New Years Run..for my friend Tammy

Tina and I get ready for the fun!

On January 4th at 7pm I was standing with a lot of runners on the corner of Grand and 7th ready to run 13.1 miles to celebrate 2014 BUT more importantly it was supposed to be with my friend Tammy Covarrubias.
You see Tammy has MS, and I really admire her grit and determination. She had this crazy idea that we would run this together to celebrate her 50th birthday and to celebrate mine in a few months! Her resolution was to Fight MS one step at a time. Unfortunately Tammy was unable to do the event and so at the last minute my friend Tina said she would do this with me.

relaxing in front of Macys before the event...

The Event
Running through LA from Grand to Dodger Stadium at night was certainly a treat, I was in the first Corral, I have never explored LA during the day so at night was intriguing. There was plenty of aid stations and I had my fuel belt with my Hammer gels and electrolytes so just needed to grab water.. The first 6 miles were mainly climbing I took it conservatively as was not sure what to expect. Entering Dodger Stadium was the highlight for sure!

 I took out my camera and snapped a few shots I mean when will I ever get to do this again! I was all smiles and high fived a few security peeps I was so excited! On leaving the Stadium it was mainly downhill for the last half of the run. Ran past China Town and there was two awesome bands playing, one drums next to China Town and there was also steel drums near by too. There was one or two patches were the road darkened and I found myself alone for 30 40 meters! and a lot of homeless people too...With 2 miles to go we are in the lights of LA running towards Staples Center, I slow down to help a teenager he is nauseated and wobbling (he just needed some Hammer Nutrition!) then it was energy to the finish and great to see my friend Rudy on the microphone.

running through Dodger Stadium

all smiles and very happy!

Post Race
plenty of water and the medals are pretty ..the ribbons ready on memory of Boston 2013 I thought that was a nice touch.

I missed  out on 3rd place 40-49 by one second! But that is okay I ran through Dodger Stadium and enjoyed every moment of taking pics, giving encouragement and running remembering my awesome friend whose idea it was in the first place to do this.

On the link below you can see the route and when I entered the stadium!went to a nice easy 19 minute mile!!
https://www.polarpersonaltrainer.com/user/calendar/item/analyze.ftl?id=230712834

Tammy is an inspiration and with MS completed the Arizona Ironman a few years back, despite having limited vision, difficulty in walking and crashing on her bike. She is a strong minded woman and athlete.
 For ways you can help with MS check out their web site
 http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx

Finisher medal and new Brooks Launch shoes.

Our race bling

China Town

Finish Line Happy pic

Tammys Bib and resolution

My bib to finish writing my book

New Year resolutions and reflections

January 1st 2014
Not sure were 2013 went, but I am also glad it is in my rear view mirror. I took a year off from what I really love, Ultra Triathlons, I also did not scuba dive much but my year was challenging enough working on other issues. Was happy to be able to do a few races through out the year and highlights would have to include Beyond Limits 50 miler which I won and Zion 100km which I finished while facing my fears of heights, darkness and downhills!! I also helped my husband put on several road and Mountain bike events. My husband and I also faced some challenges but we are a team and we worked through them I hope 2014 will be a stellar year.

Moving into 2014 I have not made a New Years Resolution, I just want Peace in the World and to be healthy and happy. I am a little upset I cannot afford to do a few races such as Catalina 50 miler etc...but do have a race in April which I am going to train for and hopefully be able to get the funds needed to travel to the destination event..more on that later!

SO my resolutions are simple, I need to let go and not let little things bother me! I need to work more on being happy with what I have even though I do not drive I can still do some beautiful training in my local Foothills, even though I cannot afford to go to many races I can do smaller stuff locally and really support the companies that sponsor me at events with booths and as a motivational speaker for different groups. I truly hope to finish my book of my life and struggles from being Anorexic and hospitalized to traveling around the World meeting amazing people, living in different countries and living my dream.....

Life is beautiful if we allow it to be beautiful, we should not just wait until it it New Years Day to change our lives we have the power to do that every single day of the year!

