Tag Archive | "josh hite"

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After the Flood

Running on what remained of Blackburn Fork Road

Josh wanted sixteen, and I had fourteen. That is, he wanted to go for a sixteen mile run, and I had a fourteen mile loop. My fourteen-mile loop went into Jackson County, a rural place where the dogs run free; and past Cummins Falls where the water runs wild.
The water of Blackburn Fork jumps off the falls and meanders down a narrow valley for ten miles before it joins Roaring River. You might call the valley a gorge; it is pretty narrow at the bottom and bounded by steep wooded slopes with some bluff outcroppings. A road surfaced with creek gravel, paved in places, follows the stream on its journey.
But I didn’t even mean to go there, down the gorge, I mean. The fourteen mile loop stayed above the valley. It merely went past the falls, staying on top. But, see, Josh wanted sixteen miles that morning.
The weather was hot, August hot. One bottle in a waist pack is not enough for such heat. The well-equipped ultra runner made preparations. I dug out the backpack I use for journey runs and such. It’s a tiny thing probably designed for the shorter torso of a woman. But it is just right. It is short enough to leave room for my regular waist pack below it. So I can go with both the waist pack for my bottle and still have a bit of cargo room in the little backpack.

Read the full story by Dallas Smith by clicking HERE

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Blister In The Sun Marathon Results (2013)

Here are the results from the Blister In The Sun Marathon that took place on August 3, 2013 in Cookeville, TN.

Blister13Results.pdf by Martha 'Powell' Hite

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CumminsFallsBombdogHamilton1

Cummins Falls Marathon – Astonishing!

Andrew Holbrook, 35, of Roanoke, VA runs to a third-place finish

Despite my urging Josh Hite didn’t decide to run the inaugural Cummins Falls Marathon until late the day before the race. Then he sent me a text:

“Chances are that I will run a marathon tomorrow.”

And so he did.
Good thing, too—he won, finishing in a time of 3:13:56. That’s not likely a time that will impress anyone who was not there. The course is challenging, bringing an insane climb at mile 17, and Josh had been undecided because of a recent bout with the flu followed by an injury from a fall on an icy patch. The injury healed just in time.
A gray sky, 40 degrees, and calm winds greeted the 197 runners assembled at Cummins Falls on Saturday, February 23. Runners spread across four races held that morning—a marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K. Twenty eight had registered for the marathon. They knew what they faced. The course map and profile had been posted on the race’s Facebook page. [*See it here*]

“One big downer, one big upper, and eight miles of routine hell to pay…”

Half marathoners and marathoners started and ran together for the first five miles, until the former split left on Perry Smith Road. Just 1.5 miles into the run we plunged into the gorge carved by the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River, the stream that makes Cummins Falls. We ran alongside that river until it joined Roaring River—also a State Scenic River—followed it for two miles and then turned up Morrison’s Creek, which drains another narrow valley. At the head of that valley, the course demanded payback. A crushing climb called Chaffin Hill at mile 17 delivered marathoners back to the plateau on which they’d started, and to which they were bound to return.

Read the full story by Dallas Smith by clicking HERE

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Josh Hite – 2012 Blister in the Sun Marathon Winner – Photo by Elly Foster

Josh Hite Blazes Blister in the Sun Marathon for 3rd Consecutive Year (Results)

Masochist/race director Josh Hite won the Blister in the Sun Marathon on August 5, 2012 for the third consecutive year in Cookeville, Tennessee with a winning time of 3:17:18.

Hite started the marathon back in 2010 when only 14 of his craziest friends dared to show up for five brutal loops of Cane Creek Park (and middle school). This year had nearly 90 participants.  Those that were lucky enough to finish took home some of the hottest bling you’ll ever come across.

John Ramsay finished in second placewith a time of 3:29:12 and Meredith Smith (Female Winner), third overall, with a time of 3:29:22. Third overall male went to Todd Shause in 3:31:53.

The second place female was Michelle Lenahan in 3:44:45 with the third place female going to Laura Schmitt in 4:06:46.

