LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH
It's good to be back. Sure I'm bummed but everything happens for a reason. I will be back on the PCT in 2008 and it will be great!
Stay tuned I will be posting lots of pictures and more stories about my trip here.
I still have giardia and it sucks. That's what I get for getting cocky and not filtering since mile 1,000.
I got the braids out of my hair today and got a new do. I will post pics tomorrow.
Love to all of you!

http://www.catrapct.blogspot.com
I leave in just a few hours. I want to thank all of you who read my blog and encourage me on a daily basis to be the best person I can be. I will miss all of you, but I will return with some great stories for sure.
Jerry will be updating the pct blog weekly and maybe a couple times aweek. Depends on where I'm at and how good of cell service I have.
Everyone I wish you well in all your race's or whatever you do this Summer.
XOXO,
Catra AKA Dirt Diva

ASK FOR GUIDANCE IN SEEING THE TRUTH CONCEALED IN YOUR PERSONAL CHALLENGES.
Bless your difficulties and ask to see their hidden guidance. Have the courage to accept what you discover and to initiate whatever action your healing requires.

Moving the last of the supply drops......
We mailed out three of our thirteen supply drops Saturday. My good friend FJ(Fast Jerry) will send our supplies out to the post offices along the trail.
http://www.catrapct.blogspot.com

Ok so here is my gear list, and no Rocky isn't part of the gear although I wish he was coming along :(
REI trkking poles peak UL 12.5 oz
Mountain Hardware Phantom 15 bag- 1lb 14oz
SteriPEN water purifier 2 oz
Therma rest prolite 3 sleeping pad short 13oz
Gregory advent pro adventure race pack XS 1lb 12oz
Western States 2 bottle water waist pack
Black diamond mega-Mid lite tent 1lb 14oz
Ground cloth Tyvek
two small stuff sacks one with emergency stuff and the other
tooth brush, sponge soap.
Notice my flip flops I made? Montrail insoles with two rubber bands to keep them on. For hanging out at camp they weigh nothing.
Sorry I didn't have time to write a better list but this will have to do for those of you who asked.
Two large stuff sacks one with 4lbs of food the other clothes.

Everything back in the pack. it's all ready to go!

My Last full day in Fremont....
Met up with Jo Lynn & Boomer went around Quarry lakes with the boyz.
We had fun. I'm going to miss Rocky and all my family and friends.
Thanks to all of you who help support and send me positive energy and vibes when I'm out doing what I do ;)
All of you who ready my blog do hold a special place in my heart.
Your daily words get me going and make me feel good. I will draw on all your positive energy during my journey.
Rocky once again taking his pal Boomer for a walk. They wait for each other when one once to mark. How cute. Sorry Boomer for showing you taking a Pee ;)

Good job runner's, looking good...Have Fun!!!!
I was sad that I wasn't running the race. So I felt that if I could be a part of it by at least running to the top, and checking the course markings before the race, it would make me feel better. And you know what ,it did.
I know I brought a smile to many of the runner's faces just by being there.
Standing in the cold, holding a sign & jumping up and down, cheering on all my friends.
Me and Julien trying to stay warm at the top. This is the warm spot where we are at. We waited there just trying to keep warm until the runners started coming.
We hung out at the top and I watched and was so thrilled, that so many people were getting to enjoy my favorite place & peak. We stayed there until the sweeps came and then left to finish our resupply drops.

Me with the last of our supply drops. We got a lot done it took 5 hours but they are almost ready to roll. Just waiting for Julien to add his energy bars. if they don't arrive tomorrow from France he will go out and buy some. All we have to do is label them.
I went home got ready and came back with Rocky to the finish. We had a good time watching our friends finish. There were quite a few virgins running this year, you all did great. Will G. awesome job on your first ultra. Don't go beating yourself up over your time. You did great! There are so many ultras to run and I think you should do another 50k this year. This was just a learning experience.

