Time for an update!

Hello All!

It's certainly been awhile, and I apologize for that, sometimes the whole blogging gets thrown to the side for awhile.

But as I'm about to begin my next racing season, I guess I should start getting back on this thing!

Firstly though, lets talk about how the spring ended, since I never really covered that.  My last event of the year was the Jim Bush Classic, held at UCLA, and that was to be my all-out attempt to crack 3:45 and get a USA B-standard.

I know I was fit enough to run that fast, to me it wasn't even a question, I thought that 3:45 was on the slower end of what I should've been able to run.  I believe that I was definitely in 3:42-3:43 shape.  Below you'll see my final workout before the race, the one that really gave me the confidence in my fitness.

The race didn't pan out as planned.  Got caught back in the pack right off the line, and spent much of the race trying to get back into contention.  Ended up running 3:48, which was disappointing but at least consistent, I really didn't have a really bad race from Mt. SAC on.  So for me, this season I lowered my 1500 PR from 3:54 to 3:46, and my mile from 4:08 to 4:06.  So I would call it a productive season, and a good step in the right direction for the next year.

Race video is here ---> http://www.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=30&do=videos&video_id=90996

So after that, it was time for a little down time.  2 weeks of sporadic easy running, and getting ready for my best summer of training to date.  I was fired up and motivated after that race, I wanted my season to end with a bang, not a whimper.  So I was ready to rock and roll after those two weeks.

Next for me was the Flagstaff Downtown Mile on July 4th, and that was certainly an exciting affair.  Took home the win in that one in 4:21, after a thrilling kick-off down Aspen St. with NAU All-American (and co-worker of mine) Brian Shrader.  The results said I won by .6, but it was certainly less than that, definitely one of the most exciting races I've been in.

The end of that race signified the end of mile training for me, and the beginning of some serious mileage and a build-up leading up to the Philadelphia 1/2 Marathon in November.

So since then I've been racking up some mileage and putting in some good longer workouts in preparation for a good fall of some base-building and longer racing.

First on the docket for me will be the America's Finest City 1/2 Marathon in San Diego on 8/18.  I'm really excited as this will be my 1/2 debut, and I want to go out there and put down a strong early time.  Workouts indicate that I should be in sub 1:05 shape, so we'll see how this first one plays out.

The rest of my season includes the George Kyte Invitational up here in Flagstaff, for a little high altitude XC action.  Than a 10k at the Santa Monica 5000 in mid-October.  Philly 1/2 is November 17th, than Run Flagstaff Elite will be making its team XC debut at Club XC in early December.

I'm really excited about this season.  I'm ready to crush. 

Chasing

3:46.9
4:06.3

These are the results from my past two forays into racing.  The first in the 1500 at the Mt SAC Relays, the second in the Mile at the Penn Relays.

I'm happy to have finally put together a string of good races, and hope to keep this going into June.

While I'm happy, I'm certainly not satisfied, this string just got me more motivated and focused to keep going and hit some faster times.

The "B" standard for the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships is 3:45, and I fully intend to do all I can to hit this standard.  My next race is June 1st at the Jim Bush Classic at UCLA.

I've been hit with a shot of confidence after these performances, as they've been a validation that I've been doing something right the past few months and that I'm certainly going in the right direction.



The key going forward is to continue to stay focused and just make it happen.  Do not try, Do.

I've also just been enjoying running much more lately, and appreciating the fact that I've been given this shot, and that I do not plan on wasting it.

I had a moment on my run today which just reminded me how freaking blessed I am to be able to be doing what I'm doing right now.  I was running through the trees and single track trail that lays beyond my apartment building.  Just cruising along, focused on the trail ahead, when I burst out into a meadow with the San Francisco peaks in front of me, the sun shining above me in the middle of a clear blue sky.  Just made me stop and say "Damn". 

