(The ladies of FSU conquer the hill on a daily basis, but how will Florida's elites fare this weekend? Photo courtesy Bob Thomas/FSU Sports Information)
“The Hill.” These are two short and completely vague words in the English language that, when placed together, do little to describe anything except a crest which rises over flat land. However, if you mention “The Hill” to any of the majority of runners in Florida one distinct and specific image will appear in their mind: Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida.
This hill takes on a personality all it’s own. It is a monstrous, vicious behemoth, monolithic in appearance and comprised of tawny-colored sand that spans on for what seems to be an eternity. It is a skyscraper-sized landmark that mixes the most terrible elements of the dunes of Egypt and the height of a mountain. The first time runners combat this fiend, shortly before the 1.5 mile mark, The Hill provides minute resistance and remains feasibly conquerable. Runners leave The Hill with a false confidence of how simple it will be to climb to its apex once more on their second loop. They couldn’t be more wrong.
As the runners pass the 2.5 mile mark, once again The Hill looms into view. This time The Hill foams out of its mouth in anticipation of a weakened target and a fresh meal. The terrain that comprises The Hill morphs into quicksand as the runners rapidly approach, and every exhausted runner hopes to muster enough strength to conquer the last impediment between them and a blazing downhill finish.
The instant changes in incline signals to athletes that the fight between humans and landscape has begun. These few moments separate the elite, the mentally indomitable, and the champions from the average, the weak-minded, and the runner-ups. Those who take The Hill stand the greatest chance of taking the crown. Championships are won and lost on The Hill. PR’s are missed or broken on The Hill. Pre-states slightly foreshadowed the events to come at States; however, it was only a test run. Those who fell short on The Hill will seek redemption, and those who strode passed the competition will hope to replicate their success. So Florida runners, will you have enough guts to conquer The Hill this November?