Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Runs Theme Song

I hope you enjoy this video and this song. It made me feel so good inside. It made me want to get out and run some trails. I hope this inspires you to get out the door today and enjoy!

In Memory of Vince Pedroia DVM - an ultrarunner

Vince Pedroia was an ultrarunner, horseman, and a veterinarian who also was an incredible writer. He died on May 29, 2007 at the age of 60 after a long and valiant fight with Cancer. He loved the Western States 100 and this poem speaks of those trails.


"Facing a serious disease left me reminiscing, and with a great sense of loss of opportunity for great adventures I have had."

Are my days of toughness gone
My fine white ashes soon to drift on an indifferent breeze
Falling through the pale fingers of my family
To settle on the fuzzy green leaves of the hazelnut bushes
Later by the rains to be washed into the waters of Pump Gulch
Then down Salmon Creek and on to the sea?

Is this my divine ending
Or just fate reeling me in
A family genetic tragedy, my malignant embryo
Delivered, yet its seeds lurking
Spread within me like dandelion fairies?

Will I be painfully eaten
Pleading mercy from God or Jesus or anyone
Will I reach for a weapon
Hoping the old ammunition will act
And wonder where, and how, and when
And how about a note?

Or is this just a pause
Will my body crave its toughness again
Running through Michigan Bluff
And wading Rucky Chucky once more
Will my days again be consumed by miles on the roads
And will I be drenched by my sweat for hours?

Will I live to see my grandson
Pulling the levers of the old Caterpillar
Laughing as he lurches as she bucks him?

Will I ride the rocky trails again
Feeling the steady trot beneath me
And pat the sweating neck
The reins loose in my other hand?

Will my sleep be interrupted
only by the desire to rise
To go to the pump once more
To crank the old Cat again
To hear the flutter of the quail rising
And to see them glide away
Is this just a pause?

Vince Pedroia 2004
From "A Mano" Vince's book of poetry published 12/06

"Trail running is a microcosm of life. You appreciate the highs more when you've had some lows, and it teaches you that good things don't come without hard work." Doug McKeever

Hardrock 100- Photo by Klas Erklof


"Brick walls are there for a reason, brick walls are not there to keep us out, but to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. They are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough."



"It's not about how to achieve your dreams, it's about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself; the dreams will come to you."
both quotes by: Randy Pausch

Not your job!

Well, I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself, when I saw this very funny, (but sad) picture of this poor old opposum. I just had to laugh. No, I just cracked up!! Isn't this the way it is with so many people? I have to admit, that I have done just about the same thing before. "It's not my job, and I am not going to do it!"

Pertaining to my blue mood, I decided that it's not anyone's job to make me feel better except for myself. Soooooo, I'll smile. No more moping around and feeling dejected. I need to take care of myself. Said. Done. Thank you very much for listening.

I've had it up to my ass with sedate." Thelma in Thelma and Louise

Yesterday I went on a walk with a friend and felt really tired. Today, I am planning on going on another short walk and see how I feel. I hope to start some slow short swims next week and then progress from there. I hope everyone is enjoying these last days of warm weather. Already, I can feel the air has changed. I don't look forward to winter, but it will be nice running in the rain again. I can't remember the last time it rained. Now, get out there and do something physical while the weather is holding and the sun still warms your back. Winter will be here before you know it. Now get out there and get er done!

Missing Running

I miss running. Waves of sadness come and go as I sit here waiting to feel better. (I've never been good at waiting). Keep healthy, my friends, it is a drag to not feel 100%.

Amazing Suz!!

A HUGE congratulations to my best friend and running partner Suzanna Bon who was first woman at Angeles Crest 100 last weekend and for breaking the womens course record!! Her time of 22:00 hours just can't be beat!! Way to go girl!! Keep running like a girl!

Today is a better day. I can smile today and laugh at myself. Yesterday was one of those days when I felt like maybe I wasn't going to get better. I found myself feeling silently anxious, nervous about how sick I felt.

I hate feeling sick. I hate not having abundant energy and having my mind be blank. I am one of those people who thrive on activity. I am always thinking about trips that may or may not happen and places I must see before I leave this life. So much to see, so little time. Yes, today is a good day.

I hope you enjoy the pictures of Wasatch. Put it on your list of to do's. It is a beautiful race worth experiencing. Have a great day.

When you're told that you have some kind of physical affliction, you can either prepare to suffer or prepare to heal. Wayne Dyer

Getting Spanked in the Wasatch Mountains

Boy, did I have high hopes for Wasatch! Here is my story.

After pacing there in 2005 and DNFing in 2006 due to Rhabdomyolysis and subsequent liver failure, I came back for unfinished business. My training was good and my health excellent. I was ready for whatever Wasatch brought me.

The start was very warm and I made sure to eat and drink early and often and I ran strong into Francis Peak feeling confident of achieving my goal of 27:30- 28:00 hours. Hah! Wasatch had other plans. From Francis Peak to Big Mountain things went well, but my legs were getting tired and I could really feel the altitude. I felt really emotional arriving into Big Mt. Aid Station (mile 39.4), probably because I was realizing that this beast they call the Wasatch was totally kicking my butt!! I tried to maintain my positive feelings and my confidence, but both were severely waining.