We should not worry about social media, while I love it, it can also be depressing when you see people doing so many things! You truly make your own happiness and I for one have nothing to complain about other than a few issues that should be resolved by mid 2014! My life is rich with people I have met  who have influenced me in so many different ways. From all the corners of the Globe! I have an awesome family I live in Southern California and am owned my a miniature pincher that cannot be a bad thing!

SO raise a water bottle to 2014 it is going to be quite a ride!!

Even Veteran Ultra Endurance athletes make mistakes!

Hey Its ON! An easy hike to Mount Baldy ...read the phone text.... Woo Hoo I thought great! I do love going up to the top of Mount Baldy I have done the race up there twice and a few times ran up there in training. But would be so fun to hike it with 6 more friends and I could take Hammer!

all smiles....half a mile in...

Now it was an easy hike.....maybe I should have been a bit more diligent ....maybe I should have prepared for a race....
BUT I DID NOT

there are a few things you should know about me..
1. I am afraid of heights, I deal with the fear but if there is a small ledge I will almost puke to go along it and will usually ask for help...I do not look over the side of cliffs or mountains with out getting dizzy..
2. I love running and hiking uphill, downhill is always challenging....

Hammer has no problem as we head toward the green ski hut.

It is a beautiful day in the low 60s but sun feels warm.

Inside the ski hut hammer made us all hot tea!

At the Ski Hut I drank a little from my water and was feeling great every one was laughing and having fun I forgot to take a Hammer gel but did feed Hammer a dog biscuit! The HUT is only 2.5 miles from the car park and I was excited to go to the summit today.

with my friend Ray on leaving the Hut..still smiling....

After leaving the HUT it was not but a half mile when the single track became covered in snow, YIPPEE I thought! I love snow! ...and this is were the fun stopped and fear took over...

As my friends continued up to the ridge I had to battle my fear of falling...add the ice on the shaded part of the mountain path and now my progress was painfully slow, My little dog was ice skating he was I think having fun..his human was not.

I was very grateful that Kristen had realized I was having a break down and stayed with me. I dared not to look down only uphill...I could see other hikers having a somewhat difficult time..going up and going down my only thought was how I would get down this slope!

FEAR
Fear is real.... when someone has fear ...Fear takes over, rationality lacks...poor judgement and adrenaline take over

I crawled on all fours to get to the top of that hill....we sat at 8,900 feet and I was really worried! I have never been so grateful to Kristen for staying with me ..and felt bad I had brought Hammer my little dog this far up when I knew I was going to have a problem descending!

lessons learnt...
1. was not prepared for snow and ice.....Easy hike turned into a dangerous situation.
2. not prepared for mountain conditions... I had no ice spikes for my shoes and I was dressed like an ultra runner...I had no boots on no hiking poles no extra clothing for the slight drop in temperature. No satellite phone or ham radio !
3. If you are going to have a melt down and all your friends leave you it is best to have the one friend that does stay with you have every thing one might need for an overnight stay on the mountain , a sense of humor and a competent hiker. (she also had a flask of hard liquor!)
4. I had no problem my friends leaving me to see the summit ...but it would have been nice if they had returned the same way in case something had happened...

We decided not to go to the summit of 10,000 feet we both had done that before it was more important to start descending and confront my fears otherwise we would be stuck on the mountain... not good.

All smiles at the top of the crest before the descent....

 The next few hours my ultrawoman cape disappeared at the altitude, fear of heights and ice became my Kryptonite I had gone but 30 feet and I was already asking to hold onto Kristen and another friend we met on the trail Dave Tan took my little dog...I was no longer laughing or taking photographs I was deathly afraid of slipping.

I slipped, ....I froze...I cried real tears.....

Two complete strangers stopped ascending to offer help! Yikes was I that bad!!!
I felt like a cat with nine lives on count down.....

I used many lives in the next few hours...time stood still...it was show time time to face the fear and deal with it!
I was surrounded by amazing people....even though they must have thought what on earth is this woman doing on this mountain side!!!

