Visualize the Impossible

Ordinary people believe only in the possible. Extraordinary people visualize not what is possible or probable, but rather what is impossible. And by visualizing the impossible, they begin to see it as possible.
Cherie Carter-Scott

Today Rocky and I did the resupply drop in Sunol. We did a little 2 mile run too. I will pass by here at mile 11, 53, 57 and 79.
I was thinking back to the first time I dreamed up this idea. It was in 2000, I said I want to run 100 miles out there on the Ohlone. My first attempt was only 100k it was very cold and really windy. I did it in December as my b-day run. I came back in 2001 and ran it in April as my first 100 mile run without a race.
At that point I felt I could do anything in life. Attempting something that seemed so crazy to most. Even other Ultrarunners.
I started running it 2 times a year. I have run 100 miles out on the trail many times for my b-day run in December.
I started running my Ohlone 100 with the race back in 2002. In 2003 I broke my Ulna a couple days before so couldn't run it. In 2007 I decided not to run it because I was going to start my PCT hike 3 days later.

I believe we should all attempt something that seems impossible. You will never know what you are capable of unless you try.
I do this for no one but myself. I learn so much each time I lace my shoes up and set out on an adventure like this.
It makes me feel so alive so full of life.

I want to just thank my crew and pacers who will be helping out this weekend.
Jerry, Mike, Mylinh, Joe, Linda and Julia. Also once again thanks to all my ranger friends at Mission Peak & Sunol. Thanks for letting me do what I love.
Good luck to all the Ohlone runners this weekend. Make sure you say hi as you pass.
My goal get to Shleplers rock before the first runner passes me. ;-)

My real goal is to have fun and feel good. I have San Diego 100 miler next week so need to take care of myself out on the trail.
Wanna also thank my loving boyfriend who always believes in me even when I don't, love you Andy. I know you will be just a phone call away when I need you at night ;-)
Please send me positive vibes Saturday and Sunday if you wanna text me along the way to encourage me that would be great.
818-433-2667.
I will have my angels guiding me along the way. My Mom will guide me safely she always does.

New beginnings or the possibilities of a new start are soon to be presented. Use your inner magician to pull together all the components of what soon will be in the offing, as you should now be able to manifest your hopes, dreams and desires. Remember you are only at the beginning, the first stages of development, so the more you are able to accept the more will be given to you.
© Stephen Haynes

Champions, Skill and Will

Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.
Muhammad Ali

I decided to take Rocky with me today and do an easy 5 miles around Quarry lakes/ Alameda trail. We saw our friend and his dog Caesar (don't know the mans name) We found out Caesar was attacked on the creek trail by a Pit Bull that was just adopted by a couple so they didn't know much about the dog. The dog grabbed Caesar who weighs maybe 5 pounds and drug him down to the creek the owner of the pit really saved Caesars life that is what Caesars owner told me. He had to fight his dog off to save little Caesar. Caesar has about 25 stitches along his neck. He is a very lucky dog.
Rocky and I were very happy that our friend survived.
The owner really didn't do anything wrong, Caesars owner said. The guy bent down to pick up poop and the dog got loose from his wrist. They had no idea that the dog was aggressive. Very scary.
Today we did 5 miles out on the trail we had so much fun. It was beautiful out. Tomorrow I will drop my supplies in Sunol and rest up for Saturday 100 mile run.

I will post my cell number tomorrow for those who want to text me during the run. I will need all the positive encouragement I can get. This run is tough and is very much a mental challenge and physical too.
Good luck to all the Ohlone runners this weekend and everyone else racing this weekend.

Pace Yourself

Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day. Winnie the Pooh

I am just getting my mind ready ready for my long weekend. I ran 3 miles easy today. Did Tabata abs. My legs and arms are sore from Mondays WOD. No more crossfit wods other than maybe a tabata the rest of the week. I want my body to feel great by Saturday. I will do a 6 mile run on the Ohlone course tomorrow. That will be my last long run until Saturday.
If you don't already wear Moeben uv sleeves make sure you buy some. This is Shannon. She is the CEO of the company. She is one of the most amazing woman I have ever met. She has the biggest heart and I love this woman dearly. She will be running WST 100 and Badwater. And you all think I'm crazy.
Each purchase she donates a portion to one of her charities.

She is making leg sleeves too. I have two pairs. I will be wear my cute tattooed style sleeves and matching leg sleeves during Ohlone this weekend.

Let Your Inner Child Out to Play!