I picked up my pacer Sunny Blende at Lambs Canyon (mile 53.13) and off we went behind my projected pace but determined to get er done!! Things started getting ugly after that. Last year, my legs refused to lift up, and this year that same sensation started up. It's not like my legs are sore or anything, its more like there is no connection between my brain and my legs. I just cannot lift them up. I monitored myself to make sure that I didn't have anything else going on. I felt I was okay at that point. Note to self: Stupid; here's your sign.
I kept repeating to myself, "you can do this, you are a survivor." I continued to try and move forward, but runners were passing me like I was standing still. I had planned on being at Brighton (75 miles) , between 12-1:00am and at 4:30 I dragged my sorry a** into the aid station.
I picked up my new pacer, Alison, and tried to proceed with relentless forward motion. Damn it, it just wasn't happening. I felt like a snail that had been stepped on but still had the will to get home to safety. Fear about last years outcome, caused me to doubt my ability to be able to finish. I wanted to quit so bad. I had a lot of excuses that would have been acceptable, but I knew that it is too easy to quit. I am not a quitter. Never have been, never will be. No way. The 25 miles of steep, technical up and down's just about did me in. My poor pacer must have wondered what she had gotten herself into. I couldn't blame her. She encouraged me and tried to keep me going. My legs were failing me. Unable to muster up the ability to lift my legs prevented me from moving more that a snails pace. I was worried about my failing body. Was I experiencing the same thing as last year? Could I be permanently damaging myself? I kept praying a silent, "please help me finish this, keep me from quitting." I have never ever looked at a cutoff in a race before, but now I was racing the clock to finish!I had to dig so deep. I crossed the finish line in 35:14. It was such a struggle and such a hard mental push. When I crossed the finish line, I told the race director, "it was a great race, but I won't be back." He laughed.

In our room at Brighton, I urinated a large amount of coca-cola colored urine. Myoglobin in your urine is not good and I knew that I was in trouble. I didn't urinate clear until the next afternoon. On Tuesday, I was admitted into the hospital and was diagnosed with a severe case of Rhabdo. The Doctor said that I was not dehydrated. I am not clear why this happened again. I did know from experience that it is crucial to really hydrate yourself after running a 100 miles. I knew it was very important with myoglobin in my urine. The Doctor said that I saved my life by hydrating well after the race, and for getting prompt medical attention. He said I might be on dialysis today if I had not been treated.

I am going to be okay. There is no permanent damage to my kidneys or liver. I am very lucky. I learned a lot from this race. I do know that I am tough and that I have the ability to dig deep within myself to push to the finish. I am not a quitter, and I am hard headed.

This afternoon, I was released from the hospital. It was a scary experience, but a humbling one at that. No, I won't be back to run Wasatch. I will watch from the sidelines or maybe pace, or maybe crew someone. I love the race and I respect it. But no, Wasatch spanked me and put me to bed. I'm okay with that now.

Slight Detour

As you have all probably figured out, I had some health issues during and after the race and have been hospitalized with Rhabdomyolysis.
I'm doing well and the doctor says there has been no permanent damage to my kidneys or my liver. I'll be released in a couple of days and will write up a race report soon.

Miles to go before I sleep

Matt and I are leaving in the morning for Salt Lake City. Sunny will arrive on Friday. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. My unorganized packing is done. The flowers are watered and the animals are fed.
I have a pacer for the last 25 miles now and that makes me feel better. I have never met him but he is a friend of fellow Montrail/Nathan teammate, Bryon Powell. All is good. I am happy that he is looking forward to pacing me. For those who are interested, I think that the race has a webcast that you can watch to follow my progression. I am #186. I am hoping for a 27-28 hour finish.
Good luck to all who are racing this weekend. For everyone else, do something fun, something you might not normally do. You, know, STRETCH yourself.

"Respect the distance or the distance won't respect you! It will eat you up, spit you out and make you beg for mercy"

Run Strong, Run Long

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage"- Anais nin

Suzanna gave me a card yesterday that said this quote on the front. She wished for me a smart and successful race. Inside the card was a small silver heart that I will carry with me as a reminder, when times get tough and doubt creeps in, that I am a strong, powerful runner.
Thank you Suz for that beautiful card and your encouragement. Thanks for always believing in me. You are a wonderful running partner, but more importantly, a great friend.
Thank you to all my friends that have emailed or called me wishing me luck and delivering me lots of encouragement and prayers. As Dan Williams said, "Kelly, you have unfinished business that you need to take care of at Wasatch." Yes, Dan, you are right about that. Well, it's off to bed, time to take all my crap off the bed again, suitcases, backpack, unfinished drop bags, lights,etc...... and finish with my packing after work tomorrow. If there is an afterlife, I hope I come back organized. Oh, and Dan, I plan on running strong and long, but not too long!!

Wasatch Mountains-something magical

It is almost time...7 more days until Wasatch Front 100. I am working on a pace chart and trying to figure out my drop bags. Everything is laid out on the bed in perfect order, only to be thrown in a clothes basket tonight at bedtime. Oh, how unorganized I am! The course layout of Wasatch just seems so chaotic! No, I think it is just me. I am hoping for a 27-28 hour finish. That would earn me the Spirit of the Wasatch belt buckle, awarded to the runners finishing in under 30 hours. You are given 36 hours to complete the race. I am confident that I will run well there. That is my plan. After last year, I am a little uneasy about my race, but I am feeling a lot more healthy this year and that is good. My friend Sunny Blende is pacing me from Lambs Canyon (53 mi.) to Brighton (75 mi.). I'm pretty sure that I have another pacer from Brighton to the finish, but it is not totally set yet. Hopefully, that will get confirmed in the next couple of days. As usual, I will go out there confident and positive. I am excited to be out in the mountains again. Something about being in the mountains makes me feel ALIVE! When I paced there in 2005, I felt something magical there, I couldn't really explain it. I just couldn't wait to be back. When I returned there in 2006, the magic just wasn't there. I felt too sick to really enjoy my time there, and I have very little recollection of the race. I had serious doubts whether I would actually be able to run again after that. A year later, and I am healthy and pumped up. I ask that you give me positive vibes as I embark on this run.
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift"- Pre