Place First Last Age Gender Time
1 Josh Hite 34 m 3:17:18
2 John Ramsay 28 m 3:29:12
3 Meredith Smith 41 f 3:29:22
4 Todd Shouse 47 m 3:31:53
5 Jeff Matlock 47 m 3:36:32
6 Michelle Lenahan 32 f 3:44:45
7 Chris Estes 40 m 3:45:06
8 Dallas Smith 72 m 3:56:32
9 Joshua Holmes 34 m 3:58:16
10 Christopher Rayder 13 m 3:59:54
11 Danny Meier 26 m 4:00:09
12 Michael Strobel 52 m 4:00:40
13 Keith Lascalea 39 m 4:05:04
14 Bill Baker 61 m 4:06:18
15 Laura Schmitt 33 f 4:06:46
16 Bill Ziesmer 40 m 4:12:21
17 Evan Perperis 30 m 4:13:36
18 Jason Auer 29 m 4:16:13
20 Scott Warrington 30 m 4:17:34
19 Jonathan Kroeger 30 m 4:17:34
21 Heather Zeigler 32 f 4:19:07
22 Danny Staggs 48 m 4:26:17
23 Kendra Schfostall 49 f 4:28:53
24 Adam Bourne 35 m 4:29:16
25 Sarah Starling 42 f 4:29:22
26 Anthony Shapiro 46 m 4:29:44
27 Juli Simms 34 f 4:31:16
28 Chuck Upton 47 m 4:33:25
29 Joseph Nance 34 m 4:35:29
30 Chris Clemens 46 m 4:36:26
31 Megan Haase 22 f 4:36:35
32 Brian Mount 38 m 4:38:55
33 David Warren 55 m 4:42:28
34 James Norris 62 m 4:42:50
35 Andrea Spohn 40 f 4:46:38
36 Candice Loyd 40 f 4:48:53
37 Robert Rayder 43 m 4:52:42
38 Cindy Hamilton 44 f 4:55:54
39 David Wingard 62 m 4:58:13
40 Michael Rauchwarg 50 m 4:58:18
41 John Leighton 51 m 4:59:23
42 Mikki Trujillo 36 f 4:59:50
43 Ed Ferrell 48 m 5:00:52
44 Anthony Haase 41 m 5:02:32
45 David Crow 40 m 5:02:41
46 Nancy Mizzles 53 f 5:07:32
47 Mark Watson 41 m 5:09:09
48 Rachelle Griggs 22 f 5:13:17
49 Karen Khodadadi 53 f 5:15:17
50 Eugene Park 22 m 5:26:35
51 Kathi Kreeb 52 f 5:33:15
52 David Thierjung 47 m 5:33:16
53 Thomas Holt 35 m 5:34:13
54 Lisa Pass 51 f 5:34:14
55 Trent Rosenbloom 42 m 5:37:31
56 Pascal Radley 54 m 5:42:59
57 Shavonne Atkinson 33 f 5:43:52
58 Diane Bolton 51 f 5:44:01
59 Jeff Venable 57 m 5:50:07
60 Bob Huber 56 m 5:52:55
61 Steve Hughes 63 m 5:54:50
62 Cathie Johnson 58 f 5:57:31
63 Troy Johnson 65 m 5:57:31
64 Heather Trainor 38 f 5:59:59
65 Phyllis Sizemore 66 f 6:02:52
66 Daniel Wells 65 m 6:04:48
67 David Wilson 59 m 6:07:02
68 Carol Earles 42 f 6:11:45
69 DeeDee Earles 23 f 6:11:46
70 Sarah Jo Harvey 22 f 6:18:01
71 Phil Min 57 m 6:18:02
72 Clara Mount 33 f 6:18:19
73 Jerome Barthelemy 40 m 6:20:01
74 Matt Calhoun 34 m 6:48:09
75 Evelyn Smith 52 f 6:48:51
76 Frank Bartocci 64 m 6:48:53
77 Henry Rueden 62 m 6:50:05
78 Diane Taylor 55 f 7:05:46
79 Sandy Staggs 44 f 7:05:46

2012 Blister in the Sun Marathon Medal

[photo credit: Elly Foster (website)]

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Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon Finishing Line

2011 Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Results

The 2nd Annual Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon & 1/2 Marathon took place earlier today in Winchester, Tennessee.

It was chilly at the start and windy throughout, but the race conditions overall were great.

2011 Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon Finisher’s Medal (Perhaps the best of 2011!)

Here is a look at the top male and female finishers from the full and half marathon events:

Top Male STP Marathon Finishers

  1. Matthew Lawhern (Seymour, TN) – 2:53:02
  2. Jeff Mires (Greenville, IN) – 2:57:52
  3. Josh Hite (Cookeville, TN) – 3:02:08
  4. Michael Bennett (Locust Grove, GA) – 3:08:21
  5. Bill Menees (Madison, TN) – 3:31:06
  6. Christopher Rayder (Collierville, TN) – 3:32:20
  7. Tony King (Athens, AL) – 3:34:13
  8. Christopher Leburn (Columbus, MS) – 3:35:12
  9. Franklin Margaritha (Willemstad) – 3:35:16
  10. Joshua Holmes (Jackson, TN) – 3:40:15

Top Female STP Marathon Finishers

  1. Charlene Kevin (Oxford, MS) – 3:33:09
  2. Kerrie Sijon (Greer, SC) – 3:37:26
  3. Malinda Honkus (Knoxville, TN) – 3:41:17
  4. Susanna Rains (Athens, GA) – 3:51:43
  5. Jane Reneau (Madison, AL) – 4:03:17
  6. Pamela Hall (Madison, GA) – 4:04:42
  7. Kerry Demler (Tanner, AL) – 4:06:42
  8. Chelita McBurney (Clarksville, TN) – 4:11:00
  9. Heather Shoemaker (Alpharetta, GA) – 4:11:09
  10. Donna Thackwray (Morganton, NC) – 4:29:36

View List of All Marathon Finishing Times

Top Male STP Half Marathon Finishers

  1. Brad Chronister (Tullahoma, TN) – 1:15:49
  2. Eric Charette (Huntsville, AL) – 1:16:26
  3. Rodney Walker (Ooltewah, TN) – 1:30:01
  4. Lee Golden (Murfreesboro, TN) – 1:31:14
  5. Sean Donahue (Winchester, TN) – 1:36:56
  6. Ben Boggess (Elora, TN) – 1:37:08
  7. Brian Wooldridge (Franklin, TN) – 1:38:29
  8. Dean Bentley (New Market, AL) – 1:40:13
  9. Terry Quillen (Tullahoma, TN) – 1:40:44
  10. Steve Blume (Brentwood, TN) – 1:40:55

Top Female STP Half Marathon Finishers

  1. Chelsey Morris (Decherd, TN) – 1:37:36
  2. Mary Doman (Washington, D.C.) – 1:39:09
  3. Lisa Logan (Ringgold, GA) – 1:39:26
  4. Racheal Mason (White House, TN) – 1:39:36
  5. Samantha Wyatt (Decatur, AL) – 1:39:51
  6. Victoria Youngblood (Nashville, TN) – 1:40:45
  7. Michelle Hawkersmith (Winchester, TN) – 1:43:27
  8. Kari George (Nashville, TN) – 1:43:29
  9. Angel Stroop (Estill Springs, TN) – 1:44:34
  10. Amanda Clifton (Shelbyville, TN)  – 1:47:00

View List of All 1/2 Marathon Finishing Times

Southern Tennessee Plunge Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Website

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BITS 2011 – Mikki J. Trujillo, Dallas Smith, Jennifer Whitley, Monkey Trent

Josh Hite Turns ‘Blister In The Sun’ Into Fun Run for 2nd Straight Year (Results, Photos)

The 2nd annual Blister In The Sun Marathon took place this morning in Cookeville, Tennessee at Cane Creek Park.

