Yesterday Karen and I took Matt to see this amazing cave that we found last week. Sometimes it is so much fun to just relax and EXPLORE. Sometimes we find bones and sometimes we find caves. You just never know what you may find when you start to bushwack and explore.

Thursday, Suzanna and I are leaving at the buttcrack of dawn for Hawaii! I am excited about seeing the Hurt 100 course and to be pacing Suzanna. Matt will join me on Sunday where we will stay a week in Makaha. I am looking forward to some R&R.

Today I swam for a long agonizing 45 minutes. My arms felt like they weighed a ton and it was quite a chore to stay in the pool today. I need to commit to getting into the pool more often so that it is not such a pain in my butt to do it. I should be able to swim for 45 minutes easily.

"Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it." Oprah Winfrey

A friend trains for the Susitna 100 in Alaska

Check out this video of my friend Bill Bradley. He is training for the Susitna 100 mile in Alaska. He is a crazy, but very likeable guy. Good luck, Bill!

Check out my Slide Show!

Running and Stuff

First off, the GOOD NEWS. My Mom's CT scan of her brain and lungs showed NO cancer!! Thank you to all who said prayers and thought about her yesterday. We felt every positive thought out there. Thank you so much. Her next surgery is scheduled for January 16th to remove the rest of her Thyroid.

Well, Hurt 100 is in exactly 16 days! As I mentioned before, I am pacing Suzanna and I am so honored to be doing that. Matt is going to come over after the race, and he and I will stay there for a week for some much needed R&R. I can't wait.

My running is going well. I feel good except for a nagging right hip that has been inflamed for a few months. I am going to have some treatment for it tomorrow. The guy is suppose to be good and does a technique called A.R.T. I will let you know how it goes. I ran with Karen today in gale force winds and freezing cold rain. It was far from pleasant. Our heads and hands were so cold that it was painful and we had to cut our run short due to the pain. I know, it sounds kind of wimpy now.

I came across the greatest blog. Check it out if you get a chance. The nutritional sections are amazing. I just love information like that. It's motivating and really interesting. A perfect read for the beginning of the new year. This blogger also has some interesting things to say about the aging athlete, racing and finances. He is also a coach. I guarantee you that it will be hard to move away from his site. Enjoy. Peace out for now.

Happy New Year 2008!

Happy 2008!!

We started the New Year out right with an incredible run/hike up Goodspeed trail and to the summit and back down. A clear, cold and beautiful day! Karen and Bob and Matt and I. Certainly a day to remember. Here's hoping all of you a great and Healthy year in 2008. Now with all of our resolutions under our belts, it is time to start executing them. Exciting huh? Well, kinda.

Tomorrow afternoon we find out the results of my Mom's CT scans. I am so nervous and scared. I just feel so helpless. This is so out of my control. I. hate. it. The future seems so uncertain right now. I know that I need to get positive and I must stay that way. Being any other way is not an option. I pray that I can stay strong for her. Please keep her in your thoughts. She means so much to me.


Dance in the rain

“There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

"Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?" So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head."H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?" So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly....

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass--it's about learning to dance in the rain."

This is a pic of my three beautiful kids. This pic was taken on Dec. 27th 2007, my youngest daughter Courtney's 18th Birthday. I feel so lucky that we were all together at Christmas. My middle daughter is Chelsea and she is 20. Caleb is the oldest and will turn 22 in January. Chelsea is on the left, Courtney in the center and Caleb on the right. They are growing up so fast.

Today is my Mom's 76th Birthday. She is the best Mom anyone could ever ask for. We are all getting together for a Birthday dinner tonight at my sister's house.

Today I ran with my brother and a couple of his friends in Annadel. We ran between 8-10 miles. The pace was fast and my knee felt great. Even my bad ankle didn't hurt. YEAH!! What a great run to end 2007 with.

"Life is a great and wonderous mystery, and the only thing we know that we have for sure is what is right here and right now. Don't miss it." Leo Buscaglia

New Years Resolutions----Believe in Yourself

Once again, I am guilty of being a blog slacker. Sometimes it is so hard to think of something creative to say....

Christmas went well this year. As I have said before, it is not my favorite holiday, but it turned out to be a Christmas filled with lot's of family and good cheer. The kids were thrilled with their gifts and we managed to pull off a Christmas Eve celebration with 35 family members for dinner!! Whew! I got a new pair of running shoes and I just love them. They are the Brooks Adrenaline ASR. Trail shoes that have proved themselves to be my favorite. They are light and supportive and they have a low profile. I have been wearing them for several months now and hold up well even during a 100 miler. Try them if you need pronation control.

Yesterday I got out on the trails after a two week layoff due to an injured knee. It was so hard to just cross-train and not run, but the rest paid off. I ran for an hour without any pain! The eliptical and the pool have been my saving grace. Thank God I have a gym membership and a pool to swim in.

