Cochran Wins at Hogpen Hill

Gainesville, GA- Helen, Georgia hosts one of the toughest races in North America in the Hogpen Hill Climb. The race starts at noon in Helen and finishes 10.6 miles later at the top of one of the toughest gaps in North Georgia, Hogpen Gap. As if the run up the gap wasn't tough enough, the race takes place in the middle of winter and the race starts at noon to give the top of the mountain a chance to warm up to its peak temperature for the day when the race finishes. Brenau's Audra Cochran competed in this brutal test of endurance and not only won her age group but finished ninth overall in the women's division.

Thirty minutes before the race Audra ate a chocolate power bar that would help fuel her the next 10.6 miles. The first mile of the race cruises through the unique alpine village of Helen. Not too bad! Then miles 2,3,4 clipped by fairly easily compared to what was yet to come. Around miles 4-6, the climbs weren't too steep, per se, but they were long, semi-steep climbs that whittled many runners down to walkers, and got the lungs to take notice. And then it got hard!!! After a steep descent, (who would put a downhill in a mountain climb) somewhere between 6 and 7 miles, things started to get a little crazy. Audra turned the corner, grabbed water from the aid station and looked up. UGH! This was the beginning of the big grind!! The climbs from mile 7, until the end, were just brutal and relentless. Audra kept going. She knew the task at hand and nothing would stop her mental strength. Cochran climbed 3500 feet over a distance of 10.6 miles in 1 hour and 39 minutes. Roughly 200 runners started the race. Coach Susan McIntyre plans to have a few more runners waiting their turn to run Hogpen next year, 2011.