Race Director Josh Hite, for the second year in a row, won his race. This year Hite completed the five loops with a time of 3:16:55. He bested the next closest finisher by nearly 30 minutes.

The battle for 2nd and 3rd places went down to the wire with Murfreesboro’s Chris Estes taking 2nd by 35 seconds over James Ramsey who had to settle for third.

The female winner was Jennifer Whitley who finished with a time of 4:19:42. The next two women’s finishers were Michelle Walker and Kelly Delmar.

1. Hite Josh 33 Cookeville, TN 3:16:55
2. Estes Chris 39 Murfreesboro,TN 3:45:21
3. Ramsey James 324 WTF 29 Nashville, TN 3:45:56
4. Hogue Jeffery 39 Grand Bay, AL 3:47:38
5. Matlock Jeff JEM 46 Ashland City, TN 3:57:02
6. Ma Vincent 41 San Jose, CA 4:01:16
7. Smith Dallas Dallas 71 Cookeville, TN 4:04:07
8. Rayder Christopher Nut Junior Sized 12 Memphis, TN 4:08:49
9. Whitley Jennifer The Running Raven 45 Murfreesboro,TN 4:19:42
10. Jimenez Albino Albino 40 El Camino, Spain 4:23:17
11. Rayder Robert Roasted Nut 42 Memphis, TN 4:23:47
12. Trice Winston Winston 38 Hayes, VA 4:27:11
13. Acton Jesse 28 Nashville, TN 4:29:53
14. Staggs Danny Dano 47 Livingston, TN 4:32:49
15. Walker Michelle Mom of 6! 42 Evansville, IN 4:35:21
16. Samuelson Mike Ultramike 45 Lakeland, TN 4:41:46
17. Delmar Kerry Miller Time 40 Tanner, AL 4:48:58
18. Holm Randall Hulm Runs 50 Muscle Shoals, AL 4:52:56
19. Steven Rebecca Rebecca 49 Wichita, KS 4:59:19
20. Sherman Bill Bill 51 Ft. Walton Beach, FL 4:59:41
21. Baker Bill Bootheelbilly 60 Nashville, TN 5:02:08
22. Workman Curtis Curtis 43 Villa Ridge, MO 5:07:02
23. Weeks Robert Bob 43 Fortmill, SC 5:09:40
24. Holt Thomas Holt the Bolt 34 Cookeville,TN 5:12:37
25. Trujillo Mikki Sloppy Seconds 35 Cookeville, TN 5:25:47
26. Anderson Wade Wade 50 Readyville, TN 5:25:48
27. Maples Chris 42 Murfreesboro,TN 5:33:20
28. Bolton Diane DianeB 50 Nashville, TN 5:41:19
29. Rosenbloom Trent Trent 41 Nashville, TN 5:42:52
30. Stupanch Nancy Nancy 50 Oveido, FL 5:44:23
31. Trainor Heather Crawlmommy 37 Roswell, GA 5:56:33
32. Ward Jay 38 Murfreesboro,TN 5:57:57
33. Bronson Kyra Kyra 33 Kansas City, MO 6:09:54
34. Min Phil Phoolish Phil 56 Birmingham, AL 6:48:11
35. Macon Larry Larrry 66 San Antonio, TX 7:15:51
36. Lee JD JD 72 Knoxville 7:29:16
37. Taylor Diane DaineT 54 Nashville, TN 7:35:14
38. Ivory Angela Angela 43 Nashville, TN 7:35:15

Legendary Dallas Smith finished in 7th place with a time of 4:04:07.  Dallas’ buddy Albino Jiminez, of Spain, finished in 4:23:17. Jiminez just ran all the way across Spain back earlier this year.

12-year old Christopher Rayder finished in a shocking time of 4:08:49. Rumor is it that he ran a 3:23 at Grandfather Mountain Marathon last month.

Angela Ivory finished her 297th marathon while Texas resident Larry Macon finished his 707th career marathon.

Instead of finisher’s medals the runners received finisher’s frying pans!

Congrats to all of the finishers. Those five loops around Cane Creek Park and the elementary school in that heat can wear down the best of runners.

2011 Blister In the Sun Photos

[photos by Naresh Kumar and Chris Estes]

___________

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Blister in the Sun – Original Gang of 15 – 2010

Blister in the Sun Marathon Could Be Fatal (Few Spots Left)

Blister in the Sun marathon race director Josh Hite, a distant marathonian cousin of Monkey Trent (which might explain a lot), was conquering so many marathons at sub 3-hour blistering times that he decided to create his own marathon to challenge himself.

This would have been ok if he hadn’t decided to invite several of his closest running friends to the inaugural event. Fourteen others showed up last year to Hite’s surprise.  He had to assume his good buddy Dallas Smith would be there, but he laughed at the remaining fools as they showed up.

He knew what he had in store for them.  Five laps around Cane Creek park in 90+ degree heat. The second half of each lap, up a hill and around Cane Creek Elementary School…aka ‘the oven.’

Everyone was all smiles the first couple of laps…then lap 3, 4, and 5 (for some) happened.  There were finishers but even Hite didn’t come close to breaking three hours on his own course.