It is almost time for New Years resolutions. I don't know about you, but I always start the year off with some promise to myself that I try and stick with. I am one of those people that can be quite strong and filled with will power if I put my mind to it. In 1981, I made a New Years resolution to never drink alcohol again. My father was an alcoholic and I had had a very bad week with him and his drinking. It seemed like a perfectly good resolution for me. Well, it is almost 2008, and I have stuck to my promise and have never had a single sip of alcohol since!! I am very proud of that. I was afraid to ever become like my father in that way. My chances of having alcohol become a problem in my life was higher due to my family history. I never wanted to become controlled by the bottle. I wanted to break the chain of destruction and prevent my future children from going through what I had gone through. I also loved myself too much to possibly live my life like he did.

I challenge you to find a New Years resolution that will change your life for the better. It can be anything. Believe in yourself and love yourself enough to make a positive change in your life. You will be surprised at how powerful that can make you feel. As we plan our races for 2008, think about what you want to do that will positively change your life for the better. Then, stick with it and you might be amazed at the outcome. I am a better person today because of my 1981 New Years resolution. I am a good example to my children and I hope they understand just what not drinking has done for me and for them. Start brainstorming and BELIEVE!!

Bah Humbug!

Today I ran with Paul, Suzanna, and Florencia at Sugarloaf, a park near my home. We ran for 3 hours and the weather was crisp and clear. It was fun to socialize with our "Marin County" friends again. Since our big run last Saturday, I have been dealing with an injury that I think is in my quad. It is felt in my quad just above my left knee and goes to the inside and down just below my knee. It hurts the most when I walk or when I run flat. I have been taking advil and icing it. The gym has been my best friend this last week.

I don't know about you, but I am a HUMBUG when it comes to Christmas. I was thinking about Christmas today. How did we get from celebrating Jesus's Birthday to buying everyone and their brother a gift? Whether you want to or not? It's just crazy, this rat race we call Christmas.

Tomorrow my brother and I are running together. He has made a commitment to get in shape and he is seeing progress. He and I use to run together years ago and we had so much fun together. I always knew he would get the running bug back.

I end this writing with the words of the late George Sheehan, M.D.--physician, writer, thinker, inspirational voice, runner.

There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly, I run because I am an animal and a child, and artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be.

No matter how old I get, the race remains one of life's most rewarding experiences. My times become slower and slower, but the experience of the race is unchanged: each race a drama, each race a challenge, each race stretching me in one way or another and each race telling me more about myself and others.

In facing life, no one knows exactly what is going to happen, what is going to be needed, where the search for the Grail will lead. The best we can do is be prepared. Running makes you an athlete in all areas-trained in basics, ready for whatever comes, ready to live each day, fill each hour and deal with the decisive moment.

Finally, and appropriately:

You must listen to your body. Run through annoyance but not through pain.

A Wonderful Day In December

Our epic run from Pt. Reyes to the Golden Gate Bridge became a reality at about midnight on Saturday night. We started our adventure at 5:00am, and ended about 73 miles later at the Golden Gate Bridge on a beautiful crystalline night with stars and crisp clear air. Suzanna, Leslie, Karen, Chris, Rob, Scott, Mark, and I ran the early morning hours together sharing funny stories and enjoying the beautiful clear day. After the first 22 miles or so, our running friends went their separate ways and Suzanna, Chris and I continued on our planned route. Our friend Jeff was our crew and aid station guy all day and made our experience so much sweeter. Thank you Jeff!! Chris and I saw a LARGE Mountain Lion on Mt. Tam. and I was disappointed that I didn't get a picture. I was poised for a "kodak moment." This run was an experience that I will remember for many years to come. We experienced so much out there. We were out there to see the sun come up and we saw the sun go down. We enjoyed each others company and played games with each other when we got tired. I am so thankful for a great run on a beautiful day.

A LONG run

Tomorrow, starting at the butt crack of dawn, 5 a.m. to be exact, my friends and I will begin our long run from Pt. Reyes to the Golden Gate Bridge. It is approximately 66 miles. We will have a fun day out on the beautiful trails. We will run on all kinds of terrain and the day is suppose to be clear with no rain. YIPEE! A few of our generous good friends will provide some aid for us along the way. I hope we see a lot of wild animals out there as the National Seashore is just a paradise for wildlife.

Running long for me always makes me feel powerful. Running long also makes me feel vulnerable. One thing that I can always count on is a lot of time to think while I am running along. When I feel powerful and vulnerable, I always find that prayer comes easy to me. Talking to God is so easy when I am out there with myself. Tomorrow I will dedicate this run and many prayers to my Mom. Last night we found out that she has Cancer. My heart felt like someone was squeezing it so hard and I could hardly catch my breath. It's hard to breathe as I type here now. My Mom has always been my rock and it was funny that last night after my brother and Sister and I told her the bad news, she told me not to be sad, as I was her Rock. I will pray for God to give her strength and courage as she begins this fight. I will pray for myself that God gives me strength and courage too, as I am HER rock and I must be strong for her.

Have a wonderful weekend!!