DEFINE YOURSELF....................
Accept no one’s definition of your life. Define yourself. Harry Feinstein
Life is always good when I can get out and run. I have been very busy with personal stuff. I want to start the New Year off with fresh air, so I can breath again.
I am taking action and control and I will start off fresh.
I will be heading to Sierra Madre on Thursday after work at 5:30pm with Rocky. We will make it in time to ring in the New Year with Andy. I will stay in SoCal until Jan 6th. I have to be back to work that day. I have 17 more training days until HURT 100. Can't believe I have been running that race for 10 years. I am looking forward to seeing all my friends.
I had a great run/WOD today. Ran 7 miles . Every mile I did 50 squats and 50 Lunges. I call it the leg killer because by the end my legs are killing.
I am just doing crossfit on my own until the middle of Jan. just no time to go since I have been traveling and I have been running a lot. I just can't make it to the noon class. But I still check the web-site and do my wods from home since I can work them in, in between my run or during my run.
I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New year. I am looking forward to a New Year.

THANK YOU.....
If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice. Meister Eckhart

“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”
“It takes a long time to grow young.”

“Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of 'you' to the world.”

Woo Hoo tomorrow is my 45th B-day I have been living on this earth for 45 years. It hasn't always been easy but I can say i love life. I am looking forward to an exciting year filled with fun adventures and epics.
Remember.
LIVE LIFE LOVE LIFE...................

ITS NOT ABOUT BEING RIGHT OR WRONG...........
Let go of your attachment to being right and suddenly your mind is more open. You’re able to benefit from the unique viewpoints of others, without being crippled by your own judgment. Ralph Marston
More fun pictures from my 45 hour b-day run. Did I tell you I was sick when I was out there. Crazy how during the run even though I was coughing up phlegm and blowing my nose constantly my energy level seemed fine. Most people mentioned to me, you shouldn't be out there if your sick. But I know if I go out and run, I will feel better in the end. And I did.
I thought of my sister a lot who passed away from a drug overdose. When it got tough I kept moving thinking about her struggles and living on the street in and out of jail. I fought and pushed hard. That was how she had to live her life.
I often get depressed after running a 100 miler or this case 130 miler. You are so high from the huge accomplishment but then it's over. But the good news HURT 100 is just around the corner in less then a month. I will be running it for the 10th time. The past 3 years I have only finished the 100k. 2010 will be my year to shine.
I want to finish the 100 and I will. Knowing my next 100 is coming up I won't be sad for long.
I ran 4 miles today and felt great. Tomorrow I will pack, I am driving with Rocky to spend my b-day and Christmas with Andy. We will leave Thursday morning.
I hope you all get to spend time with those you love.
It's a special time and no one should be alone during x-mas. Have a Happy Holidays.

IT WILL BE OK.............
Success means fulfilling your own dreams, singing your own song, dancing your own dance, creating from your heart and enjoying the journey. Trusting that whatever happens, it will be okay. Elana Lindquist
What a fun time I had. My 45 hour birthday run was a success, not because of me but because of my friends. Each person who paced me or emailed me or FB'd me played a very important role in my journey.
Even those who just simply thought ,positive thoughts for me helped . When you have positive energy around you and in you you will succeed.
Thank you to all my pacers, Linda , Clifton, Julia, Jerry, Joe, Mylinh, Rocky and Mikey Mike.
Clifton thank you for coming out at night to be with me for a few hours. You are an awesome person. Linda thanks for coming out and spending a ton of hours with me in the beginning, I love that you talk a lot it kept me going and going ;-). Julia my friend it was great to have your company and listen to your excitement of going back to school next year. You have joined me at most of my b-day runs through the years and means so much to me.
Jerry thanks for talking and telling me stories you kept me moving along when I wanted to slow down at 64 years young I want to be like you when I grow up ;-)

