Furnace Creek 508 mile bike race.
Me and my friend Linda at the start of the 508 mile bike race. Linda went into this race injured and under trained. She took a bad fall at mile 60 but continued on until the 110 mile mark. She was pretty messed up. We took her to emergancy in Ridgecrest where she ended up getting 5 stitches, in her right arm. The most important thing is she attempted it.
She will be back next year trained & ready to kick butt and I will be there to crew her.

Life is all about the journey!!!! 

You Can exercise anywhere!!!
Me getting a work out in while crewing at the Furnace creek 508 mile bike ride.
There are no excuses not to get in a work out even when traveling. Stick to a schedule and exercise when & where ever possible. I just used rocks as my weights and used the van's bumper to do push ups.

Zen card....Through kindness, the world softens. Be kind to all beings and things.
In this way, creation returns to it's natural state of beauty.

UNDERSTANDING
What happens to you does not matter;
what you become
through those
experiences is all that is
significant. This is the
true meaning
of life. 

Randy's first trail run!
I know it doesn't look like we're running. But hey, we had to stop for a photo. Running in the rain, what fun! We ran 5 miles and he did awesome.

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

That's what I'm doing in life! I love this zen card.

Life is part of death.. I came across this little guy a couple days ago on my run. Just the day before my friend & running partner Mike Palmers mother passed away. I was reminded once again how short our lives can be. It brought back many emotions inside me. My Mother passed away 4 years ago and not a day passes by that I don't miss her.
Sure it gets easier as the days go by, but still it's hard.
Things to remember in life..Always tell the one you love that you love them each and everyday even if you're having issues. Just remember it my be the last time you see that person.

When I must leave you
When I must leave you for a little while-
Please do not grieve
And shed wild tears
And hug your sorrow to you
Through the years,
But start out bravely
With a gallant smile;
And for my sake
And in my name
Live on and do
All the things the same,
Feed not only your loneliness
On empty days,
But fill each waking hour
In useful ways,
Reach out your hand
In comfort and in cheer
And I in return will comfort you
And hold you near;
And never, never
Be afraid to die,
For I am waiting for you in the sky!

This is something I read at my Moms funeral. It's very touching, each time I read it, it makes me cry.
Have a beautiful day 

Yes, I'm freezing!!!!
Looks like Fall is here. I love the changing seasons.
Me at the top of Mission Peak.

This morning I was stuck in two hours of traffic coming from Scotts Valley to Fremont. Normally it's a 40 min. drive. I was getting super negative and upset because I wasn't going to be able to run. And if you know me, you know i run everyday, but usually have Mondays off. I started getting upset, and realized you know what I'm alive and healthy, it's not the end of the world.
Life is to short to stress about things we have no control over.

Zen card...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.  

ROCK STAR COUPLE!

So today was my first day at crossfit. I absolutely loved it. You work all parts of the body. I suggest every Ultrarunner check it out at least once. I've been working out with a trainer for a few months and I think my workout at crossfit was better then working out with a personal trainer. Just my opinion.
go to www.crossfit.com
to find where it's held in your area. They are all over the country. I plan on doing crossfit twice a week. We"ll see if it helps me in my upcoming Hundreds.

zen card...
Happiness comes from within.
If you choose to be happy, no one and no thing can ever take that happiness from you. 

Destiny!
You can look...And you will find it, you can not look... and you will find it,
That which is yours, will surley come to you....

Life is good and getting better everyday!!! Go out and run and enjoy the little things life has to offer.
Catra 

YES, I'm FREAKING OUT!!! No hundred mile race this weekend! I'm learning just to deal with it! I know, I know I can't run a
hundred mile race every week. It's just so fun!! I will be back at it, in a couple weeks so for now I'm just enjoying my down time :)

Replace fear with love...
The human mind is like a fertile ground where seeds are continually being planted.
When you are impeccable with your word, your mind is no longer fertile ground for the words that come from fear; your mind is only fertile for the words that come from love. 