Hite had the following to say when I approached him earlier today for his advice to newbies running the 2nd edition of BITS:

I told someone today that this could be the toughest marathon when you combine physical and mental.
This is not a course which you should be concerned with its certification.
Interesting fact I found out last week:  more people die from the heat than any other weather related incident.  That includes tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding…
This is an event that will suck the liquid from your soul if you try to race it.
Welcome to “Cook”vul.
You thought Furnace Creek was hot, try Cane Creek.
Keep running; it is so hot that it will melt your soul if you stop moving your feet.
I heard that Cane creek school was holding a “bake sale” during the race.

The scary part is that the field has already doubled from last year. Thirty runners have already upped their life insurance and signed on to Blister in the Sun this year.  However, a handful of spots remain available for the race which starts on August 7, 2011 if you are up for the challenge.

For more info check out the BITS Website (HERE) or contact RD Josh Hite via email at jhite@tntech.edu

Hite won his own event last year, but several runners have signed up in hopes of knocking Hite off his microwave!

The inaugural finisher’s medal was an engraved Zippo lighter. No telling what the sadist has in store for those that might finish this year!

Cookeville Regional Medical Center is 3.9 miles from the course. The hospital can be reached at 931-646-2039.

Check back here at Run It Fast after the race for results and check our Twitter feed @runitfast for live updates as the race is taking place.

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Josh Hite – 1st Place 2011 Ridge Runner Marathon

How Josh Hite Won the 2011 Ridge Runner Marathon (Race Report)

2011 Ridge Runner Marathon Race Report – (Josh Hite)

I saw Gary hitting the trail.  Actually, I saw the Jeep Cherokee first.  Hazard lights gave it away.  I had been tracking both for some fourteen miles.  The vehicle followed the course; Gary followed the vehicle; I followed Gary.  Now both were 0.42 miles ahead according to my watch’s calculations.  I passed the mile marker at eighteen right after he passed me going the other way.  The elapsed lap time said 3:10 when I passed his mark.  Three minutes ten second to catch the leader in the last eight miles.  Yeap, it was where I wanted to be after thinking about the various possibilities over the past hour and a half.

I dropped off the kids with my parents in Virginia the day before.  My wife stayed at home this trip to enjoy a night without either me or our sons.  My cohort, Dallas (Smith), and I continued on into West Virginia after unloading the kids.  The plan to have a quick trip that included rough marathon appealed to both of us.  At least it appealed to me, and he was kind enough to accompany me and participate as well.  I knew he had a shot at a top ten finish in this race.  Not too shabby for a seventy year old, but our last marathon trip together was to Boston where he placed second in his age group.  His time would have won six of the last eight Boston’s; it just happened that 2011 was one of the two.

Eight hours sitting and driving are not usually the best way to spend the day before a marathon, but we both had done it before.  Stopping occasionally had left us getting to Parkersburg, WV and our hotel at 7:15.  The meal at a local Italian joint called Johnny Carino’s was substantial.  A Peroni beer, antipasto salad, and the tour of Italy featuring ziti, lasagna, and fettuccini was almost too much.  I usually try to stay away from red sauce before a race.  Maybe I was sabotaging my own chances.  I didn’t care because earlier I had received bittersweet news that a friend was offered a job – a job to which I too had applied.  I was happy for her, but I didn’t want to hear this before a marathon.  The last thing I needed was to be fretting over lost chances prior to running my race.  At least my company helped put my mind at ease.  Dallas’s wisdom has a knack for that.

I appreciated the little rest I had the night before, but I hate waking to an alarm clock.  It was one of those necessary evils of a race – like port a poties.

Not many races allow you to register the day of the marathon.  This one does.  The previous two times I ran this race, I registered the day before.  Not this time.  We pulled in to register for the race that morning and immediately I saw Gary Krugger getting in his car.  Dallas and I both ran with Gary last August for the first time when he drove from Erie, Pennsylvania to race with us and eleven other people in 90+ degree heat.  Since then, I ran Knoxville with Gary (where he helped me up when I fell on the course), and I ran Boston with him (where I tried to get him to a personal best, but I blew up and he ran on to finish strong).  Gary is one of the few who runs more marathons than me, some 130+ with seventeen sub 3’s this year alone. Gary was there in West Virginia’s North Bend State Park to run a sub 3. West Virginia was one of the few fifty states Gary has not run under three hours.

The turnaround was the first time I saw Gary since around mile eight.  I told him that I didn’t know if I could help him with a sub 3 on this course as we walked to the start line together just two hours earlier.  This course was not made to be fast.  The first mile is synonymous with the first hill, which Gary and I ran side by side.  Downhills occur for a few miles and then the course climbed like my heart rate until runners hit a town (and the exposed sun) around mile twelve.  Three miles on a busier road with no shade lead to a mile and a half steep climb.  The flat shaded section of the rail trail at eighteen to twenty four goes through three tunnels.  A climb from twenty four to twenty five is followed by a scorching downhill to the finish.

After I ran up the first hill, I noticed that Gary was too fast on the downhills for me.  I had to save myself if I were to have a good race.  His lead started growing at mile four.  Because of a few stops when “nature called,” he had about a minute and a half at mile seven.  I didn’t see him after the town at the half way mark.  His lead had to be four minutes, but I still hit the half way around 1:30 and change.  My legs felt use for the first time climbing from fifteen to sixteen.

I wanted to save my legs to seventeen.  I changed it to eighteen after I had lost sight of Gary.  Now I spotted him again, and it was time for my legs to take over.  He spoke from across the path, but I couldn’t understand what he said.  The Jeep and the wind drowned my hearing.  I wanted to hold back a little longer – just enough to get over the bridge and see if anyone was behind me.  There wasn’t.  It was between Gary and me.