Rocky my little wonder dog kept me moving when I would get home to base camp. Had he not been there it would of been hard to motivate myself, to add some extra miles and hours through my neighborhood. He was really into being out at night with me while waiting for my next pacers to get to the house.
Joe& Mylinh you guys are the most awesome husband and wife team you guys had the hardest part late at night, in the cold for 8 hours. You always both have great stories you both kept me moving even though I slowed down a lot.
Mikey Mike you have been on so many of my crazy adventures you have seen me do things no one has done or wanted to do before, you have been an awesome mentor to me over the years and most of all a great friend.
You were with me for my first hours for age b-day run when I turned 40 and you paced me at the end there and now you have joined me once again for what I said would be my last hours for age run 45. You as always are an amazing pacer and I had so much fun. It was cold in the beginning and foggy but it turned out to be a great day. You never think twice about following along with me during my run. The tour of the cemetery and a quick Starbucks break make our runs together fun.
Our wacky encounter with the birds. And spotting and watching coyotes 1 and 2 was fun. Oh and the mister know it all on the bike, that was funny. Then you spotting coyote #3. Those were highlights for me.
I had a blast.

Even though many of you were not there. I felt you there. Just being able to connect via FB was fun. I know a lot of you, and a lot of you I have never met but feel a connection because of your kind words or comments. I want you to know it is those little things that kept me going.

Ok so your wondering how the heck can I keep going for 45 hours. It's because of my friends and my positive thinking.
I felt pretty good the whole 45 hours I did sleep after 36 hours of being a wake(24 hours into the run) for 45 min. ;-) and I slept once again after my 48 hour of being awake(36 hours into the run) 45 min.
Those naps proved to help during this event, normally I wouldn't sleep at all but remember it wasn't like I woke up and started the run like in years past. I started at night after being up already for 14 hours. I never got sleepy on the trail and body felt great my energy was fine because I made sure that I ate often. I didn't drink as much as I should of. But still felt ok. I just feel dehydrated today.
I am still high from this run. I really have yet to meet anyone who runs hours for age, I'm sure they are out there but haven't met them

Ok I did tell all my friends this would be the very last time I would run hours for age but, I already have to say I will do it again next year ;-)


Thanks again for everything my friends!!
I ended up running 45 hours, 130 miles ;-) success ;-)


Have a fantastic holidays everyone ;-)

This why I started doing birthday challenges
http://birthdaychallenge.com/

RIP Peggy Corbett 12/15/04
ADDICTION.............
She puts the needle in her arm with ease,
just hurting deep inside.
Tried to hide the pain away,
to get that one last high.
She See's the lights over head,
one by one they pass,
going down an empty hall,
their trying to save her fast.
She hears them say oh no we've failed,
we've lost another one.
This addiction took another soul,
it started out with fun.
Now her friends and family sit above her flower covered grave,
She floats above and cries to herself,
that's all I did was crave.
Now there's a hand reaching for me,
it's time to say goodbye,
This disease just got one more,
promise me don't cry.

This is a picture of me and my sister Peggy she was 7 years older then me. She was always looking out for me growing up. If anyone was mean to me she stuck up for me. We were close growing up, but in high school everyone changes.
She fell in with the wrong crowd and starting using drugs. She went through periods in her life where she was clean for years. But some how her drug had a tight hold on her.
I too became an addict for awhile but quit over 15 years ago. She often would ask how could I just quit?? Why was it so easy for me. I said running helped me.
She was always so proud of me and how I could run so far and be so healthy and live a clean lifestyle.
I always wished and prayed she would get clean.
After my Mom died I saw my sister once. I knew she live on the streets and wished I could of done more to save her.
Ultimately the drugs took her away from us. It's been 5 years since she was found dead from a drug overdose. I often wonder if she wanted the pain to go away and left with the purpose to die that day.
I at least now have peace in my heart she is safe, no longer chasing that high. She is safe with my parents.
Peggy I always loved you, and was proud of the big heart you had. I leaned to be kind from you. I keep all the positive memories I have of you in my heart.
Love you always.

