pack of four kenyans broke off from the main pack. 

After 4 miles we hit the flats, and I'll be honest, after cruising downhill my quads were pretty jacked up and that flat did not feel so great.  We ran 4:49, 4:52, and 4:55 for 5,6,7 and came through 10k in a PR of 29:34. Mentally I was in a good place at this point, I was in a pack of 4 and just came through a rough patch and was feeling ok.  Definitely wasn't feeling great, but just focused on running in the pack and keeping up a good cadence.  The next few miles were flat as well and we slowed a bit, running 5:06, 4:59, 5:01. 

Beautiful Course along the Bay!

I didn't panic after the 5:06 on mile 8, because I knew I had a good bank of time from those downhill miles, but I knew there was a biiiiiiiig hill coming up, so I didn't want to relax too much and tried to push our pack a bit for 9 and 10. 

We were down to 3 guys at this point and approaching downtown and the hill, we had passed one of the Kenyans from the original front pack so we were fighting for that 4th place prize.  I knew the guys around me were fatiguing a bit so I took control of the pack and started to attempt a push to pull away.  I put about 10 yards on the two guys, but they reeled me back in, but I pushed again on the second 1/2 of the hill and finally broke free and was alone in 4th. 

Whomever thought that it was a good idea to toss in a long steep hill on mile 11 of a 1/2 marathon is certainly a mad man, cause that freakin' hurts.  A lot.  My 11 and 12 split was 10:25 (I missed the 11 mile mark).  So my pace was definitely killed by the incline, but I rallied coming over the top and just tried to get back into a rhythm for the final 1.1 miles and pushed the best I could.  The last 1.1 was 5:41 and I crossed the finish in 1:04:41 for 4th place overall, 1st American. 

Flippin' Hills!

The feeling was pretty incredible at the line.  I knew I was fit enough to run sub 1:05 (which is the qualifying time for the olympic trials), but to actually get out there and hit it is a feeling words can't do justice for. 

So now I'm back in Flagstaff and ready to get back on that grind.  For me It's time for some more miles and work to get ready for the next attempt at the 1/2 marathon distance on November 17th in Philadelphia.

Sarah and I checking out the starting area

Since I ran sub 1:05 here, that takes some pressure off of me for Philadelphia.  Now I can focus on really getting after it there and trying to contend for the win.  I don't have to worry about the time nearly as much because I have a qualifying mark under my belt. 

The goal for that race is to contend for the win and try to break 1:04.  

My next racing will be 9/7 at the George Kyte Classic (an XC race) up here in Flagstaff, and then 10/18 in a 10k at the Santa Monica 5000. 

Thank you everybody for the huge outpouring of support post race, you guys are my inspiration and keep me going when things start to hurt.

Also a huge shout out and thanks to Run Flagstaff for their support, Kym Wilkens for helping keep me healthy, and Sarah Grothe (who also finished her first 1/2 marathon in San Diego!) for keeping me sane. 

Thanks again everybody!

Nick Hilton

The Moderately Talented (and Olympic Trials qualified) Distance Runner