I wished that I had worn my Montrail Rogue Racers.  This was just the type of trail they would crush.  Too much road for the shoe I decided.  I want to save those for the trails.  I picked up my pace from running a 6:50ish on the flats to a 6:35 pace.  The heat was getting to me.  I pushed forward and passed early starters.  Then I spotted the blinking lights of the Jeep far ahead.  The tunnels lay just ahead.

As I went into the first tunnel, I remembered how little sunlight penetrated.  I had remembered the hills, the sun, and the turnaround.  Somehow I forgot the darkness in the tunnels.  Run like on the trails.  Set the foot down lightly and lock the ankle into place.  It worked.  I powered through the first tunnel and was met with a surprise.  Gary’s ponytail caught my attention.  It waved just thirty seconds ahead of me.  I was running a 6:30 pace.  He must have slowed to a 7:30.

If the reader wants solid advice or some kind of secret to racing a marathon, then pay attention.  If there is a downhill anywhere from 16-20 followed by a sustained flat, then that is where people will break.  It delays “the wall” because of the downhill.  The runner hits the flat and starts working harder.  Everyone knows about “the wall” and expects it to occur.  When going downhill, you feel good.  Most of the time when running on a flat section you feel good, but after running downhill, “the wall” is condensed and magnified. Gary and I used the same strategy in Knoxville to dust two guys sticking with us.  Today it bit Gary.

I approached quickly, and he looked back muttering, “I have been waiting on you.”  I couldn’t help him. His race was over, and if I talked or slowed, my race would be over too.  He knew that he was going to have to come back to West Virginia to get his Sub three.  I sped ahead to mile twenty two, two miles until the last hill.

6:30 pace held true until I hit the hill.  I craved water, but only Gatorade was at the stations.  It could have been Crisco – I wasn’t having any.  My stomach may not have handled it.  This was on my mind but not as much as the upcoming hill was.  I was greeted by a grandmother and a young girl taking pictures when I hit mile marker twenty four.  Their encouragement was appreciated, but the appreciation did not relieve the pain expressed on my face.  I noticed my watch display 2:44:??  What?  That is a 6:52 pace, but the hill was ahead.  I started my mantra, “feet on the ground.”  The more my feet hit the ground, the faster I covered the ground.  I thought I was in Jackson County running up the hills with Dallas.  If there were anyone who had trained to run up these hills, it was us.  Breaking three hours would be tough though.

I could see the top.  The last water station awaited me.  I took two waters: one spilling on my head and the other splashing in my face and mouth.  Mile twenty five was only twenty feet later.  8:10 for the hill, but more importantly my watch showed 2:52:28.  I knew 6:40 pace is 1:20 for the last two tenths of a mile.  That was eight minutes, too much time.  6:00 flat is 7:12 for the final 1.2 miles.  I had a downhill, but I knew it needed to be around 6:00 flat.  The feet hit the ground nonstop.  Leaning forward and using the tangents helped me push out a 6:13 mile.  1:19 across the bridge and around two turns to break three hours: difficult for sure.  The bridge had a van coming out.  Did it see me? I had to be a blur.  It moved right and let me continue my path.  The finish clock ticked 2:59:3x through the leaves.  My arms pumped, and I leaned forward to see 59:40.  I ran harder and the clocked seemed to tick faster.  It seems that time would have slowed, but it sped ahead.  59:52.  I stopped looking and put my eyes on the finish shoot.  59:56.  How could the seconds pass so quickly?  I crossed the line and hit my watch – 2:59:58.  This took the cake for the hardest I worked for a sub three.

Gary came through about eight minutes later.  I handed him the ice bag someone gave me and apologized for not chatting when I saw him last.  He gathered his facilities, and we walked back to the top of the hill towards the car.  Cheering people (ten milers mainly) to the finish as we went against the flow, we noticed third place.  He was some thirty minutes back.  We continued up the hill hoping to see Dallas, and there he was.  Fourth!  Seventy and fourth!  It doesn’t matter your age when you are fourth.  You will win whatever age group.  He just happened to be in the last age group.  Not too bad for not training for a marathon, but we have been running those hills in Jackson County.

Josh Hite

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Josh Hite – Feb Boswell 2011 Scenic City Trail Marathon

2011 Scenic City Trail Marathon Race Report – Josh Hite

Scenic City Trail Marathon (May 20, 2011)

Mid May 2009 I watched the video over and over.  It was what I wanted – a trail marathon that was nearby.  Tired of driving to Pennsylvania and just west of Little Rock, I wanted a fast, trail marathon that was still a trail.  Rails to trails would not satiate my craving.  I grew up on trails.  I used to drive from my house in Valley Forge to Hampton.  There I could hit the AT in just about three miles.  Later I was able to drive fifteen minutes to get lost on the trails of the Big South Fork.  Now, it was time to return to my roots.  The Scenic City Trail Marathon, where a new state record could easily be accomplished (or so they said), was just a few days out.  I sat in my office chair and watched the five minute video (more than once).

A few days before eyeing this marathon my second son was born.  A few days before that, I couldn’t run.  The sciatic nerve stopped me in my tracks.  There were several days of walking without any running.  Now, not just tackling this trail marathon but placing in the trail marathon became a new goal.

That was all two years ago.  I hurt that marathon.  I felt the injury, but I ran well enough to place second.  The next year I wanted to go sub three and take a new state record for a trail marathon.  Dane and Nick had different ideas.  Nick beat me by almost three minutes, and Dane beat me by more than a decade, or so it felt.  When I came out of the woods, I saw the clock tick from 2:59:59 to 3:00:00.  Still good enough for third.