Not many people really get the opportunity to truly go after their dreams, and experience the journey that comes with the chase.  For whatever reason recently, I've been able to put these things into perspective, and truly appreciate the ups and downs of the journey.  Knowing that regardless of how it ends, I will be enriched for what I've done, for meeting people who will have touched my life, and for realizing the experiences that will shape me going forward.

So, in short, people (regardless if you're moderately talented, incredibly talented, or whatever):  Chase your dreams, don't settle into your epilogue, and embrace the journey, it will all be worth it eventually.  

To quote a new favorite band of mine:

Get outside, get all over the world
You learn to love what you get in return
It may be a problem and it may be peace of mind
but you have to slow down
and breathe one breath at a time

I guess life is just good right now, I'm certainly content in my situation.

Again, thank you everybody for the support, I say it every time, but it truly does motivate me every time I step out of the door.

The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

A Step Back

Tonight didn't go as planned.

I had the unique experience of my mind not up to the task of handling a tough race.  I got to 1200 in a slow 3:10-3:11 in a weird race, and got incredibly negative and just pulled off.  DNF

D. N. F.

Three letters that are shameful in distance running. 

So now I have to build myself back mentally to be able to handle these racing scenarios again. 

I feel that I've been off mentally for quite awhile, but the question of how to fix it is a question that I do not have the answer to. 

I somehow need to get out of my own head and just freaking race.  I need to get some confidence, so I can get to the line and know that I can handle any pace, any scenario, any race.  Do I tweak some workouts? Just race more?  Do yoga?  I don't know.

I hate that I feel like a head case now, I don't think I've ever had to deal with this before. 

Running for yourself is different, after doing this for a team all my life, finding that last gear to do it solely for yourself is much different.  I want to do well, I want to succeed, I want to throw it into 5th and come screaming into the home stretch.  So what's the issue?

I need a coach, this much I do know.  Someone to help answer these questions, someone to help erase this doubt and get me out of my head. Someone I can trust.  It just has to be the right fit. 

All I can hope is that this step back will lead to a bigger step forward in the future.  I tried to obey Coach Russel's 30 min. rule, but I'm still reeling a bit and trying to decode this mental roadblock. 

I'm working on it, just gotta look at the big picture.

Nicholas Hilton: The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

Race #2

Race number 2 of this fledgling season is slated to go off tomorrow at 6:20 PM PST.  It will be my second attempt at the 1500 meter distance this year, and I'm pretty freaking pumped for it. 

The heat I'm in is pretty stacked, to say the least, check out the heat sheet below to see some of the names that will be in the race.  (Note Boaz Lalang who has a 3:35 PR, nbd)

Heat Sheets ---> http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/asu/sports/c-track/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/2012asufinalheats.pdf

But, I go in not nervous, and not intimidated. I just want to run my race, be smart, push the 3rd lap, and hopefully break 3:50 for the first time. 

I was definitely race rusty the last time out, and I think, mentally, I'll be sharper this time around.  The main goal is to just keep progressing as the season wears on, the more I progress, the longer my season will be. 

For me, this season is really just a re-introduction of track racing and getting back in the competitive state of mind.  I've been away from it for awhile, and I really want to focus on getting that mental edge back into place for the next 3 years. 

Just gotta keep my eyes on the real prize, 2016, plug away, and try to prepare myself the best that I can.  

In the meantime I'm gonna enjoy the hell out of this shorter stuff, and fall back in love, once again, with track racing. 

I'll update tomorrow on Facebook and Twitter (@Nackhilton) pre-race, and post-race from Tempe. 

Catch you on the flipside.

Nicholas Hilton: The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

One Race, One PR

I can't express in words how great it felt to be back on the track.  Nothing feels as good as lacing up the spikes, feeling that adrenaline pump before the gun, and taking off down the track towards the first turn.  I feel like a brand new person.

3:52.38.  PR.

I honestly felt pretty good in this race, came through 400 in 61, 800 in 2:03, and 1200 in 3:05.  Didn't close great, but I made my biggest mistakes on the third lap.

