BURRRR....This morning is was 28 degrees in Yosemite when I woke up. I decided to head out of the Valley to do my run.
As I drove I thought Hetch Hetchy. I went there once in 1995. It was during my first visit to Yosemite.
So that's where I headed. 

I have logged 1,000 of miles through the Yosemite wilderness. Yes I have spend many miles running and Fastpacking the snow capped peaks behind me 

me just below the cables on Half Dome..It was maybe 45 degrees. Just took my clothes off to pose ;) 

Me on Thanksgiving heading up to Half Dome. I was the only one on the trail. I saw one person heading for an overnight trip to Sunrise. I finally saw people on my way back near Nevada falls four miles from the Valley floor.
I can say I was the only person on Half Dome 11-23-06. I will always remember that. It is the first time in my 4 years of running that trail that I didn't at least see three people heading up to Half Dome. I hope you were all thankful for at least a few things. I know I was! Thankful that I am alive and healthy. 

ZEN CARD......
Unity...
Unite all things.
When all of your
energies are going in the
same direction, great
things will happen. When
you unify others,
success is assured.
Work in harmony
with the way, and all
things will flourish.  

The Girls of crossfit San Jose.
No boys today just the girls.
It was a great workout, here it is.....
Warm up
Fence run
Bkwds back
25 jumping j's
20 windmils
standing stretch(any kind)
25 push ups
20 sit ups
Partner running pulls

WOD....
1 min. each 3 rounds
row no straps
wall ball
box jumps
jump pull-ups(belts)
box push-ups
1 min. rest between rounds.

Today will be crazy at Whole foods market. It was slow yesterday so the storm will hit today. I can never figure out why people shop the day before Thanksgiving. The lines are long and people get really moody.
My department usually isn't super busy. Most people arn't buying supplements.
Hope everyone has an awesome day.
 

Listen to your body!.
That's what I did today. I did crossfit yesterday and ran 17 miles. This morning I woke up feeling like I was run over by a truck. I stood up and said ouch! So I decided to skip crossfit and do a short 4 mile run.
I know I'm sore from climbing too. It had been over a year since I last rock climbed.

I'm planning on heading back to Yosemite to run Half Dome on Thanksgiving. If anyone is interested contact me and we can hook up for a fun slow run in the Valley. I plan on running both Thursday & Friday. I will also climb Friday.

Zen card...Stillness
When the night is
still, you can hear
the silence. When the mind
is still, listen to the
silence and let it
guide you.

Have a beautiful day!!!! 

I know so many pictures but had to make up for the days I didn't blog.
Just want to say Randy did awesome climbing we had so much fun in the valley.
Yosemite is really the most beautiful place in the world to me.
I'm thinking of heading back for Thanksgiving. Since I have nothing else going on. I was bummed Randy hurt his knee and we couldn't run Half Dome. If the weather is nice this week I might have one more shot to go up the stone before the weather changes. We'll see.
There's always Camping on Diablo which is close.

I'm feeling strong so I will see if I can PR at Quad. Dipsea this weekend. Let me just say it's a short 28 mile race but hard. I always run 20 on Thursday & Friday before the race this way I get some back to back training runs in.
Ok kids here's the Zen Card of the day....
TRUTH..What is, is.
What is not, is not.
No amount of
Wishing or
wanting can change
that simple fact.
 

I love to climb!!!! Ok, now I'm stuck not sure if I should head to the Ditch aka Yosemite Valley or Mt. Diablo Wednesday night.
I think if the weather is going to be nice I'll run Half Dome Thursday and run 5 mile trail to Panarama than climb with my friend Albert after.
I miss the ditch and all the monkeys :(
Saturday is Quad. dipsea race that should be fun.
Life is good. 

Above the fog...How I've missed running Mission Peak/Sunol. I was sore from climbing this weekend and crossfit today but managed to run 17 miles. 

"F" this....
I tend to swear a lot when I'm climbing. It really helps me to move through the cruxie sections!
How I love to dance up the granite. I love getting pumped and sweating. Oh how I love getting Elvis legs...I forgot how it felt, to really be badass.
My second love is rock climbing. Got back to my roots this past weekend. I love being a dirtbag monkey!!!!
Took Randy who had a blast. So proud of you, you did awesome for your first time hanging in the Valley.
I'll write more tomorrow. Gotta get some sleep!!! 