 I felt awful...the more progress we made the less ice and slippery conditions.. My little dog sensed my fear  but I kept on following Dave and using Kristen for support. The HUT finally appeared, I wanted to lie down and sleep....

During all this melt down and adrenaline rush I had not eaten or drank.....BONK and EASY HIKE should not be in the same sentence! 4 lives left...

Facts
I was dehydrated ..... I felt sleepy........ I had an awful headache ..I was sitting in a strangers chair outside the Hut...

I know better ....but it was an easy hike?..I was surrounded by strangers all talking....they loved Hammer

After eating slices of apples, little pieces of banana and drinking water, I still felt shakey but I knew I needed to start moving... it was time to head back to the car park....the strangers who were now the top of my friendship list offered to walk with me Dave and Kristen for half a mile. one of them gave me his poles, I had gone but 30 yards when my feet went up and I came down to earth with a thud! I lay on the trail in disbelief! I had hurt my elbow but crikey are you kidding me!! 3 lives left!

I stood up slightly wobbly and was escorted for the next couple of miles...I thought 10 laps of the high school track....

I stopped a few times I wanted to throw up so badly! one of the longest two miles ever!!

The car park was a great sight to behold and my friends had descended back bone instead of returning the same way they had gone up....

Good Samaritans ...New Friends on the trails.

Accidents happen all the time on these Mountains.....I was extremely lucky and had no business being on Baldy in ice and hard snow...I was not prepared and should have turned at the ski hut while the going was good....my second mistake was forgetting to drink and eat due to extreme anxiety...my third mistake was treating the activity as an easy hike....there is no such thing as easy hike in the mountains when going to 10,000 feet, you can be sure next time I am invited to do something like this I will call ahead to find out weather conditions, I will carry extra clothes and small first aid kit. I will have a plan A and a plan B. I will treat this type of activity like I would an Ultra event or marathon. and will eat and drink every 20 minutes or so. I will definitely not continue up hill in conditions I know I cannot descend and in doing so put myself into a position were I need help from good Samaritans on the trails..

My fortune cookie wisdom that evening at dinner made me chuckle!! Even the Greatest Whale is helpless in the middle of the desert!

 

Today Hammer and I were invited to run with a few friends, Ray, Alicia and Maria. It was a little cold and light drizzle but we were game to happily show them our beautiful trails..

Hammer came across a baby rattlesnake....he was not much for drama

Hammer liked chasing down the girls! He is a ladies dog after all!!

we made the cross which was covered in graffiti

view as always breathe taking

Hammer on full alert

It is always a great day on the trails when I get to run with Hammer and my friends. Even though it was a little cool the weather once we started running we soon warmed up. 10 miles round trip just enough climbing and descending.

Running in Costume at the LA Rock n Roll 13.1

I have been a busy Bee these past few days, I was helping at Mount SAC at the Brooks Running tent at the Mount SAC Invitational, the next day I was part of the San Dimas Community event for families and cycling. Sunday was a play date with 13.1 miles in downtown LA and I was very grateful to Brooks Running for my entry!

Mile 12 I stopped to take a photo under the bridge!

So as it was a costume themed run and Brooks Happy Running was yellow I thought I would dress as a bumble bee... right? it seemed like a good idea here is what I learnt about running in costume.

• First you would never run in new shoes for a competition.. so why would you run in a costume you have never ran in before.
  
• If you are planning to be competitive dress as a competitive runner  !
• Just because my Bumble Bee out fit had wings on it did not mean I would fly around the other runners! They actually slowed down to allow all the runners to keep ahead I had to be stealth bomber bee and look for available opening..
• Running in nylons...it could have been worse.. feeling thankful I put Brooks nightlife socks under the nylons. The nylons bothered me they were hot and sticky to run it!
• I wore cute Orange hibiscus earrings and in the first mile one of them fell out and I stopped as I spotted my precious earring rolling into the gutter....another lesson in Costumes do not wear anything of value!!Cost me a minute trying to chase it down and not get crushed by feet!
• Those funny things bobbing on top of my head attached by a plastic clip did not bother me until mile 6 when they kept flopping onto my forehead! and the band pressed into my temples!