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. Pablo Picasso

Slow Down

Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going to fast-you also miss the sense of where you are going and why. Eddie Cantor
Had a busy weekend. Did a fun run on Friday with Maria and her husband. ran a total of 12 that day. Love running up the Mt. Wilson trail.
On Saturday Rocky, Andy and came out to cheer all our crossfit friends and running friends on at the race.
I can't wait to move to Sierra Madre hopefully in October, that's the plan. I love all my friends from the crossfit elite fitness academy they are all awesome and amazing.. They had a strong showing of like 60 runners at the race.
Saturday we had a BBQ it was small and nice. We actually invited a lot of Friends, I was very disappointed at the ones who all said they were coming and did not show or call and cancel. People there is a reason we sent out an invite a few weeks ahead, and you either say your coming or not. It's just rude to not show up and not call or email to cancel. Andy would of bought less food had we known that many who RSVP did not show up.
Sunday we did the LA Marathon expo thing. Saw my good friend Shannon who is amazing not only as a runner, Mom and wife but the CEO of her very successful moeben company. If you don't already own the sleeves you need to get them they have uva protection from the sun. They come in very cute styles. She is also making leg sleeves I got a couple pair love them.
Andy ran a fast LA marathon time 3:28 pr for him way to go.

Busy week for me here is my wod from yesterday enjoy.

WOD
100, 200, 300. g0!

run 6 miles
100 push-ups
200 squats
300 sit-ups
time 69:09

It's Your Time to Shine

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Anais Nin

Today was a beautiful day! I met Jerry at his house at 7am to run. He took me on a fun loop to a pond I had never seen. We were out for 4 hours.

Jerry is a great friend the kind of person that would do almost anything for his friends. I always tell people without his help in 2007 I could of never hiked 2,000 mile of the PCT. He was my Everest base camp. He kept everyone informed of where I was on the trail through my blog for me.

He did many trips to REI and trader Joes, getting me and sending me supplies when I needed something.

He was there for me.

I will never forget the best thing he did for me was to meet me ,at the Tahoe rim trail 50 mile finish with Rocky my dog, He brought him out to see me after being without him for 66 days. It was very touching.

Good friends are hard to find and I consider Jerry a great friend.

This is Jerry and me on the top of Mission Peak, standing on my favorite rock on the top!
I will be living at the bottom of that hill soon.
Diablo behind us!

Put a Lil' Love Into It!

It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into the giving. Mother Theresa
Rocky is the best dog ever!! some days he teaches me a trick or two. Today's trick relax!! We did a 3 mile run and I did a 3 crossfit exercises just Tabatas.
And took care of packing for our trip down South Thursday afternoon.
All these pictures are of flowers My Mom and I planted. I will be moving in a month and it will be scary change is always scary, but I am moving forward in life. It will be nice living with my Friend Jerry for awhile until Whole Foods has an opening for me down South so I can move in with Andy.
Jerry's house in 1 mile from the Mission Peak trail head so I can run there. Rocky really likes Jerry so it will be a perfect place for us to live for awhile.
It will be sad that this chapter in my life is closing.

I won't see those flowers to many more times. My house has a lot of good and sad memories. I have lived here since I was 13 moved out when I was 20 and moved back at 27, after I got clean and sober. Never planned on living back home that long. In 2002 my Mom passed away so my sister and my nephew moved in. I promised to stay 3 years then it turned into 5. I told her when I set out on the PCT I wanted out in 2 years.
So here I am two years later and am ready to be free.
I never felt happy living here since my Mom passed away. Felt trapped, now I am finally being set free to take care of what I need to in life. And take care of me.
I will be much happier but at the same time I'm sure I will be filled with sadness.
I found my Mom dead in her room. It has always bothered me that I didn't come home that night, and instead was out running all night on Diablo. Maybe things could of been different.
I know deep inside everything happens for a reason and when it's our time to go we cant do anything to change it.
Ok sorry didn't mean for this to be so sad. I know I am going to be happy and feel free in the end.

Do More

Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work. William Arthur Ward
Jerry and I yesterday back out on the trail for more running through Hell heat.
I was still toasted from yesterday but want to get out in the heat again for a couple hours.
FJ was feeling good. He told of his story from the day before. He turned around 10 miles into our run Saturday because he was going out of town.
The heat even got to him.
Well at least we should now be heat acclimated right? ;-)
FJ doing Chi running and me doing POSE very similar positions. I need to work on my lean I'm to straight up and down. Jerry showed me a cool trick to keep me looking forward. I am always staring down at the ground. Need to work on gazing into the horizone.

Crossfit WOD
4 rounds for time:
20 lunge steps
20 push press
20 abmat sit-ups
run 200 meters
time: 10:39

Make a Commitment

The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help that would never otherwise have occurred. W. H. Murray
The Happy group getting ready for some fun running through Hell and back! right to left me, Julia Kevin, Jerry, Ben and Mike.
I'm just going to write something short now but will post more pics. and report later.
We all had issues out there it was the first super hot day of the year. We all drank tons but still got dehydrated so really didn't drink enough.
Most important thing to do is wet your head and body down and each stream or water source when it's hot! It really makes you feel cool.
We all suffered at some point.
me out of it on the way back had to wet the bandanna and drape it over my head.