ZEN CARD......
Friendship.
To love people
who love you is easy.
Choose to be everyone's
friend, whether they
like you or not. When you
love and accept
others as they are. You
will have friends
everywhere.

I love this card. It's so true. I have friends everywhere. Friends are great. I'm going with my friend Randy to Yosemite today and we're going to have so much fun!  

Don't you just love my outfit???????
Randy bought me the skirt & shirt when he was in L.A.
I must admit for a boy he sure has good taste.
The scarf I added it's from target. The purse is from my new favorite online store(trashvilleusa.com) and boots are vegan from zappos.com

I can't wait to wear this out to a club!!!
Don't think I'll show up in Yosemite with it..LOL...

Zen card...Loyalty
become loyal to
your intermost
truth. Follow the
way when all others
abadon it.
Walk the path of
your own heart. 

Running Strong.....
I had a good work out at crossfit this morning. I was planning on running 10-15 miles. I decided to just run a really fast 7 miles. It took me 56 min. Which is 8 min. miles. Pretty fast for just finishing a fast hundred miler 3 days ago.

I felt strong. I'm really not sore. I'm so amazed at how fast I can recover from running 100 miles.
Heading to Yosemite tomorrow for some alttitude training. I love running in Yosemite. I'm taking Randy he's never been. I know he will love it.
I will take him on some of my favorite trails. We are planning on going up Half Dome.
Well ,only if it's not wet or icy.
I hope to also do the 4 mile trail/Panorama and Snow creek trail and finish down the falls trail.
Hopefully we will get some climbing in to. 

STILL HIGH ON LIFE!!! No drugs or alcohol needed.
Drug free body!! That's right! My body is a temple and if I treat it with respect it lets me do whatever I want. My mind works together with my body and with both clean & clear I can do whatever I want.

I'm still thinking about all the fun I had this weekend. I forgot to mention ,I think Oklahoma wins the award for the most road kill I've ever seen. I'm sure there was at least 100 dead animals along that route.

Zen Card...
LOVE...
All beings want
to be loved and
accepted.
That is something you
can give to them.
Love completely,
unselishly,
and unconditionally. 

MOTHER ROAD 100.....
Ouch that Mutha hurt!!!
I am no road runner I tell ya!!! I only signed up because it was a one time event.
I'm not sure how, but I ended up running 4 100's in 4 weeks. I wasn't even planning to. I owe it to my good friend and Dirty girl Xy Weiss. She ask if I would run Javelina with her. If I did it would make three in three weeks and I would run Mother road making it 4 in 4 weeks.

I knew I could run 3 100's in a row. I have done that a couple times. In September I ran 3 in a row, had three weeks off than ran the 4 in a row.

I just want to say thank you to Thomas Hill the RD and all the other people who helped with the race they were all very nice and helpful.
Many runners had crews, you were able to have your crew follow you the whole 100 miles.
I want to thank everyone who helped me don't remember names but you all know who you are. I know Thomas's crew was very helpful. I remember it being in the low 30's and I was cold and one of his guys gave me an extra jacket which was very nice.
I had no idea during the race I was going as fast as I was. I just hoped to finish in 26 hours. I must admit I was afraid of running 100 miles on asphalt. I wore my Montrail Hardrocks and they were great. I wore them during the 24 hour run in SF as well. Who says you can't wear trail shoes on the road?? I say you can!
It took my usual 6 hours to get into my zone. That's when my body & mind know yep she's doing it to us again 100 miles.

I came into the 50 mile check point in 10 hours and thought I'm doing pretty good. I didn't wear a watch infact all of past 4 100's I wore no watch. I ran in the moment and never thought to far ahead.

This race was special I was running for a poster to my blog anon-embarassed. He is fighting a drug addiction which I know he will win. I did it 12 years ago and now look at me.
There were points in the race during the night where I was so cold and I was suffering and just wanted to curl up inside a nice warm car and sleep. I couldn't I had to suffer because I know any amount of suffering I was enduring it was harder for anon. I had to stay strong and tough for anon. I had to beat that Mother road. Trust me I asked myself many times what the HELL am I doing running on this freakin road???? I'm not a road runner. I never run roads. Each time, I got the answer I was looking for. I'm running for anon-embaressed. If I can do this he can get clean & sober and he too can win the fight.
I also know my job in life is to inspire those around me so I just keep moving forward and stay positive.

