Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving week. Travel safe, eat well, run hard, laugh often, love when you can get it.
Plenty of Turkey Trots and Gobbler Grinds for everyone. And with a slight predicted warm up this week no reason to not get out and get your giddyup on.
Out with a whimper. Or, I hardly knew Living History Farms was this weekend.
Cold as the Dickens by all reports. Jason Zakaras was the first Good Life finisher (44:10) leading the Lincoln Running Co. Racing Team Open Men to a 3rd place finish in the much coveted team competition. Brian Wandzilak (44:36), Andrew Jacob (44:42), Cole Marlof (46:09) and Logan Watley (47:00) rounded out the top 5 for LRC. LRC Racing also took home the top prize in the Masters Men Team category, led by stud Thomas Woods incredible 45:14.
Ndorfnz Racing took 2nd to Team Iowa RunAblaze in the Open Women’s competition led by Courtney Mann‘s 52:44.
Team Nebraska sent only two open male athletes. Peter Falcon finished 48th in 46:20 and Jimmie Doherty finished 67th in 47:55. Masters phenom Natalie Jetensky was their lone female entrant but finished well as 3rd master in 56:17.
And a few words from those that were there:
From Jason: ” it was my first experience at LHF and I really had nothing to gauge it from since everyone has their own interpretation of hard, but I found it to be a fairly fast course with a few slower short climbing sections. Honestly the 4 or maybe 5 water crossings weren’t terribly bad for how bitter cold it was, the water temps seemed to be decent and cold wet legs didn’t seem to be an issue. I did end up falling pretty good through some ice on the last section so once my gloves, shorts and jersey were wet I got extremely cold. It was a bitch to get going once all my clothes froze up. All in all a great race, I’d like to go back with 25-35 degree temps.”
And from Jimmie: “Lhf was everything I was expecting for a really well done cross country race. First off, the level and number of competitive runners was something you would love if you are looking for a challenge. The course itself was challenging to say the least and at a crisp 14 degrees at race start made it interesting. Snow and ice on the ground the whole way. Got slipped up on a patch of ice I didn’t really see till it happened but popped right back up . Knee high frozen stream crossings and hill climbing that required ropes to get up a few times. Overall I am glad I did it. Also traffic was crazy and we ended up getting to the race right as the gun went off. Unfortunately no time to warm up.”
Is it OK if I’m pissed that teams from Iowa actually won their home state race? Nebraska has enjoyed great success at LHF since 2005. I’ve always thought it Very Important. Good on LRC Racing for aspiring to continue that tradition!
A Living History Lesson:
2005- Team Nebraska is 4th Overall and 6th Overall Men’s Team. 1st Overall Women’s Team.
2006- Team Nebraska is 3rd Overall Men’s Team, 2nd Overall Women’s Team, 1st Overall Men’s Masters.
2007- Team Nebraska 2nd Overall Female Team.
2008- Team Nebraska 4th Overall Men’s Team, 2nd Overall Women’s Team
2009- Team Nebraska 1st Overall Men’s Team, 2nd Overall Women’s Team
2010- Team Nebraska 1st Overall Men’s Team
2011- Team Nebraska 2nd Overall Men’s Team (Iowa RunAblaze topped the Good Mates by a total of 15 seconds in the team competition, the closest ever!) Matt Pohren becomes the first ever Nebraskan to win LHF in a fast 38:56
2012- Team Nebraska 3rd Overall Men’s Team. Matt Pohren becomes a repeat winner and sets new event record of 38:09.
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