2011 would be another strike at sub three on the Scenic City Trail Marathon course.  I didn’t even think about first place; Josh Wheeler was in the race.  He beat me daily on the stage race.  When I crushed the first half of the Lookout Mountain 50 miler (not knowing what I was doing), he was the only one in front of me.  Boy Wonder excelled at the trails.  He is an amazing Rock/Creek teammate, and I didn’t even think about pulling an upset over him.  Then I was given bib 1.  He was bib 4.  Feb Boswell, a friend from Memphis, with whom I had raced several times, was bib 2.  With the first few bibs in seeded order, this meant I had a target on my back.  A thirty minute delay of the start helped others see my displayed target.  All this was working on me mentally.  What little mental stability I had was disappearing.

We started with a helicopter overhead.  The first part of the course had been changed, but we bulleted out.  Everyone must have wanted to make up the thirty minute delay.  I ran a sub 6:00 pace with a dozen people in front of me.  Wheeler was out there.   My friend and teammate Owen Bradley led around the first corner.  Two weeks earlier I ran a mile with him at the Strolling Jim.  He chatted leisurely at me while I tried to stay with him from mile 29-30 of the race.  He ran ten more miles than I did at that time, and I thought I was going to die trying to stay with him at that pace.  This time, I didn’t see him again until when I finished.  He explained what I saw slightly after the start of the race: everyone in front of Feb and I ran into the woods too early.  Wheeler and two others came back out confused and right in front of us.  They were directed to turn (as the old course did), but it was not the new course.  The hit trails a half mile too early.  Some may have lost thirty seconds with the wrong turn.  Teammate Matt Sims came up beside Feb and I in the first mile to help assure me that I was going the right way.  Feb and I hit the trails together, where we were supposed to hit them.

The first two miles clicked on my watch and were verified by a sign some ten feet later.  Just under thirteen minutes meant we were too fast.  6:52 gets you through if you are trying to break three.  6:30 is too fast.  We both said we should slow down.  After all, we decided, Wheeler was the only marathoner in front of us.  We hit the five mile mark at 32:40.  We slowed by :03 per mile – not enough.  Feb and I switched front and back and pushed on.  My watch was about 5% off on the measurement.  Feb said his was off by almost 15%.  Cursed technology!!!  By the time we hit ten miles, his was off by nearly 20% and mine was off by 8%.  63:20 for ten miles means that you have been running a 6:20 pace (on trails!).  6:20 pace translates to a 2:47 marathon.  We both realized that if we did not slow down, we would be slowing down in a non-voluntary fashion.  We would blow up.  I just wanted to hang on until the top of the hill at eighteen.  I could take the rest if this were the case.  We hit the twelve mile mark at 1:17.  Last year, I slowed to ask how far back I was.  This year I asked for water.  Dawson Wheeler poured into my small flask and questioned what I was doing with such a small water bottle.  My only answer was that I was trying to catch his son.  With a smirk, he sent me on my way with a full flask.  The water stop at fifteen met me with the doubts of hitting the top of the next hill with all me energy.  I was starting to blow up.

Feb pulled away.  He was out of sight by the time I hit the base of the hill.  The mental dagger was only dulled with the thought that I was still third.  I gave the hill and the next a strong showing.  I was starting to lap people.  I came on Angela Ivory first.  Her smile seems to always make my pain go away.  It did this time too, just temporarily.  At twenty-two a lady told me I could catch the guy ahead of me if I push it.  I thought Feb must have been fading.  She then said, “You’re in fourth!!!”  How could this be?  Fourth?  She had to be mistaken.  Only Wheeler was fast enough to be in front of Feb and me for the first blazing half.  I knew that she was confused.  Then I started thinking.  I started doubting.  I was souring.  It could have been the heat.  My Patagonia shirt had never been so wet.  Not even in the washing machine could it be this drenched.  It was not the heat, it was fatigue.  Bumping my mileage by almost thirty miles per week starting in May could be a downfall.  My legs were not tired though.  My heart was.  The race did not click mentally anymore.  By the time I hit the hill at twenty two and two ladies told me there was a snake on the trail, I was walking in front of people.  The news of being in fourth place had been the proverbial straw.  My back broke.

Encouragement at 22.1 water stop helped me muster some “running” legs.  I stumbled along trying to catch Feb.  I saw him on a ridge ahead of me.  Feb was weak, but I could tell he had more strength than me at this time.  He had put in a good run.  When I exited the woods, I looked for him crossing the finish line.  It had happened a few minutes before that.  He was third.  I was fourth.  My family greeted me after the finish.  I did not expect their presence but welcomed it.

I spent the next few hours shaking hands and cheering people to the finish.  The lesson from this race took a while to come to me.  The next day I ran twenty in order to try to prepare for the stage race.  I guess that I can use the mileage, but I was a little disappointed with my run.  What did not disappoint me were the people and the race itself.  My running friends are always a blessing.  I have been lucky that I have been able to experience that blessing towards the end of May for the past three years.  I tell people that I will be back.  The first year I was second.  The second year I was third.  The third year I was fourth.  I must come back and get fifth next year. …maybe a sub three too.

Josh Hite

2011 Scenic City Trail Marathon Finisher’s Medal

Posted in Marathon, Race Reports, Running, TrailsComments (1)

Ryan Hall – Bottom of His 2011 Boston Marathon Shoe 2:04 Fear the Four

Live Blog: 2011 Boston Marathon (Results)

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2011 Boston Marathon Live Blog Coverage:

RESULTS: Geoffrey Mutai Sets Running World On Fire With 2:03:02 Boston Marathon Win (Male Results)

RESULTS: Kenyan Caroline Kilil Wins 2011 Boston Marathon (Female Results)

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5:52pm – Southern running legend Dink Taylor ran a very fast 2:57:46 today.  He’s been running sub-3’s for thirty years now!

4:03pm – The Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-1 in today’s Patriots Day game.