I am so touched each time I run a race. I am so touched by the volunteers who spent all day, and night in the freezing cold to help us along the way. The small towns we went through. These people knew nothing about ultrarunning , they treated us all so well. Many of them saw me on the news the night before and said you're the famous girl we saw you on T.V. I stopped and got my picture taken with a lot of them.
Dan the weather man who interviewed me ran Mother road as his first 100 he finished. Great job Dan.

It was crazy running along the road there were times when you had no shoulder. and had to jump out of the way of trucks getting very close. I want to thank all the Law enforcment people for being there to help slow some of those people down.

It seems lately I am a second half runner. Once it got dark I picked it up this is where I noticed I started passing people. From mile 70 on I don't think anyone passed me.
As I got closed I had no idea what time it was. I thought maybe i might break 24 hours. I came through the finish line and was surpriased I ran 22:51 and was 4th place girl. I was so happy with my time.

I'm still amazed at how well my body & mind work together and I can do what I do. I believe it's positive thinking and all the prayers and positive vibes my friends send.
Thanks to all my friends for your kind words of encourgement and those phone calls and messages you all leave in my darkest hours in the middle of the night during my runs. When I listen to those it gives me the lift I need to keep going.

Anon-embaressed I ran for you and I kicked ass for you. Stay strong & positive just like I did during our run. I ran for you!!! You can stay clean & sober. I have faith in you even though I don't know you. 

Mother road 100 here I come!!!!
Many of my 100 mile race's I dedicate to friends or loved one's who are sick or passed away.
I also dedicate some of my hundreds to complete strangers who have died. It's just something I do. Ultrarunning can be a selfish sport. It's all about me the runner. I try to make it about someone else I try to think about someone else when I'm out there for so many hours. I want to try and touch lives and help people, through what I do.

This week I got a post to my blog from someone who goes by Anon-embarassed.
He was crying out for help to me. He needed my help. He is suffer from a drug addiction. I felt his pain I know what he's going through. He had no one he could tell and asked me for help.
I sat down and read what he wrote over and over.
I cried because I knew what he was going through.
I gave him the best advice I could. I told him to get help, and I also told him I would run Mother Road 100 for him this weekend.
I have been thinking about him since he posted to my blog.
He posted back thanking me for my advice and he did seek help. He also went out for a run and he decided to set a goal for himself and run a 50 mile race next year.

It made my life to know that I could help someone during such a dark and depressing time.
I may never meet you anon-embaressed, but I want you to know I care about you enough to run 100 miles for you, and to dedicate my run for you hoping this will inspire you to move forward, and stay positive. Anon you can run away from those demons just like I did 12 years ago.
Drugs steal souls but you can fight back and keep your soul...Don't give up the fight you can win.
Namaste,
Catra
 

ZEN CARD......
PROSPERITY...
PROSPERITY IS NOT
IN WHAT YOU HAVE
ATTAINED, BUT RATHER IN
WHAT YOU GIVE AWAY....
FOR IT IS ONLY WHEN
YOU BECOME EMPTY
THAT YOU CAN BE
FILLED WITH SOMETHING
GREATER..

Please send me positive vibes this weekend for Mother road. I leave tomorrow..Off to work, I love you all!
Catra 

CROSSFIT WORK-OUT TODAY
Warm up
600 m row
shoulder
25 over head streatch
sampson stretch
ham/quad./ calf stretch
neck roll stretch
25 GH sit ups
20 GH
20 GH back extentions
10 pull ups

WOD
"Side ways"(work out done side ways)
speed bump to speed bump.
20 side jump squats
8 side to side push ups
20 sit ups side ways
10 rope jump side to side
4 rounds.
For fun I climbed the rope and did an extra 100 sit ups.

ZEN CARD...Virtue
the sent of the
flower is carried by
the wind, only going where
the wind blows, but
your virtue
radiates in
all directions, touching
everything.

