The Mountains of Truth

On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow. Friedrich Nietzsche

Looks like I have a cross dressing wiener dog on my hands. He somehow slipped into one of my MOEBEN shirts while I was cleaning. I know he senses me leaving the suitcase is out and I am packing.
I love this little dog he brings a smile to my face everyday, he needs me as much as I need him. We are a team and I enjoy my time with him.
I do miss him when I travel but I know I have a great friend Jerry who will take good care of him while I'm at Wasatch 100. He loves when I'm gone because Jerry gives him extra cookies ;-).

Your Unique Talent

Use your talent (everybody has one) in anyway you can. Don't keep it for yourself like a miser - spend it like a millionaire! Lucy MacDonald

So I am getting ready for Wasatch 100, well kinda. I bought my food and have my outfit picked out. Of course looking cute is most important because at mile 75 when I feel dirty and stink, I will know that I have a cute outfit on so when I feel like shit I will look cute and it will make me feel a little better for a moment ;-)
Wasatch is always a spiritual journey for me there is just something about those mountains. It's been two years since I raced it. I paced Julia last year so I got to be out there. I am going for finish number 6.
I would love it if you all could send me positive thoughts. I hope to finish in under 34 hours. My dream would to run 32 hours there.
It's a tough race with remote aid station and at night it will be cold.
I will have a pacer the last 25 my friend Sallie. We will have fun.
Ran 5 miles yesterday and of course managed to do some squats with this branch. Did 100.
I am just doing tabata workout until Wed. then rest no more crossfit until after the race. I want to go into the race rested.
Persevere and direct your energy towards your goals. If you do this and truly believe in what you’re trying to achieve you will be given the power to succeed. Sometimes obstacles should be seen as a test - pass the test and overcome the obstacles and success will be in your grasp. If you are feeling challenged right now examine whether it is due to misunderstandings or perhaps a mistrust. Opportunities will arise to resolve your situations.
© Stephen Haynes

It Is What We Are

Happiness is not in our circumstances, but in ourselves. It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel, like the heat of a fire. Happiness is something we are. John B. Sheerin

Jerry, Julia and I did a fun run out of Sonora Pass. We ran up to the top of Leavitt peak we actually couldn't find the trail we ran past it and some how missed it.
On the way back we found it and went up the 11,598 peak. Awesome views of the Yosemite the Eastern Sierras and the Tahoe area.
This was me and Julia's last long run before Wasatch 100 which is next Friday.
There were at least 10 hikers out hiking the trails. I have never seen that many people on that trail. I love this area, it's a great place to run at attitude and only a 3 hour drive. I want to run more out here, and check out some other trails. I mainly run along the PCT when I have run out here.
It doesn't get better then this friends you love and beautiful wilderness.
We are finished and we only got lost twice, not bad!!!
I love being goofy, it's just me having fun.

You Were Born With A Calling

Each person is born with a calling. It is your task to discover what that calling is and find a way to make that calling a reality. Lucy MacDonald

This past weekend I went to Washington and a short trip to Canada. Andy ran CCC 100 he did awesome he had a painful shin about halfway and it continued to the finish. His goal was 25-27 well we got him in in just under 27 ;-) he really sucked it up at the end.

Jessica, Toby and me also crewed Andy. Jessica did all the driving thanks girl it was fun hanging with you.
I ran the course in 02 and now realize why I never went back. Those climbs are climbs from hell. The first part of the race is easy compared to the second half.
The climbs are straight up no switch backs. They suck!!! I forgot all about the course until I was out pacing the last 44.
I will say I would like to run it just to see if I do better then the first time ;-)
I really enjoyed helping Andy it was the first time I paced him since we mostly run together. It was fun.
The views on the course are spectacular especially of Mt. Rainer.

We went to Canada Monday spent time in Vancouver we had a blast.

I have been busy since I got home yesterday. Tomorrow we are training up at Sonora Pass area we will run up to Leavitt Peak 11,569. Julia, Jerry and I. This is Julia and my last training weekend before Wasatch 100 which is next Friday.

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.
I'm off to Washington tomorrow morning to crew and pace my BF Andy Kumeda. I will pace him the last 50 miles of Cascade crest 100. I'm hoping to kick his booty so he can run a fast time.
We will head to Canada for a couple days after. I am hoping to have time to do a run out to the finish monument of the Pacific crest trail. I plan to go back and get the woman s record in 2011 I have unfinished business out there.

Today I did a photo shoot for an article that will run in the SF chronicle I think on Sept. 14th. It's on healthy addictions.
They like focusing on different ways people keep fit.
They already wrote on crossfit and Ultrarunning so it will focus on something they never heard of. Fastpacking something I do every Summer to keep fit and train for all my Summer races.
We will see how it turns out. The photographer David is awesome. We are planning on doing some work together.
Sept. 5th Whole Foods Cupertino is having it's 2 year anniversary party so if your around stop on by. There will be music, food and free things. From 3-4 I will be teaching a "Get Fit" class so come join me for a free workout.

