Pacing at Western States

Pacing the last 38 miles of Western States last Saturday was simply.....perfect. I met my runner and now good friend, Leonardo Soresi in Costa Rica in Feb. when we both competed in The Coastal Challenge. He lives and works as a Journalist in Italy. We had a few brief encounters and he helped me put up my tent one afternoon, but other than that we were strangers.

When I heard that he might need a pacer, I immediately was interested. I did let myself get a little nervous when I thought that the possibility of him out running me was high. After several weeks and emails, I felt confidant that I could run fast enough for 38 miles to bring him home to Auburn.

Leonardo wasn't sure if he could finish Western States. He had had a bad flu virus that had forced him to taper before he was ready. His training going into Western States was questionable. Don't we always feel that way before a big race? His confidence was wavering.

I picked him up at Foresthill which is the 62 mile aid station. He came into there later than expected, as he had taken about an hour rest at Michigan Bluff. He almost DNF'd there with low blood pressure and fatigue. After his rest, he left Michigan and began the climb out of Volcano Canyon. Leo looked good coming into Foresthill and it was great to finally see him. We headed down California street with Michael Jackson's song Beat it, playing loud from someones yard. Our run to the river was smooth and steady. At Fords Bar, Leonardo took a 10 minute rest and then felt renewed. The rest of the race was strong. We ran all the flats and downhills and power walked the ups. It was exciting to watch his confidence and his mental strength growing. Quitting was not an option. We passed lot's of runners. I loved that part. Picking off people ahead of us. Passing runners on the uphills. My competitive nature was in full swing. I felt great, heck, I was only running 38 miles! I am sure that Leo was swearing at me under his breath, but he never wavered. The run onto the track and across the finish line in Auburn was fantastic. It was an honor to pace Leo, and I was so happy for him. He finished in 26:52:12! He is the first native Italian to finish in the history of the race. I am so happy for him!

Out of 399 starters, 238 runners finished. It was a hot day out there and anyone who stood at the start line deserves a "hell ya". As always, this race picks me up. It renews my spirit. Until next year.......

Don't Quit

I thought this video seemed fitting for everyone lining up at a starting line this weekend. Good luck to everyone running Western States. I can't wait to be up there and see how it all unfolds.....

So many trails, so little time

Today I ran on a different trail in a different town. Nice. It helps break up the monotony when you run in new places. The run felt easy, effortless. I kept thinking about all the people gearing up for big races. Western States is next Saturday, and I can feel their excitement with every step I take. The thrill of that race fills my soul and I am suddenly there, standing at the start line anticipating an outrageous race. So many friends are racing this year. It is going to be fun watching it all unfold. All the training and time that goes into training for a 100 miler make for such great memories. You seem to remember every long run and who you ran with. Then it is race day and everything you have trained for is staring you in the face, and you hope you have done enough. Good luck to all my friends that will stand at Squaw Valley on Saturday morning. May you find a buckle in Auburn.

"The eagle, who believed he was a chicken, wasn't. However, until he discovered what he was, he was limited to live as one." Unknown

Happy Father's Day

I can't believe that my Dad has been gone for 19 years already. I think of him everyday and wish
his life had been different in many ways. I wish he could see how my children have grown up. I wish he could see what special kids they are. He would be proud of them, I know. I wish he could see how I am as a middle aged adult. I was only 32 years old when he left this world. I am a better person as a result of him. I learned from HIS mistakes, and have tried to live a better life. Thanks Dad for being my Dad. You had some rough times, but I hope you knew that you were loved very much. I can laugh about things now, it's taken me a long time, but I can do that these days.

To all you Fathers out there, I wish you a Happy Father's Day. The best gift you can give your children is to love them unconditionally and to live a clean life.

Excited about Western States

I am a blog slacker and it has been several days since my last post. These are my sins. Oh, I reverted back to my Catholic days, I mean these are my excuses. LOL. Seriously, life has been crazy lately. Lot's of things going on and lots of inter turmoil. Nothing serious, I have just been preoccupied. My son Caleb graduated from UCI last week and I was such a proud Momma. He looked so handsome standing up there with his cap and gown. He has worked very hard for five years and I am so honored that he is my son. In Sept. he starts Chiropractic school in Southern California and we are all excited for him.



On the running front, life is good. I feel strong and my injury is feeling status quo. I am pacing at Western States next weekend and I am excited about that. I am pacing Leonardo Soresi from Italy and he is an awesome runner. I am a little nervous that he will outrun me but I am prepared to do my best. Just being out at States is such fun. Matt will be crewing Tom Crull from Dallas and I hope we see him running on the track on Sunday morning. This will be Tom's last WS. Tom and I met at the WS training camp several years ago and have been best friends ever since. Have a great weekend!

Age is only a number, right??

Today is my birthday. I am so happy that I was born, but feeling a little sad that I am getting older. I look at my kids and they are adults now. Wow.
I have a several friends running in 100 mile races today. My thoughts are on them as they push through this evening and into the night. Running a race can make you feel so young despite the pain and fatigue you may encounter.
Started my day off with a swim and the weather is beautiful. What more can I ask for?

Taking it all in.
...we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens once a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, some afternoon that's so deeply a part of your being that you can't even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five times more. Perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems so limitless. Paul Bowles

Try these apples!

Here's some training advice that I thought I would share.

Do what sucks. You hate running uphill because it's hard for you. You should run uphill-because it's hard for you.

Train your brain. Your body can do more than you think. Convince your brain through positive thinking and visualization. You'll be surprised at what you accomplish when you say you can.

