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

 Mt Diablo trails challenge 50k kicked my ass. I was taking Doxycyclines for a tick bite and it says to avoid sun exposure, I now know why. It was 95 degrees out and I truly thought I wouldn't make it, but i did.

 I PR'd the course by 25 min. and came in 2nd in my age 12th female. It was my 2nd slowest 50k run but who cares.

American river 50 miler

My Animoto Video

“Today I shall behave, as if this is the day I will be remembered.”
― Dr. Seuss
American river 50 miler is in the books. I an a great race finished in 9:22 my 4th fastest time there. I was on pace to run 9:05 but had a couple issues and slowed down. I was proud of the fact that I pushed myself and kept positive the whole race ;-)
I plan on pushing once again at Mt. Diablo 50k next weekend, I want to beat my time from 3 yeas ago. I am also going for a PR at Miwok 100k next month.
I finished 23d female and 189th overall at AR this is a big race with almost 800 runners.
I am having a good year so far and plan on keep pushing as I am training had for the big one. 733 miles in July Death valley to Tahoe ;-)
Even though Rocky Ridge is not here in doggie form his angel form keeps me motivated. He helped me at AR that's for sure. On a side note Andy Kumeda my bf PR'd his 50 mile time in 8:15, and wasn't going to even start. Way to go sweetie!!!
Congrats to all the finishers and everyone who was shooting for under 11 hours so they could qualify to Western states 100 next year.

Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.
Old Goats 50 miler oh yeah!!! PR'd the course by 36 min. thanks to my trusty partner and sidekick Andy Kumeda for always making races fun when we run them together.
Finish time 12:36
It was a beautiful day and great weather saw some interesting charters out the trails. You never know what you might encounter on the trails.
I carried Rockys ashes and released some on the top of Santiago peak. He is going to spread out on each high point on the trails I race this year.
Andy found a sign of Rocky on the trail a penny , he left it to let us know he was with us. We love you Rocky.
I had a week to train on the flats for American river 50 miler which is next weekend woo hoo.
Last on a sad note Micah True legendary ultrarunner and RD for copper canyon 50 miler, went out for a run Tuesday but never returned. They found his body Saturday. No cause of death as yet. RIP White horse run free my friend. I will meet you again on trails on the other side of the rainbow bridge. Take care of Rocky for me. xoxo

There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be. ~George Sheehan
Who inspires you??? Many people inspire me. This is Pat Devita she is 78 years old and doesn't let her age stop her from doing what she loves. I am a lot like her I believe age is just a number and you are only as old as you feel. I am a firm believer of not letting a number ever slow me down.
This was Pat's 27th LA marathon she has run every single one of them. Last year Andy , George and I decided that we will run LA with her every year to support her until she no longer wants to run it. Vicki her daughter past away in 2010 so we ran in her memory and Rocky Ridge's memory.
We had a blast as you can see in the photos below. This year there was no rain so we got to enjoy all the sights along the way.
This photo above is Andy in front of his elementary school.
Here I am in front of the mural of the weenier dog that died in a hit and run in Silver Lake. They never caught the heartless a**hole that killed the little guy ;-((
We did have a blast but at the end it was so windy I thought we were going to blow away at the finish line. Congrats. to Pat and everyone who finished.
Next up Old Goats 50 miler this Saturday. Please send me positive vibes . I will be running in memory of my Rocky Ridge. I'm hoping he will give the energy to kick ass just like at Rocky Road 100 last month.

I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles. ~Audrey Hepburn


Hope everyone has an awesome St. Patty's day!!! Andy and I will be running LA marathon in the rain with our Super Senior friend Pat DeVita. She's 78 and will be running it for her 27th time. we will be with her every step of the way. Please send us positive vibes. We will be running in memory of our little Rocky ridge and Viki DeVita our friend and Pat's daughter who lost her fight with cancer over a year ago.
Looking forward to all the fun. woo hoo.!!!

“When you think things are bad, when you feel sour and blue, when you start to get mad... you should do what I do! Just tell yourself, Duckie, you're really quite lucky!
Some people are much more... oh, ever so much more...
oh, muchly much-much more unlucky than you!”
― Dr. Seuss
Yes I am so lucky I found Old Blue it is supposedly the biggest and oldest Blue oak on the west coast and possibly the US. I have been sort of looking for it since 09 when they wrote an article about it. I kinda knew where it was at. Ranger John told me a few months back where it was, so I knew. Last week me and my roommate Jerry went looking for it ,but we got discombobulated and couldn't find it. We actually were 80 yards from it and thought we were on the wrong end. It's located near post 32 on the Ohlone wilderness trail.
I am so happy we now know where it is and I will visit this big beautiful tree often in fact twice this weekend ;-)
On Friday we did a 40 mile run with my coworker Michelle who is training for her first hundred. She did great it took us just over 11 hours. I felt great when I finished I had run 119 in 7 days woo hoo.
I did a 4 peaks run on Saturday I believe I ran 22 miles my garmin got turned off and I didn't realize it for a while. I just enjoyed my day thinking about Rocky like I always do. I really do miss him and times it's very hard and I know most people don't understand how in love I was with my dog. I Just miss everything about him. I try and remain positive. But when I am alone I get depressed thinking how and why he was taken from me so soon.
Tomorrow I am going to a pet loss support group I'm sure this will help because I am not alone, and am not the only one around dealing with a loss of a pet that was loved.
My training is going well for Old Goats 50 I hope to improve on my time by at least an hour if all goes well. I will also be running LA marathon with a friend Pat DeVita who is 81. We will be running in memory of Viki her daughter who died of cancer over a year ago ,and of course Rocky Ridge. Andy, George and I will run the whole way with her.
I hope everyone has a great week.
xoxo

Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.
Yay!!! Team Rocky Ridge brings home silver buckles we both finished sub 24. I ran 3 hours and 1 min. faster than last years time. 22:21 I came in 3rd place female and 16th overall. Andy finished in 20:53 8th overall.
I had a great race thanks to my angel Rocky ridge he was with me all day and all night on the course. As the hours went by I became stronger. I ran a smart race and stayed positive. I focused on all the wonderful memories I have shared over the years with my beloved Rocky. He was their helping me and I felt him all the way.
I am so proud of all the runners out there running their first hundreds you all were awesome. Even the people that did not finish were amazing for even being out there. I love our sport. I love all the caring and loving people who I share these trails with.
I am thankful each day God has blessed me with an awesome life and friends. I am thankful he sent Rocky into my life even though I felt it wasn't long enough. I miss him. Rocky has shaped who I have become in these last 8 years. He taught me how to live life, love life.
I LOVE YOU "POPO" aka Rocky Ridge. You left paw prints on my heart ;-)

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 ;-)))