tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post1095750636189520623..comments2023-10-07T01:33:56.199-07:00Comments on Dirt Diva: Catrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00009441300980173501noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post-82282177553168425262011-03-31T07:15:50.901-07:002011-03-31T07:15:50.901-07:00Congrats on the acceptance!Congrats on the acceptance!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01456146495326232257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post-39411889811232319592011-03-25T12:01:36.549-07:002011-03-25T12:01:36.549-07:00Dirt Diva,
Good luck in Badwater. I grew up in t...Dirt Diva,<br /><br />Good luck in Badwater. I grew up in the Owens Valley with "Badwater Ben" Jones as the family doctor.<br /><br />I wanted to say you have inspired me to get in better shape. I spent my teens and 20's hiking, skiing, and biking, but then job, family, kids got in the way. In the past 10 years (I'm 45 now) I had gained 20 pounds and certainly lost a bunch of muscle. I hiked the JMT in 2008 mostly through careful pacing on a training base of only walking. I climbed Whitney, Baldy, and San G. last year, but still on a pretty weak base. One trip up Baldy with someone who had been reffered to as "really slow" I found the pace too fast- meaning I was really, really slow. I definitely needed more energy.<br /><br />So I keep thinking there must be something to Crossfit if you can do a JMT yoyo in 12 days, or any of your other exploits. I'm now 10 workouts into Long Beach Crossfit's 12 class Onramp program. Even after such a short time, I really feel the difference! I've lost 7 pounds and 2" off my waist and feel so much more energy. I love how so many of the movements train the muscles and power systems that hikers, backpackers, and mountaineers need.<br /><br />I don't think the steps coming off the passes will be such a big deal after doing wallballs. Picking up my pack shouldn't be a problem after doing Oly lifts, thrusters, etc. I have three months more time to train for this year's JMT. Instead of 15 hiking days like last time it will probably be about 10-12 with more time lounging around.<br /><br />Weather permitting I'm headed up Whitney next Friday-Sunday. Hopefully the past month of Crossfit will help me there as well!<br /><br />On the other hand I never plan to do Badwater- that's crazy!<br /><br />Jim<br />Long Beach, CAJimQPublichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02324046806181207262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post-83820852502269137922011-03-17T13:47:53.338-07:002011-03-17T13:47:53.338-07:00that is awesome, you are in one of the hardest cha...that is awesome, you are in one of the hardest challenges ever! Prepare well and stay healthy. Love to read about your journey through the valley of death and into your soul, Marcus DCadminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05693429231318759535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post-49224945333344029572011-03-07T18:54:43.978-08:002011-03-07T18:54:43.978-08:00Congratulations Catra, I'm very happy. I'l...Congratulations Catra, I'm very happy. I'll be looking forward to hearing all about it.Jeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10260447563863728972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post-51705001073495115602011-03-04T09:29:38.975-08:002011-03-04T09:29:38.975-08:00I'm a little late on this, but yay!! I'm s...I'm a little late on this, but yay!! I'm stoked for you. Not sure if I'll be out there this year, but either way, I'll be following. So awesome.Matthew Ruscignohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04848057735968720871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post-28096410718532238192011-02-24T12:22:28.540-08:002011-02-24T12:22:28.540-08:00Congratulations! I just stumbled across your blog ...Congratulations! I just stumbled across your blog and love reading your posts. Looking forward to hearing about all your training leading up to The Big Day.CherryDeGrassihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00297626854291148700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post-53688821274537012822011-02-20T11:22:25.593-08:002011-02-20T11:22:25.593-08:00its gonna be a super fun time and I will never tak...its gonna be a super fun time and I will never take it personally if you yell at me. Congratulations!!<br /><br />see ya soon..<br /><br />rockon'The Stretch Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07053384651158777748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post-27725309677602205002011-02-20T03:30:57.881-08:002011-02-20T03:30:57.881-08:00This is fantastic Catra! You deserve to get this c...This is fantastic Catra! You deserve to get this chance. Looking at this post I see two of my dreams. 1 - to run in snow. 2 - Badwater. Will follow your journey with great interest. Good luck!Johannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17588120934444485158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post-14620416579277861192011-02-19T21:45:32.110-08:002011-02-19T21:45:32.110-08:00So awesome, Catra! I know you've been wanting ...So awesome, Catra! I know you've been wanting to do this for a while, so this must be a dream come true for you. I'm so excited & can't wait to hear how it all goes. :)Alyssahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01160111808957762314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post-85303348640694135572011-02-19T18:51:58.664-08:002011-02-19T18:51:58.664-08:00Catra, you are my hero. Congrats.
