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

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