HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!!!!

I hope everyone gets a chance to spend time with their loved ones on this love day. I will see Andy Thursday so we will celebrate than. I miss my Rocky and still trying to wrap my head around his loss. I found a pet loss support group close by that meets once a moth so I hope to check it out. I think it will help with how I am feeling.

I am running Rocky Road 100 Saturday in memory of Rocky Ridge so please send me positive thoughts and vibes.
Love you all!!!

Don't cry because it's over.
Smile because it happened.

(Dr. Seuss)

I love you my little Popo. We will meet again and it will be the happiest day ever.
I LOVE YOU ROCKY RIDGE.................224

RIP "ROCKY RIDGE"
July 3, 2002- February 2, 2012
It's hard to believe that you're not here little man. It was just yesterday you followed me to the door to say good bye as I headed off to work. Never in a million years did I think it would be your last day on earth.
You brought a smile to my face each and everyday. I always knew you came first in the morning. You always made sure to wake me by 7am so you could eat. And you loved food and your runs & walks.
You came into my life when I wasn't looking or wanting another dog after Oskar past on. But some 12 months later Mike Palmer sent a picture of you to me. I saw you and thought he is sooo freaking cute. We went to that horrible place you were living at the small breed dog rescue in Berkley. It was a messy place the yard was trashed. I was ready to turn around when I drove up to the place. I called out to the lady Rosie who meant well, and had several small dogs she was trying to adopt out.
She opened up the trailer door and out came 5 yapping little dogs. You had the biggest bark and ran right to me. We bonded right then and there. I looked into your eyes and fell in love. You melted my heart.
It took a few weeks to actually get you and I almost gave up because I thought she was running a scam when she never took you in to get neutered. Mike came to the rescue and we found out she had some mental issue, but she meant well. Mike picked you up took you to get fixed. You came to my house right before Christmas of 2003. You were gentle and loving. You were such an adventurous dog. The first month you spent time in Joshua tree and by spring you were hanging with the climbers in Yosemite. You made trips to Tuolumne and Tahoe. You were living the good life thats for sure.
Last year you even spent time in Lone Pine and camped up at Horseshoe meadow. You have been on so many trails in your life ,you have logged thousands of miles on those short little legs.
Everyone loves you Rocky. How could you not with a face and body like that.

Today my heart is broken into thousands of pieces. I am not sure why it was your time, but it was. You went fast and I know you didn't suffer. You wanted for me to be with you and then you quietly past on to heaven.

You touched so many peoples lives, and you even brought people back together. Just like when me and your Dada broke up for 3 months it was you who in the end got us back together, where we all lived as a happy little family. You were lucky to travel to Sierra Madre and live in Fremont.
You were lucky to have people like Jerry and Mike in your life who always kept you safe when I traveled. I called you my little dog but the reality is you were a lot of peoples little dog.
You were and will always be my Popo ,and I will always be the Momo and Andy the Dada.
For whatever reason God needed you now. I am hurt and angery and don't understand why. Because I need you now. I am lost without you and it HURTS so bad. You weren't suppose to leave me now!! I had to many adventures planned for our future.
I don't have you now, to take out on your runs, or wake up to feed you. I don't have you there to give me kisses for good luck before races. I am so lost and hurt and I just want the pain to stop. Dada and I are so sad.

I just hope you as my angel, will guide and show me the way. I love you POPO Rocky Ridge.
In time my heart will come back together. I will always keep you in that special place in my heart ,where you will live forever. Each night I will stare into the sky and look for the brightest star and then I will know you are watching me and taking care of me from above.
Thank you little guy for teaching me how to "Live Life, Love Life" I love you today, tomorrow & forever "Popo"

"Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the
world needs is people who have come alive."
Well it's been awhile ;-) I had a great 42 mile run this past weekend at the 7th annual Fremont Fat ass 50k. It's a race Mike Palmer and I co race direct each year. I finished the 42 miles in 8:47 not bad.
We had close to 30 runners.
Ok HURT 100 did not go as planned and hey that's why I love running 100 miles. I had a perfect 60 miles that it all fell apart. I got stomach issues and couldn't recover and had no energy. Little did I know Andy was having problems too. He dropped at mile 80. We both got 100k buckles and were listed as 100k finisher. We will be back next year. Now it's time to get ready for Rocky Road 100 miler next month.