Me & my two favorite guy friends. Left- Mike Palmer( great come back after not running for awhile). Right- Fast Jerry( You Rock) Jerry shows us being over 60 you can get faster.

GOOD LUCK OHLONE 50K RUNNERS...................
Me along the ohlone course doing a sunset run.
Horse Heaven trail.
The top of my favorite peak, Mission Peak

So I decided not to run the ohlone 100 mile run i do ever year and finish with the 50k. I am running out of time and in reality I have so much to do. Yes, I'm sad;( but I know in my heart I made the right choice. I don't even have time to run the 50k tomorrow. But I will show up and run the first 10 miles at 5am to check ribbions. I will then wait for the runners to pass through the first aid station. Me & Ju will go back home finish packing our resupply boxes. I hope to be back to the finish line at 3pm.
I wish all my friends good luck at the Ohlone 50k.

I got my hair braided Thursday took 8 hours. I realized after it was done they were way to thick and heavy. My braider Sydney used way to much hair. But I didn't think about it at the time. . I loved the way they looked but I knew there was no way in hell I could fastpack 2,666 miles with all the extra weight on my head. I would of been cutting the braids out the first day on the trail. Not to mention if I got them wet my head would of weighed 10 pounds ;)
So I went back yesterday for 10 hours to have them taken down and redone.
Now they are perfect.
I beleive this all happened for a reason and I was not meant to run the Ohlone 100 this year.
My higher power was telling me rest and get everything ready for the PCT. The Ohlone 100 will be waiting when I return. Yes, I plan on running it in September sometime.

PILES & PILES OF FOOD EVERYWHERE...........
Poor Julien's hotel room looks like a food & gear bomb exploded in it. We are doing our supply drops there. Just easier since I have a full house and no room to spread out.
We are still keeping our fingers crossed that the missing package that contains 600 energy bars shows up soon.
Me with my organic peanut butter and piled on me, oat meal, Hummus, lentail mix, dried fruit and dried split pea soup mix. Behind me my wheat free crackers and 13 cases of energy bars, clif bloks and clif shots. It should last me 78 days. I will be stopping for fresh fruit at every store we pass along our journey.
Julien with lot's of food. Cous Cous, nuts, lot's of peanuts, cookies, powdered energy pudding mix and 78 flasks of gel oh and dried fruit.

I'M GON-A-GET U SUCKA.........
Me & Julien being silly. Here we are modeling the latest in bug net material. We couldn't find any bug nets, seems REI was sold out. So we bought the material and will make our own.
I'm off to go get my hair braided since I won't be washing it much and don't want to carry a brush. The braids woked out last season so I will do it again.

IN SILENCE, WE MOST READILY PRESERVE OUR INTEGRITY.
Your soul thrives on silence. From deep inside, you recive your most certain guidance and instruction. In silence, you are without distractions. This is why we fear silence-we fear its power. Enjoy quiet meditation today.
Rocky after a good hard run.

My growing pile of gear.....It keeps growing 'so much to do so little time :)
Today we will go to the post office to try to figure out where Juliens 3 packages are. He sent stuff a month ago and it hasn't come. It's somewhere is the US.
The books & the map. I'm so excited. I spoke to a group of 2nd graders yesterday. That was fun. They all wanted to know about the PCT. They are going to follow me along the way(through my blog). There was one little girl who stuck out in my mind she must of raised her hand 10 times. I told myself that little girl is going to be an amazing woman someday. I saw the thrill for adventure in her eyes. They were all excited for me and it really made me feel good.
Ok I know what you guys are thinking this looks like a vibrater. Well that's what I thought ;) But it's not! It's the latest in water purifiers. It's called a SteriPEN.
It uses Ultraviolet light to sterilize. It has been tested & used by Everest Climbers so it has to be good.
I want to thank Diana & Caren for the kind donations. Your donations purchased the SteriPEN. I will think of you ladies everytime I use it.
I will post what I purchased with other donations as I buy items. Thanks again you are all truley Angels.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE BLOG FAST JERRY WILL KEEP GOING AND UPDATE WHILE I'M GONE. BOOK MARK IT. http://www.catrapct.blogspot.com