 I swore I would start the race in the costume and finish in costume. If I had known the wings and nylons were going to be that uncomfortable I might have chosen to be a yellow banana!

The Race

The Halloween version of the LA Rock n Roll was a fun event, there was a lot of mini marathoners which was about 3.5 miles not timed. What I could not understand is why they would start these runners in the same group as the half marathoners with 1.40 and below finishing times so the beginning was a little congested but fun seeing all the different costumes!

Plenty of aid stations I had my fuel belt so was pretty much self contained with my Montana Huckleberry hammergel! Lots of awesome cheerleaders on route and a few scarey looking zombies.

Despite the overcast and drizzle the course was great to run on although I could not tell you which bridge I ran over or under all the volunteers were fantastic and helpful!

The pic is side ways I apologize but this was at the finish line with Larry a 100 mile runner!

At the end of the race I found Liz and her co workers were else but the beer garden which was a great venue in front of the Staple Center and had some amazing bronze statues of incredible athletes.

My friend Liz who still uses her Polar heart rate monitor all smiles.

 I had a great day and was grateful to Liz for picking me up at 5am the laughs we had as she picked up her co workers from City of Hope all these ladies were amazing and fund raising for there hospital. 

the bling resting on my Brooks Launch...

 

Bling and Polar Monitors

Conclusion

A fun event to do being dressed up certainly made it more challenging. Weather slightly chilly and a little disappointed that the Rock N Roll organizers ran out of those nice and shiny space blankets at the finish line!! Good Job my friends had finished there mini marathon and I could get my warm Hammer Jacket from the car!

A HUGE thanks to Brooks running for letting me run this event, Hammer Nutrition, Fuel Belt, Rudy Project USA, Kool N Fit, Ocean Potion, Polar USA and Lis Chavez of City of Hope for letting me share the day with her amazing co workers one of which is recovering from Brain cancer and managed to walk for 9 miles pretty incredible.

  

I finished 4th in the woman 45-49 missing 3rd place by just under 2 minutes but Happy all the same as my time was slightly slower than I usually run 1 hr 41 mins I was 52nd female over all not bad for a bumble bee!

Every runner should dress up for at least one run it just adds a whole new dimension!!

Welcome back to running at Long Beach Marathon.

it is as always about that bling!

On Wednesday afternoon I was cleared to run after having a dental bone graft and titanium implant in my upper jaw! Long Beach Marathon was on Sunday and I loved to help Kool n Fit with their booth at the expo, so I thought why not lets do a little marathon on Sunday to officially break out into training again!

Lorraine and my friend Angelica on the rt. who gave me a lift to the venue and back home!

Pre Race
On the 3 days leading up to the marathon I helped at the expo, did my work for the Triple Crown Mountain bike event, ran two easy 4 mile runs with Hammer and wondered how I would pull off this marathon....to jog seemed like a plan......

I met a few Long Beach Marathon Legacy runners at the expo, pretty cool some were wearing the very first race t shirts!!!

SUNDAY race day!
Plan of action....To run easy and to finish in under 4 hours as I did not want to set my goal high with limited training..
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
Gun went off and I started to run, my heart rate was dare I say slightly elevated! my stomach was rumbling I needed the portaloo near mile 2 my prayers were answered, oh my what did I eat? 
Anyhow, by mile 6 I did a reality check that this was going to be a mentally tough day and I could not run how I say comfortable at all! I felt good, no head aches, no pain in my legs I just did not have the leg turn over I usually have at marathons, by mile 19 I had visited those awful portapotties 5 times!!! Pretty sure the runners trots were caused by the new strong coffee I had had in the am...

The 3.35 pace group went by me then the 3 45 pace group I was not wearing ear buds so to keep my self going forward I gave out high fives to other runners, and was delighted to see Steve and Annie Harvey on the course legacy runners and I had time to go over and give them both a nice sweaty hug!
I also saw my friend Rory at the mile 9 mark that was a nice break and mentally made me feel good.
I stopped at all the Kool n Fit spray stations to be sprayed down too!