Round two...Today I got color added to my tattoos. One more sitting and they will be finished. I love them!!!
I am no longer a slave to drugs and alcohol..I am a slave to love, and being clean & sober. Today I can happily say I love being me.
It took so many years to feel this way. So many people in my life have tried to push me down, change me and not allow me to be me. For the first time in my life I am in a healthy happy relationship. It feels great.
Just be yourself :)

Wisdom card...I love being me. I no longer judge or criticize myself. I am free to love who I am.  

Night Run.......No I am not afraid! I could be, I could have fear but I don't. I could be afraid, I could fall and hurt myself at night! I could be afraid in my new relationship, I could get hurt. If I have fear from the night and the fear of falling in love, I would miss out on the beauty of the night, and the beauty of someone loving me.
Being afraid in life will only limit what I can do, and what I cannot do... I only have fear if I don't trust myself. If I trust myself, and be careful, when running at night I will be fine.
If I trust myself, and trust in the person who loves me, my heart will open more to life.
I see the beauty in the night, because I have no fear. I see the beauty in the one who loves me, because I have no fear.
Catra

Another foggy day in Paradise.
I love this time of year it's foggy in the morning. but very warm.
Somedays I just don't feel like getting out on the trail. Today was one, but glad I did. As I was fininishing my run I saw a calf playing with a baby coyote they were chasing each other around. It really made me smile.

Wisdom card....I deserve only good in my life..I release other peoples fears and limitations. I think my own loving thoughts.

Have a beautiful day, go out and run :)

Catra 

Me in the fog on Mission Peak...
I went out just to run 6 miles but somehow decided I felt great so I ran 10 miles. My legs feel strong after run my three 100's in three weeks.

Wisdom card...I forgive myself for any wrongdoing
Guilt never makes anyone feel better, nor does it change a situation. I now stop feeling guilty. I let myself out of that prison. 

Having fun on Mt. Diablo...Thank God for having a strong man around. Randy is actually saving me from a long fall. I love action shots.
I have never had fun just hanging out with someone. With Randy everything we do becomes a fun time...He's the best.
Wisdom of the day...The human mind is like a fertile ground where seeds are continually being planted. When you are impeccable with your word, your mind is no longer fertile ground for the words that come from fear; your mind is only fertile for the words that come from love. 

Woo hoo, three miles to go! Rio del Lago 100.
I must admit, I'm a little freaked out that I'm not running a hundred mile race this week.
I guess it's the addict in me wanting the next fix.

Wisdom card....
I create wonderful new beliefs for myself.
Life is very simple, I create my experiences by my thinking and feeling patterns.
What I believe about myself and about life becomes true for me. 

Only those who risk going to far can possibly find out how far one can go...T.S Eliot
Rio del Lago 100 mile trail race. Here is a picture of me and Randy, me going on 40 hours with no sleep I think Randy hasn't slept for 38 hours. Funny how well I can handle lack of sleep.
I just want to thank my pacer Kathy Donafrio she was awesome even though I had my ups & downs she was fun and kept me moving. My crew Wayne(Kathy's boyfriend) Ruby (Kathy's daughter) They met me at each aid station through the night.
Also a huge thank you to Randy for coming out to support me. He went out Saturday to a gig and showed up at 4am to support & crew me. He also left me many phone message's and text messages. It really helped during my bad pacthes to know he really cared & supported me during my run.
My race went well I just took it easy. I just lived in the moment. Running three 100's in three weeks is not easy. You have to have the right mindset to be successful. Positive thinking!
My time was 26:36. I was happy with that.
My total combined time for running all 3 100's....300 miles in 90 hours 06 min.
I want to also thank all my friends who email & call to wish me luck during each race.
Next 100 San Diego looks like I have a few weeks off from 100s.
I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself! Oh, I know spend more time with Randy;) 

The love for the wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an experession of loyalty to earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only paradise we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need,
if only we had eyes to see.
I got that out of my Yosemite meditation book. I love it!

I know it has nothing to do with the picture, but means so much to me.