3:57pm – Check out the message Ryan Hall wrote on the bottom of his shoe before today’s 2011 Boston Marathon, “2:04 For the Poor!?!?!” – what time did Ryan run? He was prophetic in running a 2:04:56

3:39pm Geoffrey Mutai on his record breaking Boston Marathon win, “I am fulfilling my dream.”

3:37pm – 71-year old Dallas Smith finished 2nd in the 70-74 age bracket with his finishing time of 3:23:05. Simply amazing!

3:35pm – Ryan Hall via Twitter, “I’m still in shock…what an amazing day. God exceeded my wildest expectations. Congrats to everyone who finished!”

3:25pm – Other notable finishers: Brad Box 3:34:08, Gary Krugger 2:54:18, Morgan Cummings 4:37:08, Joan Benoit Samuelson 2:51:29, Chuck Engle 2:46?

2:40pm – Congrats to Corinth’s Kenneth Williams (@MarathonKoach) finishing yet another Boston Marathon. He came across today in 4:08:02.

2:25pm – Congrats to Run It Fast’s Chris Estes (@run_beast) in finishing his first Boston Marathon in 4:04:49.

2:00pm – Ashland City’s Jeff Matlock has finished in 3:33:13. Congrats on another BQ!

1:30pm – The amazing Dallas Smith (@smithbend), 71-years young, finishes the Boston Marathon with a time fo 3:23:05

1:17pm – Gary Allen finished in 2:55. His 5th consecutive decade with a sub 3 hour finish.

1:05pm – Josh Hite finishes the Boston Marathon with a time of 3:04:41. Congrats!

1:00pm – Mutai’s fastest marathon ever of 2:03:02 won’t count as the official world record because the Boston course is not an official ‘world record’ course.

12:55pm – American Kara Goucher, “”My plan was to run with pack as long as possible. It was a big step. It was tough, but I was please to get a PR (2:24:52).”

12:53pm – Second place female finisher, American Desiree Davila, “The last six miles were USA! USA! I imagine the Olympics are like that. It was the most excitement I’ve ever had in a race.”

12:50pm – Josh Hite hit 30K awhile back at a 6:32 pace. Dallas Smith at 30K was on a 7:41 pace.

12:47pm – Kenneth Williams half marathon time – 2:01:51. Keep trucking, Ken!

12:46pm – Jeff Matlock 30K pace is at 7:47.

12:14pm – Will be updating with results as they become official. One of the most exciting Boston Marathons of all-time. Great day for Mutai, Killel, Davila and Hall.

12:05pm – Here comes Ryan Hall in 4th place with an amazing time, fastest USA time ever of 2:04:58. Amazing day for Hall. He had left his coach in the past year to train himself. Whatever he is doing appears to be working.

12:04pm – 1. Geoffrey Mutai 2:03:02, 2. Moses Mosop 2:03:05, 3. Gebre Gebremariam 2:04:54, 4. Ryan Hall 2:04:56

12:03pm – KENYA’s GEOFFREY MUTAI WINS IN 2:03:02.  The course record was 2:05:52.

12:03pm – Mutai has really pulled away and has a 25 foot lead or so.

12:02pm – Mutai is pushing the pace towards the finish line. Mosop is about 18 inches behind him.

12:00pm – ONE MILE TO GO FOR THE MEN. Will it be Mutai or Mosop in his marathon debut?

11:58am – Mutai and Mosop continue to battle head-t0-head for the men at the 1:58:00 mark. It looks like a course record will fall again.

11:55am – Kenya’s Caroline Kilel wins the 115th Boston Marathon with a time of 2:22:36. American Desiree Davila finished in a very strong second. Kenya’s Timbilili finishs back in third.

11:55am – Killel has a last kick left and looks as if she is going to win the 115th Boston Marathon for the women.

11:54am – HERE COMES DESIREE DAVILA. 300 Meters to go.

11:53am – Davila is back in third but not dead yet.  Here she goes and passes both women for the lead.  She is kicking to hold it.  One Kenyan has fallen off.  Killel has retaken the lead. It looks like it will be either Davila or Killel.

11:51am – Moses Mosop, currently in the lead, is running his marathon debut today.

11:50am – Mutai and Mosop are currently 1-2 for the men.

11:48am – (F) 1985 was the last time an American woman won the Boston Marathon.

11:47am – (F) Davila is still in the lead at the 2:16:00 mark at the Citgo sign.

11:45am – Hall is 57 seconds behind Mutai.

11:44am – (F) Davila skips water as Killel and Timbilili grab fluids. She takes the lead with the move.

11:43am – (F) Davila is in the lead of a pack of three that includes herself, Killel, and Timbilili.

11:42am – Mutai’s 20 mile time 1:34:05 (4:32)

11:40am – Geoffrey Mutai has taken the lead and left everyone behind.  He has about a 8 second lead currently.

11:39am – (F) Davila is still in the lead at 2:07:00. Killel might be holding back a bit to out sprint her at the end.

11:33am – Ryan Hall 30K time 1:28:23 (4:44)

11:32am – Davila and Killel keep taking the lead. Killel’s gazelle legs make it look effortless for her. Davila keeps battling back to push the pace though.

11:30am – A very exciting 115th Boston Marathon so far.

11:28am – The women are about 25 minutes away from the finish line.  The men 35 minutes.

11:27am – (F) American Desiree Davila is currently battling for the female lead.  Davila is from Arizona State.

11:25am – Ryan Hall has the lead once again (1:24:50).

11:23am – Hall has surged back to the lead back and is making a push to get the lead again.

11:20am – Here are some 25K splits for the men: Hall 1:13:25 (4:43), Mutai 1:13:16 (4:42), Yegon 1:13:28 (4:43), R.K. Cheruiyot 1:13:26 (4:43), Evans Cheruiyot 1:13:26 (4:43).