I was fine most of the way but the last 7 miles was pure hell until I got to backpackers camp. We all ran out of water and I was really over heated and felt light headed at times. I wet my body down and we sat for a while and felt better. Ben and Kevin took off on there own on the way back and got lost and missed the water so both of them were having major issues.
Remember take of yourself and each other out on the trails in the heat, it can be dangerous if you're not acclimated to it.
still out of it, but almost done!
Got ice from the rangers and cold water and felt 100 % better. Happy we made it ;)

Accept Yourself

Don't rely on someone else for your happiness and self worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can't love and respect yourself - no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are - completely; the good and the bad - and make changes as YOU see fit - not because you think someone else wants you to be different. Stacey Charter

click on collage to view

I love that quote today it is so true!!!
Tomorrow we will be running Sunol to Del Valle and back it will be 40 miles. There is a snack bar at Del Valle, I'm thinking Popsicles ;-)
If you want to run with us meet at Sunol regional park at 7am that's what time the gate opens, should be on the trail by 7:15am. It will take close to 12 hours to complete it will be hot so bring a hydration pack. There are 3 water sources we will stop at along the way. One at the turn around as well.
If you want to run 20 miles that's fine too. This would be a good training run for Ohlone 50k Sunol to Rose peak.
You can email me if you want to join us catrarunner@yahoo.com


These pictures were taken during my 13 miler yesterday afternoon. This is some of the wildlife I spotted along the way.
This squirrel was 1 foot away from me he was posing for me.
This ladybug hitched a ride on me. I noticed her on my jacket ;-)

I saw many butterflies out on my adventure here is a shot of one. I hope you all get out and run, bike, hike or just move your body this weekend. Being outdoors is good for the mind, body and soul.
Good luck to everyone racing this weekend.

Do it Now!

We have to stop procrastinating, pretending that we have forever to do what we want to do and to be what we long to be. If we think that we want to become better and more loving human beings, we had better start moving in that direction right now. Lama Surya Das
There are days when I wanna be lazy. And there are days that I want to, but I can't :-) Today was a can't day. It was a 10 mile run day with a crossfit WOD along the way .
These crossfit WOD/runs are tough. But I feel strong when I'm done.
I decided today to run Alameda creek trail and every 10 min. of running I would do an exercise.
I think some people would have a hard time doing a workout like this with all the people around.
I know they look at me kinda funny when I stop and start doing burpees but oh well. Ask me if I care?? I don't it's for me and makes me feel and look good.
The workout took me just under 2 hours.
Of course had to throw a little climbing in there. Enjoy this workout alone or with a friend.
Just get out and have fun.

The WOD run 10 min. , then do an exercise in between
you can mix it up but here is the order I did.
Squat
Lunges
Push-ups
Bench jumps
frog jumps
handstand push-ups
squat jumps
sit-ups
burpees
and then repeat. I did 25 reps of each exercise

Consistent Action

In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently. Tony Robbins
Rocky and I did a short 5 miler had a good time. I will be taking him to Sierra Madre next weekend for the Mt. Wilson trail race.
Going to do a crossfit wod now. Not sure what I will check the oneworld site to see what they did today.


Change, disruption or obstacles could be the order of the day! There is a reason for each of these occurrences but in general it can be said that the way in which you are doing things, or viewing things, has to change. Very often the universe takes a hand and helps you by clearing away the debris of the old, but be assured that what is right, essential or just plain needed, will remain in place. In all cases be calm in the face of these unexpected events and just know that everything is going to be all right.
© Stephen Haynes

Be Yourself

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fun times were had at the PCT 50 miler Saturday. Andy and I ran the whole race together ,or should I say he ran it with me :-) I'm much slower than him so I really enjoy the fact I have an awesome boyfriend who will run with me at races.
We decided to just take our time. Our goal was 12 hours. We did finish in under 13 hours so we we're happy. We would of like to have been faster but it was just a week since we ran Miwok 100k.
We felt great the whole way pretty much. Andy go a blister and I got a small one too.
We didn't eat enough, so Andy had a little slump. The last 7 miles I had a mini melt down. That section goes on forever and I just wanted to be done ;-)
It was hot but there was a breeze so it felt good. I would take the heat over the cold any day.
It was great seeing so many friends out there and all the volunteers were awesome.
The race was very well organized considering they had to move the race to a different course a few days before the race. The RD John Martinez did an awesome job.
For being able to pull it together when it was on the verge of being canceled.
It was awesome training for SD 100 since it was 50 miles of the course.
Just want to thank Andy again for always inspiring me to do the best and push harder. Happy to say no one passed us the last half of the race :) Or maybe one did. We did pass a lot of runners the last half.
I get a few weeks break from racing. Running 40 miles Saturday training ,and next big run is my solo Ohlone 100 miler which is the same weekend of the Ohlone 50k. I finish my last 50k with the race.

My Destiny, My Choice

My will shall shape the future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze. My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny.
Elaine Maxwell

Hanging out in my other home town Sierra Madre
Working on my tan and heat training for tomorrows PCT 50 miler. It's going to be HOT but I'm running with my sweetie so it will be fun.
Please send us positive vibes tomorrow.

Have a great weekend.