Now only becaus...Catra, you are my hero. Congrats. <br />Now only because of you and your training, I wish you hot, hot weather for your training (as long as it stays hot in Fremont) - I will just avoid Mission Peak.<br />Good luck. Gosh you are amazing!Ewahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17005438284707424779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post-34490725542175624362011-02-19T17:56:27.341-08:002011-02-19T17:56:27.341-08:00I like your site. Thanks! Here is a true story of ...I like your site. Thanks! Here is a true story of mine in return.<br /><br />I BROKE THE TABOO WITH A TATTOO<br />Lisa Nicole Lopes had premonitions about her own death, but she wasn't able to avoid it, despite the early warnings. I feel that I can relate to her, but I dealt with similar suspicions (of my own) differently than she did and I, unlike her, am here to tell you what I did to survive my first encounter with The Reaper.<br /><br />Lisa Lopes was better known as Left Eye (a nickname that a boyfriend gave her because he said that her left eye was lazy). She was one of three singers in the 80's band TLC. Her premonitions about her own death and subsequent untimely demise are well documented, because Lisa and a crew were filming a documentary in Honduras during the time. Left Eye Lopes spoke on film about her omen, and again after a car that she was riding in had run over and killed a young boy. She lamented that the spirit that killed the boy was actually aiming for her but had missed.<br /><br />Lopes paid for the little boy's funeral and did what she could to comfort the lost lad's family. Apparently Left Eye was right about the spirit that haunted her, because a month after the boy's death, Lopes died in a car crash (in Honduras). This time she was driving. Lisa was the only one in the vehicle that was wearing a seat-belt, but she died... and everyone else survived.<br /><br />After hearing a story like this, some would say that it was Lisa's time, and that there wasn't anything that she could do to avoid it. Had I not gone through a similar situation, I might agree. But since I did, I don't.<br /><br />There was a time when I felt like (my) death was close to me. I ignored the eery feelings for awhile, chocking them up to pessimism, but eventually I faced the strengthening force, first by admitting to my self that it existed. Left Eye got this far, but recognizing spirits isn't rocket science for god's sake. You have to fight shit like this, not freeze like a deer caught in the headlights!<br /><br />I FOUGHT MY TABOO WITH A TATTOO.<br /><br />It was 1986 and I was in Davenport, Iowa, when I finally decided to face the Reaper before he faced me. Since the Reaper has no face, I'm speaking figuratively.<br />I was sitting on a bar stool when a fellow came in asking if anyone wanted to get a tattoo. We chatted, and before too long I was the customer that he was looking for. We left the bar and went to a little garage space that he tattooed out of. The scene was totally unprofessional, as far as tattoo shops go, but since I was a carny (carnival guy) it wasn't anything new to me. I stopped the artist from apologizing for the place and we got down to the business of picking something out to tattoo on me.<br /><br />There wasn't a lot to choose from, no walls of colorful flash or volumes of designs just a single, thinly filled, loose leaf binder. Having never wanted a skull tattoo, I surprised myself by selecting one with a black rose between it's teeth. "That's the Black Rose Of Death tattoo," the needler told me. "Perfect," I proclaimed! "It's just what I need to fight the reaper. Put it on my left arm where I can keep my eye on him.ยจ<br /><br />I believe that the left represents the spiritual side and the right represents the physical side, so my tattoos are placed accordingly. One month later, in Chicago, I was stabbed (in the heart and stomach) to death. The doctor that saved me, said that I have a new birthday and... I still have that tattoo, too.The Spiritual Hobohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06187725786199179735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15115012.post-21518729953853987882011-02-19T17:08:51.638-08:002011-02-19T17:08:51.638-08:00HOLY CONGRATULATIONS! I'd tell you that I'...HOLY CONGRATULATIONS! I'd tell you that I'm jealous, but I can't say I'll envy you, haha. Still, a big congrats is in order! I have no doubt you'll do great!avabeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06201074250824143866noreply@blogger.com