I RAN, I Jogged, I laughed I hugged I gave out high fives, I was happy to be running again and remembered what I told my running group keep motivated use your arms, do not slouch!
 I also realized that due to my stomach problems I had to keep on top of my Hammer Nutrition Electrolytes, Endurance Aminos and my Hammer gel...and at mile 19 I started to feel better I painted a huge smile when I saw mile 21 and thought wow only 5.2 miles left!

Running down the marathon chute was awesome the air was electric although my time was slower which I knew going into the marathon I did a respectable 3 hours and 51 minutes and shocker good enough for 8th female in the 45-49 age group..(next year I will be in the 50-54!)

After I had cleared the chute and had my medal on I went over to help at the Kool n Fit booth and spray down the runners. I had fun, I got to socialize and saw a lot of Brooks running shoes!! LOL

right after I finished running I headed over to spray other runners

In center Renate from Kool n Fit and Jay.

Ralph from Kool n Fit

All Smiles the deed is done

A BIG thanks to my friend Angelica for the car pool we both had a mentally tough day but finished.

 Thanks to:
 KOOL N FIT I enjoyed the weekend very much and was well sprayed down.
 HAMMER NUTRITION was really important to me when I started to falter grateful for great raceday nutrition ..
 FUEL BELT I was able to carry everything I needed and grateful I put ASEA water into 2 of the little bottles and one with Hammer gel and one normal water. As the water on the course was one word disgusting... I worked it out by mile 18 it was the wax coated cups they were using awful!
 OCEAN POTION well protected with the best sun care!
POLAR USA Thanks for a great RCX5 monitor I did not want to see the numbers it gave me but I knew it did not lie!!
BROOKS RUNNING for making great running shoes my choice for the marathon was Launch.
RUDY PROJECT for making the best neon sport glasses in the business!!

https://www.polarpersonaltrainer.com/user/calendar/item/analyze.ftl?id=207299668

The Long Beach International City Bank Marathon

Race Standings

Race Place  13611

Division Place 502

Gender Place 109

Age Place  6

Bib Number  4062

Gender  F

Age  49:   Start Time 06:26:29;

5k      00:26:01

10k    00:50:43

Half    01:52:32

20 Mile  02:50:49

Elapsed  03:51:51

Endure the Bear... its all about the people you meet...

Big Bear California is a special place nestled at 7000 feet and surrounded by San Bernardino National Forest, it was first occupied by the Serrano Indians around 3,000 years ago! Then in 1845 Benjamin D Wilson discovered and named it Bear Valley while in pursuit of Indians!! But in 1860 when William Holcomb was hunting bears he discovered GOLD! and that turned into Southern California's largest gold rush!!
Roll forward to September 7th 2013 and a female race director by the name of Karen Lundgren is staging a grass roots trail run to all levels of capabilities. A 5km, 10km, 15km, 30km and a 50km. This is now the 4th year and Karen changed the route to become more scenic and to include more single track mountain bike trails with names such as Coyote, Skyline and Knickerbocker it was a success....

My husband Al, Karen and I after the 30km journey.

Big Bear is home to some fantastic out door enthusiasts and Karen is certainly a World Class adventure racer as well as being one of the few women ever to climb all 7 summits (yes that includes Mount Everest) yet is warm and approachable and does a lot for the community of Big Bear as well as being a ski instructor and organizing many Big Bear events for children too!

The Race
At 8 am the 30km run began with a nice uphill which certainly seemed for ever but in actual fact may have been only 5km! it took the wind out of your sails not because of the steepness more so the altitude... 

There was plenty of aid stations 6 in total, and there was no way you could get lost as orange ribbon marked the course for the 30km and pink ribbon for the 50km etc..

 The course was breathtaking, once at the top of the climb it immediately gave out to incredibly well kept single track which was curvy and looped back and forth it was actually fun as I really had to concentrate on my footing  as I was snaking around another female runner had caught up with me (which is not hard to do when the slope goes downhill!) We began talking and I was amazed that I was running with a mother of 7 children! It almost stopped me in my tracks I said you have to be kidding! any twins or triplets in that grouping ....nope was the answer youngest is 8 months and oldest is 19 years old. Whoa that is ONE TOUGH COOKIE!