My Favorite RD Jimmy Wrublik!
Jimmy did an awesome job as RD for Javelina 100. He's 17 but you would never know it. He was very organized and helpful. Every time he saw me he asked if I needed anything and to let him know if I did.
So I got lost, but it was my fault fo not paying attention. Too many people blame stuff like that on the RD's when in reality most of the time the runner is tired and not paying attention.
Jimmy you rock. He is also a talented runner and I know in 2007 he will kick ass at HURT 7 and will finish. Looking forward to running some miles at HURT with Jimmy where I plan on running a HURT PR on the course.
Hey Jimmy, how about next year giving an award for the person with the most tattoos.
That way I could win a cool award..LOL..;)

ZEN CARD OF THE DAY....

COURAGE....
Find the courage
to hold on to your
beliefs, even if the world
around you chooses to
believe differently.
Have the courage
to change those beliefs
that no longer fit the
person you have
become. In doing so, you
truly become yourself.

Namaste,
Catra 

DIRT DIVA & DIRTY GIRL( Xy Weiss)
Javelina 100 miler(26:59)
I want to first say if it wasn't for Xy I wouldn't be going for 4 100's in a row.
The only reason I ended up running this race this year was because of her. I volunteered to pace & crew her two weeks ago. She booked my flight called me back and said if I pay for your entry will you run the whole thing. I didn't think twice and said yes. She said how many people would sign up to run with her on a moments notice not just anyone. That's right! I'm always ready to run 100 miles. So it was a plan. We would run 29:00 hours.
Xy had me run in front of her the whole race I told her I would be the carrot & she was the rabbit.
I felt great almost the whole way, the last 10 miles was tough but it always is. I'm glad I never felt bad because in the night Xy was having problems. She was fine with me running ahead. I would run with her half way between aid stations and make sure she was ok than run ahead and wait. I would end up waiting 10-15min. I was running strong at night and felt fine. I was suprised after winning the 24 hour run.
We ended up getting lost coming out of Headquarters aid station on our 6th loop. So we did an extra 3 mile. There was actually a group of us, who ended up getting lost there. JR ended up being lost and doing extra 7 miles.

Xy is tough and even when she's having problems she smiles and is friendly. She won the Ms. Congeniality award. hmm wonder why ;)

We both finished strong ,at the end we cross the finish line holding hands and smiling. Our time was only 30 min. slower than last year for me. And we finished a couple hours faster than our plan.
I had a great time running the whole 100 miles with such an amazing person. If it wasn't for Xy I would not be going for 4 100's in 4 weeks.
This weekend Mother Road 100.
Thanks Xy for the fun time. Your the best.
Catra 

I'm so outta here!!!!!

I'm leaving right now my friends. Please get those vibes ready and start sending them.

Zen card...The present
The past is over.
The future will
never come. Now is
the only moment that
will ever exist.
Therefore, live
each second to
the fullest..

This is perfect! That's how I have been running my hundreds this year since Wasatch. I have been running in the moment and not getting ahead of myself.

Have a beautiful weekend.
I think you can follow me on the Javelina 100 web-site. I'm #33
Peace out.. 

Rocky the Rock Star and me...
Me and Rocky went for a three mile run this morning.
He loves to run.

I leave tomorrow for Javelina 100 mile trail race please send me those positive vibes.
I'm running the whole race with my friend XY. Hopefully she won't kill me out there.

Zen Card....
problem solving

The way to remove
darkness from a room is
simply to turn on a
light. In the same way, to
rid yourself of any
difficulty, concentrate on
the solution
rather than the problem.

That's exactly what I'll practice today. Have a great day. 

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE....the black parade
They are my new favorite band..sorry AFI. I still love you Davey.

Famous last words..
Now I know that I can't make you stay but where's your heart, but where's your heart
And I know there's nothing I can say
to change that part, to change that part
So many bright lights they cast a
shadow but can I speak is it hard
understanding I'm incomplete a life
that's so demanding I get so weak A
love that's so demanding I can't speak
I am not afraid to keep on living I am not
afraid to walk this world alone Honey if
you say I'll be forgiven Nothing you can
say can stop me going home
Can you see? My eyes are shining bright
Cause I'm out here on the other side Of a jet
black hotel mirror And I'm so weak Is it
hard understanding I'm incomplete A love
so demanding I get so weak
These bright lights have blinded me I said
I see you lying next to me With words I
thought I'd never speak Awake and unafraid
ASLEEP OR DEAD

I guess I'm feeling just a little Black & White today... If you get a chance check out their CD..This my favorite song on the CD.
Have a beautiful day!