Don’t overload yourself with any more thinking. This is more a time of resting before action takes place. Intellectual reasoning only leads to frustration or leads you away from the direction you should be taking. As this is a re-orientation period take time to evaluate your goals, they may not be the same goals that you started with. Trust your feelings more, future success is at hand.
© Stephen Haynes

Be Good to Your Body

If anything is sacred, the human body is sacred.
What a fun weekend sorry I haven't updated. Shannon did awesome on the Chase Charity 24 hour run. She logged in 88 miles even with a sore ITB and sore feet. This woman is amazing she has touched so many peoples lives through the years and has been so giving to me, and all her friends. Being around Shannon makes me want to be a better person. She is a true friend. That's why I love this girl.

It was so fun being part of this event, I logged in 50 miles and had a blast. I love the trails where she lives. The weather started off overcast but ended up being hot and humid. We ran out of water, but thank god there were some workers out there that had a cold water cooler strapped to their truck.
Shannon had so many friends and neighbors come out to help. Ashely a CNN reporter from Atalanta ran her first Ultra out there 50 miles way to go girl. She learned a lot from Shannon and me. She will pace Shannon at AC 100 later this month.
I cant believe how tough Shannon is she was feeling so bad and had to sleep, but still managed to get up after an hour and keep moving even though she felt awful.
I loved the night time when the kids came out to do a loop on their horses and some young people did 9+miles never having done more then 5. She has inspired many to train and run a marathon or ultra.

We had Jimmy & Kate Freemen and their friend Katie come out after running Bulldog 50k. Even Andy Kumeda who marked the course worked an aid station and slept one hour he came out to cheer Shannon on.
She raised lot's of money for the foundation. She also tested the new dress line by MoeBen that will be out in Fall. She looked beautiful in her dress.
If you see me wearing the skirts and dresses I am testing them and they won't be out until Fall just to let you know. Shannon will keep me posted and I will let you know since many of you want to know how to get them. You can't right now but I will let you know when they are on the market. But for now you can go to moeben.com and order arm sleeves and leg sleeves.

Shannon, thank you for letting me be part of your journey. You are amazing and I want to be like you when I grow up.

What a Child Can Teach Us

A child can always teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.
Paulo Coelho

This weekend I will be pacing my friend Shannon Farar-Griefer at her 24 hour charity event. If you have money you wish to donate follow the link below. It's for a great cause.

Shannon Farar-Griefer

This is the deal...This Saturday I will run 24 hours straight for The Chase Foundation and you help me raise money...so for every $100.00 tax deductible donation you bring in, I will give you any Moeben item, shipped and at your door the next day, an...d me love you long time too, so if that isn't a smokin deal, I don't know what is! www.thechasefoundation.orgRead More

Home - The Chase Foundation

Source: www.thechasefoundation.org

The Little Things

Life is made up of little things. It is very rarely that an occasion is offered for doing a great deal at once. True greatness consists in being great in the little things. Charles Simmons
Sundays long run me on the top of Mission Peak it was hot!!!

Me running up the Grove trail to Horse Heaven.
Here are all my new Vasque trail running shoes to try out. I ran in the Aethere tech and enjoyed the ride. I love the lacing system you just turn it to tighten them, and pull on it to open or loosen them. I love the purple color too. I will try out the Momenta tomorrow.
Me running down Horse Heaven this morning.
So far I love these Vasque shoes ;-)

I will be out of town this weekend in SoCal to help my good friend Shannon on her 100 mile solo run for charity. I helped her back in 04 when she ran her run. I will be out pacing her the first 50 miles like last time, it should be fun. I love hanging out with her she is an amazing Mom, wife and friend. She is also the CEO of Moeben. If you don't own a pair of her sleeves I suggest you buy them they are great!!!
http://www.moeben.com

The Time is Now

The future is literally in our hands to mold as we like. But we cannot wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow is now. Eleanor Roosevelt
This past weekend Jerry and I did a trip to Tuolumne. We were going to go to Whitney but didn't have a permit so changed our plans. We will do White Mountain Peak and Whitney at the end of September. I really wanted to climb something high so I picked Mt. Dana the trail is close to the road and is 6 miles round trip.