HAPPY IS THE ONE WHO ATTENDS TO THE NEEDY.
How easily are you irritated by the needs of others? Give away some of your time today, but do it in a therapeutic sense. Attending to the needy also includes surprise acts of kindness.
I love this image. I took it coming off Mission Peak yesterday morning. Little Mr. Squirrel sitting on a rock. He's just living his life. Sometimes we forget to do that.
Today enjoy your life and give thanks for being alive. -Catra

Happy Mothers Day to all you Moms. Me & my little son Rocky went out for a run. Some days it's a little hard to get him going but
all I have to do is say, "Rocky want a cookie" and that get's him running.
Beautiful day at Coyote hills.

Me & Julien on our overnight fastpack along the Ohlone trail.
We did 29 miles and had a blast. It was super windy at camp just below Mission Peak last night. This was the first time Julien has did an overnight fast pack. He did great.
Getting ready to climb the switch backs up Horse Heaven trail.
Canyon View trail just above the Ohlone road/Little Yosemite area.
Not much water flowing in little Yosemite it's really a dry year.
This morning on the top of Mission Peak. I'm going to miss
This place when I'm gone.

DON'T ASK TO UNDERSTAND THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE, BUT SIMPLY TO KNOW WHAT THIS MOMENT MEANS.
It's easy to get lost in endless speculation. So, today, release the need to know why things happen as they do. Instead, ask for the insight to recognize what you're meant to learn.

Me & Julia modeling our wall balls. We did a two hour crossfit today and got our butts kicked.
I have so much fun when Julia is at crossfit, she can be such a goof ball that's why I love her.
My training is going well. Crossfit & hiking/running with my pack. I feel ready and am so looking forward to being on the PCT. Julien has been lying low and metally preparing himself for the journey. He is heading back to SF today for a little sight seeing and shopping. We will hook up tomorrow, and meet up with FJ and get our schedule made up.
Go out and have fun today doing whatever you love to do.

LET GO OF TIME.
How much do you need to do today??? Must you fill every moment to feel useful or productive??? And how much of your life is directed by time? Answer these questions honestly.

I've been super tired lately. I am going to see my Doctor next Tuesday.
I told her I would like to get tested for Lyme disease, hey you never know.
Most of the time people don't even know they have it and go for months before they find out.
I'm also having my yearly physical just to make sure I'm in perfect health for the PCT.
It could be that I'm a little stressed or that I'm trying to do to much right now.
But since I found that tick on Rocky I thought I better make sure I'm ok.
During the Mt. Diablo 50m I picked 4 ticks off of me.
I love this look. I think Rocky is in the ZONE...LOL

Now is now. Are you going to be here or not?
A delicious question. Spend this day living fully in your reply, even if you're unable to let go of yesterday entirely. When you give yesterday more power than today, does it enhance the here-and now?
I just want to say thanks to my friend Julia who I love very much. She is my friend, running partner & hairstylist. She has always been there for me in happy times & sad. I'm going to miss you girl when I'm on the PCT.
She always makes my hair look pretty.
Look at my lttle man I'm going to miss him so much. That little face melts my heart everytime. He's got the it's to hot to go outside look going on.

I got my ass kicked at crossfit today http://www.crossfitoneworld.com
The workout looked easy on the board but it was tough.
WOD as many rounds in 20 min.
15 Thrusters
21 box jump pull ups.
Julien decided not to come. He had to take care of some stuff and he went to check out San Francisco. I'm sure he is having fun, and probably thinks I'm crazy for putting myself through such torture everyday ;)

TO BE SURE OF THE ROAD, CLOSE YOUR EYES AND WALK IN THE DARK.
SPIRITUALLY CLOSING YOUR EYES PERMITS HEAVEN TO ENACT THE MOST WONDERFUL GUIDANCE IN YOUR LIFE. SAY THE PRAYER, "OPEN A NEW ROAD TO ME TODAY," AND EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. wHEN IT APPEARS, ACCEPT THE GIFT.

