Thursday, February 24, 2011

I LOVE MY HOKAS........That's right!! these are the most amazing shoes ever invented.
I absolutely love the Mafate but now they came out with the Bondi B road shoe, which by the way many are wearing on trails. I to will test them on trails but will be sad when the white shoes get dirty ;-( the guys model is dark color.
I wore them yesterday day, and boy they are as light as a feather and your feet will feel like you are running on marshmellows.
People are always asking me about them, but the best thing you can do is test them for yourself. They are carrying them at the Boulder running company which you can order online. They will soon have them at zombierunners too. So get them while they are hot. They will sell out fast.


I am running Rocky road 100 this weekend so please send me positive vibes friends. Have a great weekend ;-)))

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Hello Catra

Congratulations! You have been accepted to compete in the 2011 Badwater Ultramarathon, presented by AdventureCORPS, Inc. You are part of a select group who will participate in what is recognized across the globe as “the world’s toughest footrace.”


I'm in I'm in!!! woo hoo!!!
Back in 2000 I thought I would sign up for Badwater , I filled out the app. and realized it was to expensive to run it ;-( I than started running lots of hundred mile races. I only ran on trails so gave up the thought of beating myself up on asphalt for 135 miles.
Although I did run several 24 hour races and even ran Mother Road 100 the first year. But still never thought I'd run it. I crewed and paced twice. I enjoyed that, it was there I realized it is up to the crew to get the runner to the finish.
Something happens to almost all the runners there it is what I called" brain fried"they can't think they don't know what they need or want, they become manic happy and laughing one minute to crying and yelling at you the next. They blame all their pain on you and any issue. If they get a blister, so and so got water in their shoe, you gave them the wrong sock. Whatever it's all the crews fault. In the end the runner is always so very thankful for their crew no matter how bad it gets for them in the end they are always thankful for the crew that got them to the finish.
My goal is not to be "brain fried" and try to remember to be thankful that I am there. Sure I may get bitchy but I'm apologizing in advance to my crew to not take it personal. Some thing happens when you are running 135 miles in the middle of Death valley in the Summer. My goal is to raise as much money as I can for Chance to Compete. I am blessed by all of you who have and will donate in the future. Without you I would not be able to do this.

Help if you can here : http://www.imathlete.com/donate/Campaign.aspx?fCID=1075

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.
~Anthony J. D'Angelo,

Last week of training for Rocky Road 100. Been running 3-7 miles during the week will run 15-20 tomorrow and Saturday 20 and Sunday 10.
I will get a massage tomorrow and than go to see Dr. Colle Hunt my fascial stretch therapist ;-)
Today it is raining but it should not stop you from getting out and enjoying life. We should embrace what we love with enthusiasm no matter what the conditions are outside.
We must continue to play as if we were kids. I never forgot how much I loved the rain as a child. I always jumped in the puddles. When ever I lace up my running shoes it's a sign to bring out my inner child and go have fun.
So go out and jump in a puddle. I did ;-)

Monday, February 14, 2011

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!
I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.
What a great weekend to run. Well I should take that back every weekend I can run is a great weekend, right.
I love this pic. of Rocky, I took him on a 6 mile run last Monday and he was flying ;-)
Me , Naresh, Linda and Mike did a run to Ed Levin and around the Golf course and trails there with a side trip to the cafe ;-) on Saturday.
We all ran back to Mission Peak where me and Mike met up with Julia to continue on for a longer run 34 miles plus 2 more miles for me with Rocky so 36 for the day.

We of course had to stop at Mission peak coffee Mikey's favorite place in Fremont ;-)
The weather again this past weekend was awesome for running. But today we are back to rain for the week that's ok we need it so we can have beautiful flowers this Spring ;-).
I ran from Don Edwards wild life preserve along the Coyote hills and out along Alameda creek to Quarry lakes on Sunday. On the way back I mixed it up and ran some trails I had never run that was fun. I also decided to run the Red Hill trail on the way back ;-) lots of short steep climbs. I Did the loop out of Dairy Glen and got to see all the sheep they put out there for grazing.
I finished off my run along the LaRiviere trail. 25 miles total wanted to run 30 but decided I had a 103 mile week was good enough. Time to taper for my next Hundred in less than two weeks. I will be running Rocky Road 100 should be fun ;-)
Ok time to get ready for work ;-))

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Don't be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin.
-- Grace Hansen
What awesome running weather we are having in the Bay Area pretty much perfect. We broke records last weekend for this time of year.