We didn't start until after 4:30pm. It was a lot harder then we thought it was going to be.
There were cairns marking a few different routes. We went off route a few times. It was very cold and windy and we didn't bring flashlights. We got to the top took a picture signed the log book with frozen hands and started to head down. We were doing fine until we lost the trail, we could see where we needed to go from up high and just scrambled around in the talus field. I new once the sun went over the mountain it would not be fun. My goal get down to the main trail before dark and once there it would be fine. We finally made it down with out getting hurt. The sun was setting and we just moved as fast as we could. It did get dark but we almost all the way down so we were fine. Just a note to myself keep my extra headlamp in my pack at all times ;-)
Saturday we met Julia and did a run out to waterwheel falls but the trail was closed due to the fire they are letting burn. So we just turned at the PCT turn off and came back. We ended up climbing up Puppy dome with my friend Stan who was in Tuolumne. I haven't seen him in like 5 years, it was great to reconnect with him.

wisdom card of the day:
Now is a time of commitment. Decide upon your direction or goal and begin the journey towards it. Take time to recognize the patterns that have sabotaged you in the past and eliminate them from your future. Change must take place in the inner you before change can take place in the real world. Let balance be your watchword and if you need help then it will appear.
© Stephen Haynes

The Positive Thinker

The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible. Unknown
My feet are feeling better now this morning they really hurt but somehow they are healing quickly. Which is good since I'm climbing Mt. Whitney this weekend ;-)

I love this quote this is what I live by!!!

Get Up

It does not matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up.
My Time was 31:33
Headlands hundred what can I say, beautiful course, wonderful people and awesome views. It is very scenic.
It was a tough race the last 25 miles. I am thankful for my wonderful pacer Jerry. My feet were blistered and the last 16 miles was so painful I cant really describe how bad I was. I was in so much pain and fighting to just move forward.
I called on my Archangel Michael to keep me going since this is the card I drew before the race out of my healing angel cards. The card said he would give me courage, and release me from the effects of fear. It seemed to work I knew I would finish and I prayed he gave me the courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Between him and Jerry I made it. Jerry was awesome he broke up those last few miles for me. And would run ahead and say make it to here and I would catch up to him, and he would do it again and again. Without him helping during my darkest hours to remind me to believe in myself, I could of easily given up. Which by the way I would of totally not been happy with.
Thanks for all the positive messages. I got them ;-) this years course was alot harder but I loved the new course. Once again Sarah and Wendell put on a great race.
Congrats. to all who started and those who had to stop for whatever reason. You should all be happy you at least gave it your best that day.
Now is a time of commitment. Decide upon your direction or goal and begin the journey towards it. Take time to recognize the patterns that have sabotaged you in the past and eliminate them from your future. Change must take place in the inner you before change can take place in the real world. Let balance be your watchword and if you need help then it will appear.
© Stephen Haynes

Focus

Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. John Wooden
This is a picture of some of my students in my "Get Fit" class I teach on Wednesdays at Whole Foods. It has gotten so popular I will be teaching a second class on Tuesdays. We basically do a 30-45 min. workout then I do a topic discussion about food, supplements or other products we sale at Whole Foods. Class is from 6-7 on those nights.

I was breaking in my new shoes for Headlands when I was in Sierra Madre. These are the Mizuno wave rider assents I've been wearing this model for a couple years, I go back and forth between these and Adidas adizero. I have still not found that perfect shoe. I have a couple pairs of Inov8s. I'm thinking of trying the Montrail streaks next.
Ok the count down has begun. Tomorrow is Headlands Hundred. I would so appreciate it if you all sent me some positive vibes tomorrow, and Sunday. It should be a fun race.
I have my room-mate Fast Jerry pacing the last 25 so he will get my booty to the finish.
Well I'm off to work, enjoy your weekend doing something fun and outdoors.

A Burning Desire

There is one quality that one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it. Napoleon Hill
Happy to be home. I head back to work today. I miss my job, I really do when I'm not there.
I had a great time off. Fastpacking 131 miles trailrunning , crossfitting and just hanging out with Andy.
Now it's time to focus for Headlands Hundred this weekend.
But first I'm headed for a massage with my wonderful therapist David Ledesma he is in San Jose and if you ever want a great sports massage go to him 408-243-3949. I have been going to him since 04 and I highly recommend him.

Did a short run , 4 miles and a quick crossfit wod. gotta taper and get ready. Well I better go ;-)

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

Believe in Yourself

People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success. Norman Vincent Peale

I've been training and having fun in Sierra Madre. Ran from Chantry to Wilson and back Saturday that was my last long run. I'm running Headlands Hundred this Saturday. I love the fact that I get to sleep in my own bed before this hundred.

I've been training at Team crossfit elite fitness academy aka the academy. I love training there such positive energy and amazing athletes pushing hard. I will try to get in my last crossfit wod in there today. I will just do tabatas Tues. and Wed. then rest up for the hundred.
I will also head up the Mt. Wilson trail for a mellow run today.
Andy and I went to a play Friday night it was fun, wasn't great though. Last night we went to the music in the park in Sierra Madre it was a Beetles cover band they were pretty good.
Two guys I met during my run up from Chantry this is mile 80 of AC 100

We took Rocky to the Sierra Madre pet wash and he got pampared by Tony. He is so handsome now ;-)
I cant wait to move here hopefully by the first of the year. For now I enjoy visiting.

I Hope to head up Whitney in a couple weeks since I didn't do the whole JMT. I love going up there so I will see if my room-mate wants to do it.