Normally, when you prepare yourself for a bad situation, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised with something better than what you expected. It was with this in mind that I tackled the La Jolla Half Marathon. I mentally prepared myself for this race by expecting the worst in terms of elevation and overall fatigue. I pictured a hill built by Satan himself. I ramped myself up, telling myself that it would be complete hell, that I would hate life during that ascent, that pure evil was at the heart of that hill, knowing that reality couldn’t possibly live up to the awful scenario I had created in my head. It was, unfortunately, one of the few times when reality and my imagination seem to fall right in line with each other. As we rounded the curve on Coast Highway 101 and came in view of the Torrey Pines hill, I started steeling myself for the challenge. I figured if I engaged every ounce of energy I had and charged ahead, I would feel like a champion when I reached the top. I did not. I just wanted to sit down. I’m the first to admit that I hate running hills in general, but I’m not inexperienced at them. Nearly all of my training runs involve some sort of hill, and even if I grumble all the way up, I do them in the hopes that they’ll help in just this sort of situation. They may have helped, but not enough. Though I do not consider myself a terribly experienced long-distance runner, I have completed a few half marathons. The La Jolla Half, by my account, was by far the most challenging of any of them — and one of my conquests even includes a half marathon in San Francisco, with its legendary hills. I read more than a few reviews prior to Sunday’s race that concluded the La Jolla Half is just as difficult as running a less-hilly full marathon, and now I understand why. The fatigue I experienced after crossing the finish line was pretty comparable to how I have felt after completing 26.2 miles. Don’t get me wrong; I fully recommend taking on this challenge. The course is beautiful, providing sweeping ocean views countered by the quaintness of running through expertly manicured residential neighborhoods. And the feeling of flying down that final hill toward the Pacific Ocean to the sound of cheering spectators in beautiful La Jolla is like no other. I would warn, however, that you come prepared, and I don’t just mean physically. Yes, of course, do some hill repeats and include elevation changes in your training runs, but most of all, don’t underestimate the behemoth that is the Torrey Pines hill. Repeat to yourself, over and over if you have to, that it won’t last forever. Know that, eventually, you will cross that finish line. And most of all, keep in mind that you’ll be all the stronger for it. 2011 La Jolla Half by the numbers • 14 runners from New Jersey • oldest male finisher was 82 • oldest female was 84. • 6 runners finished the half marathon who were age 13. • For the 5K, the youngest runner was 5 years old!