Left to right, Auntie Nora, Peggy and my Mom Dee

EXPERIENCE THE MIRACLE..............
The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.
Chimera 100-1 Ultrarunners-0 , That's right the Chimera beat us all. The weather was epic and the race was cancelled at 1pm. All the runners were on the course and we got turned around at Santiago peak and we were told to run 4 miles to Maple springs. When we got there we were asked if we were ok and told that we needed to run down to the Silverado canyon aidstation there we would be driven back to the start. We got in 38 miles.
What a nightmare for RD Steve Harvey. He did the right thing I think. The aidstation on Trabuco peak was trashed when we got there. The shelter was torn apart by the wind. I felt so sorry for the amazing volunteers who braved the Storm to make sure we were safe.
picture taken by Jacob

The weather was bad but was going to get worse that's why the race was called. Steve is an awesome RD and he was not about to let his volunteers, or runners be in danger. All of us runners are very stubborn and I know we would of not known when to quit, and may have put ourselves in danger.
I'm was very prepared yet I was feeling pretty cold up high on the ridges I was in Gortex but since I was sweating underneath I got wet.
I was happy to be out there with Andy having fun in the Storm.

Steve thank you for taking care of us, and a huge thank you to all the Volunteers out there, who were awesome. And thanks to Chris who shuttle some of us runners 2 hours back to the start.
I will be back and next time I will kick the Chimeras butt.

NOW'S THE TIME................
And finally, I want to acknowledge that making changes in your life is never an easy task. The key, however, is not to get caught up in the distance you have to go to get to where you want to be. Nor should you despair over the amount of control you have over your circumstances. Progress is made in the small, intentional steps, and chances are, you have more power than you think. By focusing on little steps you can take every day, the progress you make will motivate you to continue your journey, and eventually, you can go wherever you want to go. The important thing is simply to begin. Stephen Cherniske, M.S

Andy and I had a good run at Ridgecrest 50k. I was happy to finish in under 6 hours. We finished in 5:48 if it wasn't so windy we would of had a faster time for sure.
It was really cold too.
I love running with Andy he always keeps me going when I'm having a tough time. I fell 2 miles into it so my right knee was hurting a lot of the way. This is a pretty flat course for the most part so you end up running most of it. Not like most ultras I run where you are climbing tons.
I also learned a hard lesson do not do a hard crossfit WOD like Mary two days before an ultra. Will I ever learn ;-)
I am taking it easy this week want to be really ready for Chimera 100 miler Saturday. With the weather looking bad it will be challenging ,even to the toughest of the group. Mentally you need to be ready for being comfortable with the uncomfortable.
I just need to start packing since I leave right after work at 4pm Thursday. I would love all my friends to send me those positive vibes this weekend. Oh send them to Andy too, since he's running the whole race with me and will need them.
This awesome pictures were taken by Andy Kumeda.

A special woo hoo to my friend Kellie Crowles for completing her first Ultra way to go girlie ;-) very proud of you!

CONFRONT TROUBLE...............
If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye and say, “I will be bigger than you.” You cannot defeat me. Ann Landers
Woo Hoo heading to SoCal after work tomorrow. I'm excited to visit my BF Andy. I'm hoping to workout at Crossfit Elite fitness academy on Friday for Happy hour ;-)
We are running Ridgecrest 50k this weekend it will be my last long training run for Chimera 100 miler the following weekend.
Send me positive vibes :-)

WOD 12/02/2009

Overhead Squat 3-3-3-3-3

rest...

For time:
25 Pull ups
5 HSPU
20 Pull ups
10 HSPU
15 Pull ups
15 HSPU

FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS......................
Follow your instincts – you never know if your ideas will work out unless you try them. Lulu Guinness
What awesome weather we are having had great runs both today and yesterday took these pictures yesterday on a 12 mile run.
I hope the weather is nice this weekend for Ridgecrest 50k.

CROSSFIT TODAY:
30 thrusters
30 knees to elbows
30 push press
30 sit-ups
30 push jerks
my time-8:49

FACE YOUR FEARS............
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face… The danger lies in refusing to face the fear, in not daring to come to grips with it… You must make yourself succeed every time. You must do the thing you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt
Huge crossfit turn out at Quad. dipsea. It was nice to have other crossfitters try something new, like running an ultra. Myself, Robert Tuller and BMac all know what it's like to run Ultras but none of these people did until after they finished.(oops sorry Molly) Molly ran SF 1day before. They all crossed the finish line as Ultrarunner's yesterday. I talked to several of them after, and they want to run a 50 miler.