This is me & my friend Randy we go way back. We have known each other for 17 years.
We just started hanging out after not seeing each other for 13 years.
I'm just enjoying each moment we are spending together.
I thought I had a lot of tattoos :(
He has more than me! Looks like I just have to get more! Who said I was competitive ;)

Friends please send positive vibes once again for my third 100 in 3 weeks. Rio Del Lago 100. Thanks
XOXO,
Catra 

Having fun hamming it up on my last long run!!
Next up Rio Del Lago 100 Saturday. Send me those positive vibes friends!!!
1994...
I'm looking at myself in a mirror in my room I've been up for 3 days. My boyfriend is fast asleep, who knows how many days he's been up.
I'm crying because I have just come to the reality I will always be a drug addict. I tell myself I can't live without speed. I accept that this will be the way I live for the rest of my life.
I'm am to weak to quit it will always have a hold on me.
I cry myself to sleep I know that this is my life!
2006 September...I am no longer that weak person I am no longer a drug addict. I am stonger then ever. I turned my life around 13 year ago.

I will celebrate this weekend running 100 miles knowing being a drug addict shaped who I am today.
Anyone can turn their life around. I did it, so I know anyone can.
Catra 

Yosemite....The most beautiful place in the world!
I believe everything in life happens for a reason, that's just me. Everyone who has come into my life has taught me about life. Even if wasn't a positive experiance at the time. I always later learn why I was with that person, or why I did what I did.
A special someone has come back into my life and it's a really cool thing. It's at the right time. You think you know someone, but when you're on drugs all the time ,you don'.t
Now that I'm clean, I realize I never really got to know this person. It's 12 years later and even though he's an old friend he's a new friend.
We have changed for the good in more ways then one.
I'm happy just living in the moment and being alive.

Wisdom card~
I am my own unique self..
Everyone is unigue and different. If we are like other people, then we are not expressing our own specialness. 

The look of a happy Angeles Crest 100 mile finisher!

I had a pretty good run even going into AC on 100 mile legs. I knew if I just put one foot in front of the other and kept positive I would finish.
It always takes me about 6 hours to feel like I'm into the groove of the race.
Before 20 miles I took a pretty good fall scraped my leg and really cut my hand up.
Right before the mile 53 aid station I started getting a bladder infection. I knew I had cranberry juice there and I could put it in my hand held bottle.
I wasn't drinking enough. It got better after a few hours.
I just tried to remain positve. I know all my friends were sending me vibes I could feel it.
I was really lonely during the night. There were no other runners around me. I knew at 2:15 am I would pick up Willem my pacer for the last 25 miles.

My MP3 was pretty much my pacer. I enjoyed just listening to my music and thinking about my past. I had so much going on in my head before I knew it I was at mile 69. It was cool at that aid station they had live video. I got to see my pacer and talk to him on video. Since I had never met him, it was cool to know who to look for.
I picked Willem up at mile 75 and knew this was where my race starts. It's a long climb to the next aid station. It takes between 3-4 hours to get to the aid station.
Willem was great he talked a lot which helped me up the big climb.
I got super sleepy at 5:15 in the morning I even had to sit on the ground for a couple min. I took a no doz at got going again. I wasn't feeling good and Willem had some ginger which saved me.
I was happy when we got to the aid station knowing we had only 16 miles to go.

I tried to do the math in my head when I would finish. For some reason I was off by an hour I thought I would finish in 31:45 but instead I finished in 30:41 my second fastest time.

We got to the last aid station and Jay was working and he had a vegan organic bar waiting just for me. I was very happy since I didn't have a drop bag there.

I was happy to finish in a good time. My feet were blistered and my legs were sore but I knew I could do it. Willem was awesome he kept me going. Sorry I was so quite at the end.

Thanks to all my friends who sent the vibes. Boy, did I get them when I needed them. Even though I was alone at times on the course, I really was never alone because all my wonderful friends were with me in spirit.

Next up Rio del Lago 100 this weekend!

Catra