Kim mother of 7 children!

 
We were at around 7 km and the whole run was to be a friendly exchange of uphills and down hills between Kim and I. Made the run feel a little more fun and I was in awe at this Mother with all these children one of which is a pro mountain biker!!

breathe taking views

The new course was a little longer but really nice and I wore my fuel belt for the 18 miles. I had Montana Huckleberry Hammer gel in one flask and a mixture of Endurolytes, Endurance Aminos and Anti Fatigue caps in a small pocket and a Vegan protein bar just in case....Plenty water on the course I was a Run Happy runner with my blue Brooks Cascadias!

The single track downhills were nightmares but that is just me..... then the fun began I felt a huge drop of water land on my shoulder I thought no it cannot be rain... another drop and I realize that maybe rain might be on its way, which would be a good thing in one way as it would pack the ground and easier to run on but I hope it would not be cold....

The sky turned black and the rain began to pour and with the rain came loud thunder cracks and hail stones! Oh my 10km to go and it was raining....good time to learn to dance in the rain! I slipped and fell going uphill bruised my hip but nothing new I always fall at least once on a trail! The rain cleaned all the trail dirt and sweat from my clothes and skin! it was like running in the shower! The last climb out of the trees I thought would never end as the thunder was really deafening and I worried about the lightening...with 8km to go on fire roads which are my favorite I took off rolling hills and the last 3km downhill. There was rivers of water pouring across the trail I had to put my Rudy Project glasses on my Visor as I could not see anything I was absolutely soaked! All I wanted to do was get warm!

The last km is asphalt to the village and finish line, I see umbrellas and people standing under 10x10s! I am finished it is crazy 101 F where I live and high 40s with rain at Big Bear!

Kurt Madden Ultraman Champion 1983

At the finish line I saw Kurt Madden I could not resist a picture as this is another Big Bear resident and an unbelievable athlete in 1983 at 28 years old he won the first Ultraman Hawaii World Championships and this year 30 years later is going back to race again!!!He also gives a lot to the community of Big Bear for the children too.

The rain is torrential I run to the truck were Al, Montana, Hammer & Cookie are nice and dry and watching the Goonies!!We all hug and congrats and we all go back to the staging area for the awards.....

With Kim in the rain at the finish line!

 The 2013 Endure the Bear was a wrap at least for the 30km I kinda felt sorry for the 50km peeps the course was water logged and I would not have wanted to run an extra 20km!  But when Mother Nature intervenes there is nothing much you can do about it! I wish I had had mittens and beanie! At the finish my Ocean Potion lips were a shade of blue and funny so were Kims too!! Karen was great and let all the runners have dry Keen t shirts to wear!

Kim and I were very Happy we were 2nd and 3rd over all and then I was first overall in 40-49 and Kim was second in 40-49! A blessing to be on the podium!

Sheri Mursick was on hand to give out awards and help with the event. I also saw Susan Maya too!
 Both amazing Big Bear athletes!

Kim and I on the Podium.

Podium time 40-49 was pretty cool to stand up on the podium you really have to count your blessing when that happens and savor the moment as not often moments like that happen! 

It took me 90 minutes before I could feel my finger tips! and stop shivering! made me realize how quickly things can change in the Mountains...

New race bling, new friends and as always a well run event.




Big Thank you to Karen, and to Hammer Nutrition, Brooks Running, Polar USA, Rudy Project USA, Ocean Potion suncare, Kool n Fit, Fuel belt for their support. And most of all to Al and his daughter Montana for taking me to Big Bear and sharing my race experience with my two dogs too! That is a priceless moment...

Here is my racing data from my Polar RCX3 I really love the map print out! 
https://www.polarpersonaltrainer.com/shared/exercise.ftl?shareTag=b9a252080a39f2f9409880c01132a7e1

New race bling

 

After the race Hammer made sure I relaxed!