Eat. Fuel your workouts with the food you eat on race day. You'll run faster in practice and digest better when it counts. Experiment: There are dozens of energy concoctions for a reason. No one thing works for everyone.

How do you like them apples! Works for me!


Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big. Robert Brault

Diagnosis: FOMO

I received the diagnosis four years ago, after finally reading about it in a July TrailRunner magazine. It is called FOMO, and this dreaded disease afflicted me. FOMO ---Fear Of Missing Out, is affecting my everyday life. I use to be satisfied running 10k's, only to begin longing for 25k's. Then it became 50 milers, then 100 milers, and now, H E L P!! I can spend so much time reading about races put on by Racing the Planet, Primal Quest, and other adventure races that are run all over the world. I have this deep longing in the pit of my heart that wants to experience doing races that are so tough and so incredible that few "normal" people would ever even dream of doing them. Take The Coastal Challenge for example. That race was HARD! It was the kind of race that really let's you know just what you are made of. It shows you how tough you really are. It taught me that I can do ANYTHING. These kind of races challenge you physically and mentally. There is something very alluring about that to me. Unfortunately, these amazing races cost lots of big dollars. I've got the desire, but I don't have the money. What's a poor girl to do?



I am an ambassador for The Coastal Challenge. In January 2010, you can experience a race of a lifetime. It is a 6 day stage race located in Costa Rica in the remote and dry Northwestern coast. You will run through volcanic regions, through inland lakes, windswept highlands, jungle and tropical dry forest. The course is set in Costa Rica's driest area. Terrain: jungle and rainforest trails, rough and winding dirt roads, farm roads and some asphalt; mountain trail and some single track across ridgelines, passes and highlands; beaches and rocky outcroppings or reefs, dry tropical forest and rainforest, open lands including river/water crossings and more... This route is called The Route Of Fire. You can receive 5% off the registration fee by using my promo code. Just write KR10 on either the memo line of your check or the promo code on the online sign up. It's easy and you would be helping me at the same time! What a deal.
Well, I am off to a run to train for I don't know what. I will let you know when I figure that one out.

Ultra running at it's best

I am sitting here at my computer, thinking about running and still I just sit. After one more cup of coffee I am headed out the door to the gym, then the pool, and then, finally for a nice easy run. This will be an easy day. Twenty minutes of upper body, twenty minutes in the pool, and then a nice run. Sounds like a plan. This video is what gave me the inspiration to get my butt off my comfortable computer chair. I bet it will get you going too. Seeing how many places I recognized kept me mesmerized and excited. Running does that to me. I just can't get enough of it.

UltraRunning from Matt Hart on Vimeo.

Listening to your heart.
Follow your passion as long as you live. Ptah-Hotep

An Adventure into the Big Ditch

On Saturday, a group of friends and I took a trip to Arizona to run the double crossing of the Grand Canyon. The famous R2R2R is known for it's beauty and for it's ability to kick your butt. " Team Diablo", consisted of Dennis, Dan, Tim, Dave, Tamara, Suzanna, and me. Two years ago a few of us started at the Bright Angel trail, but this year we started at the South Kaibab trailhead. All of us wore hydration packs except Dennis. He is a two bottle kind of guy. I wondered how he would do in the 100 degree heat with only two bottles. As it turned out, there was plenty of water and he did fine with what he carried. Looking back, he was probably the smarter one. I know that I was carrying a heavy load. I carried enough food to last me a week and of course, I didn't even eat half of it!
The South Kaibab trail was mellow and relaxing. We arrived at Phantom Ranch and refueled and refilled our packs and spent some time talking to some hikers. From the Phantom ranch we headed into the "box." The Box is a narrow gorge carved through the deep Vinshu Schist by Bright Angel Creek. The gradient is steadily uphill, but at a very low angle, so the entire stretch is runnable. The next 2.5 miles to Cottonwood, then to Roaring Springs cabin at the base of the rim, and then the steep climb up to the North Rim. Climbing out of the Roaring Springs Canyon is my favorite part of the run. It is so beautiful! The North Kaibab hugs the edges of high cliffs as you pass huge Redwall formations. The trail was hot, and it just seems like it takes forever to get to the top.


At the top we regrouped and Tamara arrived feeling poorly. Thinking that it might be the altitude, she descended hoping to feel better quickly. The run down was spectacular. The colors, the rock formations and the flowering cactus were amazing.

We regrouped again at Phantom Ranch where we enjoyed Lemonade and ice tea. Tamara had been vomiting for miles and she was having a hard time trying to get her body temperature down. Dennis stayed with Tamara and the rest of us started back via the Bright Angel trail. It was a long run back through the canyon as the heat was a "warm" 100 degrees. The climb up to the South Rim was long and steady. I felt strong and my feet held up great. After we finished we ate and then headed to bed. It would be several hours before Dennis and Tamara would hit the bed. Tamara struggled with either heat exhaustion or dehydration, or probably a little of both. We all decided that Dennis is going straight to heaven with no stops for staying with Tamara for several difficult hours.

It was a great run spent with great friends. We all survived the double crossing of the Grand Canyon and after we had slept, we decided that we would do it again. It is not a run to be taken lightly. It is very difficult and must only be attempted if you are in excellent shape. It was another great adventure that I am so thankful I got to experience. A big thank you to Dennis, Dave, Dan, Tim, Tamara and Suzanna. You guys were great to travel with and even greater to run with. My experience at the Big Ditch would not have been the same if you all had not been there. Thank you to Drymax socks for a blister free adventure!

Following your dreams.
Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again;and this interdependence produces the highest form of l iving. Anais Nin