It was a beautiful day I felt slow in the beginning but really picked it up the last 14 miles. I was having a lot of issues thinking about my life and what I need to take care of.
I sometimes feel so alone in my situation. I know I shut down when I should talk about it but I feel so stressed when I think about it. I wish I could just disappear for awhile but that's not the answer. I need to face the whole bankruptcy issue.
I am getting 500 dollars less a month because one of my creditors has garnished my wages.
I got the book on how to file chapter 7 but it seems so overwhelming I'm afraid to look at it.
I am lucky I have a place to live for now. I have so much going on inside and I'm lucky I run because it helps. Life gives us many challenges and I just need to face mine.
Being out on the trail made me happy about life for the 6+ hours out there. Seeing my friends and meeting new ones made me have wonderful day out on the trail.

I finished my 12th Quad. Dipsea in 6:52 it's always my goal to run it in under 7 hours, which I did.
Thanks to all of your smiles and hellos on the trail or comments it helped me smile and have fun.

BMac of Crossfitenduarance.com and me, he's the one who really taught me how to run. Thanks for teaching me POSE Brian it has really helped me.

LOOK AHEAD.....................
Nobody gets to live life backward. Look ahead, that is where your future lies. Ann Landers
Happy Thanksgiving friends. I just want to say I am thankful for all of you my friends. I had an amazing 40 mile memorial run for Oskar. I will write more about it tomorrow. I hope you all had a beautiful day. I know I did!

PROBLEMS AND DREAMS................
Don’t be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.




During the holidays I always miss my parents and friends and family members who have past away.
I miss my Mom mostly during these times. When I head out on the trail for long runs I often image what my life would be like if she was still here.
I have her memory in my heart and I do think of her everyday.
Sept.1995-Nov. 2002
Tomorrow is the 7th anniversary of my dog Oskars death he was such a funny little guy and his life was cut way to short. I will head out tomorrow like I do every Thanksgiving and run in his memory. I will run 40 miles along the Ohlone and Sunol wilderness trails.
I hope you all have a beautiful Thanksgiving with your friends and family. Hug those people close to you and tell them you love them. Let go of any disagreements you may have at least just for one day. And most of all let those close to you know you love them. We are all here for just a short time.
I love all of you.
Baby Oskar.............
Posing oskar..............

THE MIRACLE OF BEING ALIVE....................
Appreciation of life itself, becoming suddenly aware of the miracle of being alive, on this planet, can turn what we call ordinary life into a miracle. We come awake to such a realization when we recognize our connection to a spiritual dimension. Dan Wakefield
We must all be thankful for being alive. I know I am, it seems like I am being tested on a daily basis. I really don't know what I'm doing or where I'm going. But the one think I know. I am thankful for, is being alive.
I was really not feeling that great this morning just kinda tired, stress does that to people. But I knew one thing that once I headed out for a run my world would become a better place.
And it did. I made a point to say hi to each person I saw on the trail even if they didn't say hi back, I did my part on being a nice and kind person today.
Some time I just run with my head down and space out, but I wanted to make sure I was connected to the people on the trail.
I am thankful I am alive. I hope a couple people in my life get this that are having issues and connect with being happy they are alive. You know who you are.
Life is to short to live in misery and negativity.
There is a power at work that is not seen but nevertheless exists. When we are unable to deal with, or change, our situation this unforeseen power comes to our aid. So expect difficulties or obstacles to be transformed or even neutralized, but in all cases with a positive outcome. There is nothing to fear at this time, it is only a process, as the old gives way to the new. Without change growth cannot occur. The right ideas or actions will become apparent.
© Stephen Haynes

CROSSFIT today.
3 rounds for time:
25 Kettlebell swings.
25 kettlebell high pulls
25 kettlebell sit-ups(hold KB and do sit-ups)
5:57