HAPPY NEW YEAR LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL MY 2012 ADVENTURES.
2011 WAS AWESOME But I have a feeling 2012 will be way better and filled with many more exciting adventures all over the place ;-)
My body logged 4,154 running miles last year and my year to date stats is; drum roll please.............ta da...65,914.
It's crazy to me coming from a girl who hated running when I was younger. I hated sweat and dirt. Two of my most favorite things to do now is to push myself so I sweat, and love when I am all dusty after a nice long 40 mile training run in the mountains.
Rocky had a good year he ended up with 520 miles. Not bad for a little 9 year old weenie dog ;-) and Andy ran a million miles I'm sure ;-)
The weather has been amazing more like Spring instead of Winter. I am enjoying it while I can. We all should. So stop reading my blog and lace up your trail running shoes and get your ass out the door..NOW!!!
I had an awesome x-mas got a new ipod nano 16g. It stays charged for 24 hours and I have 7 days worth of music. So along with 1 shuffle I should be able to get through HURT 100 next week.
I also got a Tiffany necklace and a bunch of other cool gifts from Andy and all my friends.
Ok back to HURT 100 I will be running that crazy race again next week for my 12th time. I have 6- 100 mile finishes there , 4- 100k finishes and 1 DNF. Ok this is it I just want to finish the 100 miler 1 more time so please send me all your positive energy while I am in Hawaii running HURT 100 I will need it.
Happy New year Love you all!!!

47 HOUR B-DAY RUN

I want to thank all my friends who came out and helped me during my b-day run. Jerry, Kathy, Julia, Mike and of course Rocky Ridge. I also want to thank all of you who followed me via FB and sent me positive messages.

I was a great time the only issue I had was a bladder infection on the second day which was no fun. I ended up with 129 miles in 47 hours. My full report will be posted as soon as I get my computer back.

Happy Holidays friends ;-)))

First place winner and course record holder Leor, me and second place Gerry

Who would of of thought 14 years later I would have a steak going with my beloved Quad. Dipsea 28 mile race.
I will never forget the first time I ran it. I was not as adventurous as I am now, so I had my brother Jay drive me to the start with me and my friend Kevin would come to the finish and give me a ride home.
I had run 2 50ks and 1 50 miler at this point. I didn't know anyone that ran so I stood there not knowing anyone and very intimated by this ultrarunning crowd. Sure I was an ultrarunner at this point but was a newbie and only ran alone. I was amazed at all these famous ultrarunners I had seen and read about in ultrarunning magazine I had recognized them from photos.
I was afraid of this race because of the climbing and all the stairs. I never saw the course so was nervous.
The gun went off and off I went not knowing how tough this sucker would be. Right from the get go we climbed. The race was hard but I was loving it, my ears were wide open listing to all the runners talk about this hundred and that hundred. I wanted to be one of them a true ultrarunner and run a hundred. I was already thinking about running one.
I met so many runners that day that made me feel comfortable out there. I had a blast that first QD run.
And I am 14 year later with old friends and new ones. I met so many first time runners out there and it was fun talking to them remembering one time long ago I was one of them.

I went into Quad having done a long run the day before which I usually do. I ran 18 miles and had run a few other 15 milers during the week. This race always kick starts my HURT 100 training. I decided I would run relaxed and enjoy the day. I made sure to try and keep my eyes on Jerry my roommate since he always runs a good pace at the Dipsea. I pretty much ran with him or followed him the whole day. I pushed hard on the down hills and power walked the uphills. I decided the race felt easier this year. Not sure why since I just ran Javelina Jundred two weeks ago. Maybe I am in good shape from it.
II had a good run and finished in 6:26 my 4th fastest time there.
I decided next year I want to go into the race rested and try to beat my 6:10 PR there. I ran that in 2002 which was a year of PR's for me.

I want to thank all volunteers and the RD's John & Lisa for putting on such an awesome race. Next year the race is on for me ;-))))