Me & my friends on Mission Peak left to right. Julien, Catra, Michelle & Jerry.

HELP OTHERS QUIETLY, WITHOUT EXPECTING GRATITUDE OR REWARDS.
LET THE HEALING POWER OF YOUR SPIRIT RUN THROUGH YOUR HAND AS YOU REACH TO TOUCH ANOTHER, BUT SAY NOTHING TO THE PERSON YOU HELP. LEARN TO GIVE INVISIBLY.
Hi to my friends who were running MiWok 100k I stood here and
waved to you all, and sent you positive energy.

Don't worry I'm not going to jump, just checking out the view, and getting blasted by the wind.

It was fun being up there today without the pressure of running a 50 mile race.

Me & Julien after a long day training on Diablo. We did crossfit in the morning, and went to Diablo after, for a fun day on the Mountain.

Life is a circle from childhood to childhood.
"Childhood to Childhood" Means a spiral of new beginings. Relationships begin anew every day. Give your attention today to renewing a relationship, initiating another spiral of life into a life that you share with someone.

Me & Julien on Mission Peak in the clouds. This picture was taken around 1pm.
Me & ju hit crossfit and went for a fastpack. Tomorrow we will go to crossfit and spend 9 hours on Mt. Diablo training. It's getting close our PCT adventure will here soon.

Last night I woke up and found a tick on Mr. Rocky. He never had one and I'm not sure how it got on him. I'm thinking he got it on the Alameda creek trail Monday or it came from my clothes from the Mt. Diablo 50m Sunday. I brushed him yesterday and it wasn't there. Tiffany took him for a walk and it wasn't on him before. Is it possible to pick up a tick from lawn? I always thought it was a wooded area.
My theory is the Mt Diablo race it got on my clothes. Lived in my room and hopped on last night. It was big full of blood. I was careful put a glove on and pull it out.
I will have the doctor check Rocky out next week, he has an appointment already.

My New French Pacific crest trail doll has arrived.
He has all the features needed to make the long journey the instructions say just to give him food and water and he can go the distance...LOL .
Julien has finally made it to the US. He will be the perfect PCT partner. We have been emailing for over a year and finally we met face to face.
We're going to have a blast.
I took him to crossfit this morning to see what he was made of. He kicked ass. That proves to me we will rock the PCT.
Julien & Catra ,oh and Meme she's such a ham, she got into the picture too.

Crossfit One world rocks!!! We have so much fun!!!
Me & Jo Lynn decided to test out our boxing skills in the ring. We have a lot of work if we want to go pro. We were afraid of hurting each other. We were having fun just goofing around.
Wow I'm pretty flexible with the one legged balance punch maneuver.
Jo Lynn has a mean right legged kick to the thigh maneuver.
In the end it was a tie and that's just fine with us. It really was a tie for the worst boxing ever.
I think we're going to stick to trailrunning and crossfit ;)

WOD
Run 800 meters
25 dumb bell cleans
25 knee to elbows
Run 600m
20 dumb bell cleans
20 knee to elbows
Run 400m
15 dumb bell cleans
15 knee to elbows
Run 200m
10 dumb bell cleans
10 knee to elbows
total time.

This post is for those of you who have ask to help on my PCT journey.
This picture was taken in 1990 at club FX in San Jose, I'm the one with the Black hair and that's my friend Gidget.
Back then who would of thought that 20 something girl would turn into a crazy outdoors chick, Ultrarunner and fastpacker. No one would of. When I look back I can't believe how I have changed. I always said I would be a Goth for life. Don't get me wrong I love the music still and love the clothing. But I know I am a better person then that girl in the picture.
I must admit I always loved having my picture taken even back then.
Ok my friends here is the address if you want to help with donations.
Thank you for wanting to help it means a lot.
5121 Lawler av. Fremont, Ca. 94536