I ran last Friday on Diablo which I love, I like running long run Fridays there.
Saturday I had Julia, Mike, Naresh & Jerry come out to run to Ed Levin, we even found out the Golf course has a cafe so cold drinks were great they have salads and other foods too. I now have a place to get a cold drink and a snack on my long runs there ;-))
Going to get up early to run with Linda tomorrow since I am working for once on a Friday doing make -overs for our huge make-up sale going on at my Whole Foods for 4 days.
Going to do a long run with Linda and Mike at Henry Coe Saturday that should be amazing ;-) love that place ;-)
Saturday I will do another 30 mile flat road with trail at the end long run ;-))
Looks like a fun weekend. I hope you all get to go out and play too.
Thanks to all who have donated to my Badwater fund you are all amazing and I am really touched by you willingness to give. I love you all.
Pass the link on if you know of anyone who can help.
http://www.imathlete.com/donate/Campaign.aspx?fCID=1075

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Badwater Babe for Kiddos' Aid

Badwater. It is the toughest footrace on the planet. From Death Valley to the Mount Whitney Portals in California, the 135-mile, nonstop footrace pits 90 of the world’s toughest athletes not so much against one another, but against themselves and the harsh, barren sauna of the hottest place on earth, during the hottest time of the year. The extreme conditions make this race a completely different animal than any other on the planet. Sheer training, strength, and fitness are not enough, as Badwater has brought even the most accomplished and elite athletes to their knees, as well as to tears. This is a race that requires the mental fortitude and unwavering resolve of passion that burns with a fire rivaled only, perhaps, by the sweltering heat radiating off the endless, molten asphalt of Highway 190, or the burn in the thighs while traversing the three mountain ranges of 13,000’ cumulative ascent, and nearly 5,000’ cumulative descent. It is neither for the faint of heart, nor faint of spirit, nor faint of mind. But fortunately, Catra Corbett lacks in none of these.

The name Catra Corbett is synonymous with ultrarunning. There are few races or conceived feats out there missing from Catra’s resume, but although she has paced and crewed her friend and four-time Badwater finisher Linda McFadden twice, this is Catra’s first Badwater entry. “It is time I run it,” she says.

It is said that a Badwater run is completed by the crew. Each runner is required to have a crew that will follow them throughout the race, in a vehicle alongside, tending to their every need. The crew paces them, waters them, tracks their fluid and food intake, tends to their blistering feet and skin, and keeps them sane, as the heat and the road take their toll on body and mind. Crewing is difficult, stressful, and thankless during the event, but the exceptionally-demanding course allows the runner to concern themselves only with running—everything else must fall on the crew.

As such, in addition to the hefty entrance fee, the runner must bear the expenses of their crew—including transportation, lodging, vehicles, and food—in addition to their own food, gear, and supplies. So to embark on this event takes not only the strength of body, fortitude of mind, and commitment, but also a considerable financial investment. That’s where we come in.

Training and preparing for Badwater are near-indomitable feats in-and-of themselves, without having to worry about financing the attempt. Catra’s sponsorship fell through at the last minute, so we…her friends and crew…are taking up the torch to raise funds to send her to Badwater and bring her home with the coveted Finisher’s Buckle. But…in true Catra fashion…that is not the sole, or ultimate, goal.

Catra continues to be involved in Chance to Compete, a non-profit whose goal is to remove the financial limitations that prevent some children from participating in athletics. C2C hopes to ensure that every child has a chance to turn athletic potential into reality. So while the short-term goal of this campaign is to raise the $3,000-to-$5,000 to get Catra to and through Badwater, her ultimate goal is to raise money for the children. Therefore, every dollar beyond her entrance fee and expenses will go directly to Chance to Compete.

Therefore, you have the opportunity to not only be a part of the personal history and achievement of a truly remarkable athlete and human being, but also to affect change in the lives of children. There is no greater gift than to feed someone’s passion, and to be able to do so while helping others find and exercise their own passions is a truly unique fortune.

So please, donate what you can, as much as you can, and pass this along to your friends. Together, we will get Catra to Badwater, while making a difference in so many young lives. Any runner will tell you that running, without fail, gives you back far more than you ever put into it, so after years of running and taking everything it has to give her, Catra is trying to give back. As all her friends and associates will attest, Catra is not only an incredible athlete, but she is also, truly, an amazing, effervescent, and inspiring person—a bright light on the dark trail of the mundane world—and we are all grateful to count her among our friends. Let us follow her example, and give back. Let’s get CatraRunner, the Dirt Diva, this Badwater Babe to Death Valley!!

http://www.imathlete.com/donate/Campaign.aspx?fCID=1075
If you can donate please go to the site.

Thanks to everyone who has given me hope I will be there in July :-)

Badwater Babe for Kiddos' Aid Photos(click to enlarge)

Donor Comments Show All

Best of luck to you!!! :-) I know you are going to ROCK!

--Deborah

Catra, you're an INSPIRATION TO US ALL ;-} *Love you*, girl!!! ;-}

--Almine

good luck Catra!

you're a super woman :)