I was still feeling good on the third lap, but didn't move up because I was a bit boxed in, and wanted to make sure that I didn't die hard in the final 100.  This is a mistake I won't make again, because I know I have more in the tank.

Results for the Race can be found here --->  http://www.thesundevils.com/sports/c-track/stats/2012-2013/resultsfriday13baldy.html

Hamstring felt pretty good all day on the warmup, during the race, and on the cool down.  Definitely a good sign, hopefully as I work on it it'll feel a little better every day.

I'm really looking forward to my workouts this week, and a 1500 again on Friday.  Its track season and I couldn't be more pumped!

 List of 2013 goals through 4/27:

1. Feel good and bust some rust on the track: CHECK
2. Break 3:50: PENDING
3. Get accepted into the Mt. SAC Invitational: PENDING
4. 3:48: PENDING
5. Get Accepted into the Penn Relays OD Mile: PENDING
6. Sub 4:05: PENDING

Nicholas Hilton: The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

Back on Track

Today is the day where I start my track season.

After a solid 15k last weekend, 47:30 on a tough course.  I'm ready to move to the fast stuff.  Tonight I open with a 1500 at the Baldy Castillo Invitational at Arizona State. 

I've been nursing a bit of a hamstring issue the past few weeks so training hasn't been ideal.  But I know I'm strong, and I'm confident in my speed. 

I'm not going to lay out specific time goals for tonight, cause honestly, I have no idea whats going to happen.  Its a strong field, and I just want to run with confidence and finish hard. 

This season is about getting fast.  So its time to get fast. 

I'm definitely nervous.  The last time I stepped on a track to race was at the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championships. 

So, I shall try my best to go into it with confidence, and walk out of it with my head held high, ready for my next race. 

I was born ready.

Nicholas Hilton: The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

Welp, time to post

So, its been awhile...my bad. 

Things have been going reasonably well out west.  Haven't raced anything since the Midnight run, had a couple things planned, but in the end they didn't end up working out.  Oh well.

Good news is that its almost spring time, and spring time means track!

A decision has been made by yours truly (with some help) to really focus this spring on getting faster. Working on that pure, unadulterated, get-down speed, hence the 1500/Mile becomes my focus. 

Its been a long time since this was the focus, so I really want to work on improving my top end speed and my ability to finish fast, and be comfortable at a range of different paces (especially in the 58-62 second range)

So the first half of my spring race schedule looks something like this:

3/11: Mountain to Fountain 15k (good prize money, last longer effort for awhile)
3/15: ASU Baldy Castillo Invitational (1500, 800)
3/22: ASU Invitational (1500)
3/28 (Possibly): Stanford Invitational
4/6: ASU Sun Angel Invitational (5k?)
4/15: Mt SAC Relays (Possibly)
4/27: Penn Relays (OD One Mile Run)

Thats a lot for the first half, but I want to keep options open.  The ASU Invites are a definite, as well as racing at Penn, That is 100% on my schedule.  The California stuff honestly depends on finances and what not, because travelling ain't cheap, and I ain't made of money. 

Its been a long time since I've been in touch with this faster stuff, and I haven't spent an outdoor season focused on the 1500/Mile distance since high school, so I'm actually really excited to run these races and get sharp.  Obviously, long term, the goals are sub-4 and sub 3:45, and also moving back up in distance, but for this season I want to be reasonable and set achievable goals early on and hopefully keep pushing the bar up. 

Socially, my life is not terribly exciting.  I've been working a ton and trying to save some money in anticipation of the spring.  So, really, nothing exciting whatsoever to report on that front. 

Again, thanks to everyone for the support.  I've gone through a couple rough patches during the winter, but with help of some friends, and knowing that all of you are out there, I've gotten through them and kept grinding on. 

The weather is getting warmer, and hopes are looking up. 

So I'll keep holding on and pushing forward with all of you in my thoughts.

Nick Hilton: The Moderately Talented Distance Runner