11:19am – Jeff Matlock 10K time of 45:39 (7:20 pace).

11:18am – 71 yr old Dallas Smith hit 10K at 47:33 (7:39 pace).

11:17am – The head of the male field is as follows Daba, Mutai, R.K Cheruiyot, and Kipchumba. They are 1 hour 17 minutes in. Approximately 48 minutes to go.

11:16am – Chris Estes hit the 10K mark at 45:13 (7:16 pace)

11:15am – (F) Smith has now been passed by 5 runners. She had a great race up until this point at 1:43:05.

11:13am – Daba and several guys took off with Daba to put Ryan Hall in their dust. Hall is back 10 runners back now and several seconds. Daba is really pushing the pace now.

11:11am – BREAKING: (F) Kim Smith is injured. She pulled up lame for a bit but is back running and trying to work through it. No way she can for the remainder.  It looked a good bit more severe than just a cramp.

11:09am – (F) Smith looks like she is starting to labor a bit as the field continues to close in on her.  It doesn’t look like she will be able to hold onto the lead for the next 44 minutes.

11:06am – Hall hit 20K at 58:42.

11:06am – (F) Smith’s lead is down to 36 seconds.

11:05am – (F) The pack is starting to narrow Kim Smith’s lead.  We will know soon if she burned too much energy over the first 25K.

11:04am – (F) American Kara Goucher is fading a bit. She is about 15 runners back in the women’s field. This is her first marathon since having a baby.

10:59am – Ryan Hall doing his best Hulk Hogan impersonation trying to amp up the girls of Wellesley College to get louder as the elite men run through.

10:58am – (F) Tsuchida wins her fifth straight female Push Rim wheelchair marathon.

10:50am – (F) Kim Smith hit the half way point in 1:10:52.

10:49am – Bekana Daba is now the nearest elite. Running just a couple of feet behind Hall.

10:46am – Kim Smith’s 20K time 1:07:11.

10:45am – Ryan Hall’s 8 mile pace is 4 minutes 43 seconds per mile. That’s ffffast!

10:44am – Josh Hite hit the 10K mark at 39:49 (6:24 pace)

10:43am – (F) Smith has increased her lead to 53 seconds.

10:40am – Hall has surged to the lead again. It looks as if he has about a 30 foot lead, 39 minutes into their race.

10:37am – Nearing the finish of the wheelchair race….Japan’s Masazumi Soejima wins the Push Rim wheelchair race in 1:18:50.  Huge win for him and Japan. God’s speed!

10:36am – R.K. Cheruiyot has a small lead for the men.

10:28am – Receiving 10K times for the elite men. Cheruiyot 29:06 (4:40 pace), Hall 29:07, Yegon 29:07, Tola 29:06, Mutai 29:08

10:27am – (F) Kim Smith is currently running at a 2:21 pace.

10:26am – Hall hit the 5K mark awhile back at 14:29.

10:25am – Last year’s winner, and course record holder, R.K. Cheruiyot is on Hall’s right shoulder.

10:24am – 15 runners currently in the male elite lead pack. About 15 runners in the group.

10:22am – (F) Kim Smith continues to dominate for the women. She has about a 35 second lead, 50 minutes into the race.

10:21am – Hall’s pace for mile 4 was 4:32.

10:20am – The field has now caught Hall.  The elite pack has about 25-30 runners in it.

10:19am – A new Boston Marathon course record could happen today. The temperatures are cool and there is a strong tailwind.  Perfect day to Run It Fast in Boston.

10:16am – Hall continues to lead but the field is close within range.  Hall clapping a few spectator’s hands along the way.

10:13am – The elite male pack is not letting Hall get beyond a 25 foot lead or so.

10:11am – Hall is continuing to push the pace.  Hall’s first mile 4 minutes and 36 seconds!!! FAST! Second mile 4:32.  The tailwind is kind to the runners today.

10:10am – (F) Kim Smith continues to pull away from the elite women. None of the other elites seems too concerned so far.

10:04am – Hall has taken the lead for the third year in a row. I’m not the only one questioning his approach this morning.

10:01am – Ryan Hall, perhaps having not learned from last year’s Boston Marathon, has taken the early lead.

10:00am EDT – 2011 Boston Marathon Elites and 1st Wave has STARTED!

9:59am – 1 minute until the elite men begin!

9:58am – Kim Smith came through the 5K mark at 16:41. She has about a 30 second lead.

9:56am – 71-yr old Dallas Smith will be the odd’s on favorite to win his age division today. Dallas is a regular contributor here on Run It Fast.

9:55am – Chris Estes is wanting to go sub 3 hours today. Will he do it? His best and BQ time is 3:11 from Tupelo last year.

9:52am – Less than 10 minutes until the elite men start.

9:44am – New Zealand’s Kim Smith has taken the early lead about 5K into the women’s race.  She has about a 150 yard lead. Is she going out too hard?

9:40am – According to BAA, 80 year-old Sister Madonna Buder is the oldest competitor registered in this year’s race!

9:35am – The elite women have started as well now. (Elite Women Field)

9:31am – The hand cyclists and visually impaired have begun.

9:30am – 49 degrees at the start line in Hopkinton currently.

9:25am – Click HERE to view all of the Elite Runners in today’s marathon field.

9:20am – Run It Fast contributors and readers we will be keeping up with throughout the live blog will include Chris Estes (pictured above), Dallas Smith, Jeff Matlock, Kenneth Williams, and Josh Hite among others.

9:10am EDT – 50 Minutes until the start of the 2011 Boston Marathon

2011 Boston Marathon Top Results as they happen.

Good luck to all participants running the 115th Boston Marathon!

Related 2011 Boston Marathon Stories

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