New Year Wish - 12-31-2011

NEW YEAR WISH

As I look back on 2011, I thought to myself that I didn’t do anything amazing…In 2010 I broke the Guinness World Record “Most Marathons Run in a Calendar Year” by a woman.  The record was held by a woman in Italy and she ran 100 marathons in 2002.  I broke her record and set a new GWR of 106 marathons.   In 2011 I did some pretty amazing things too.

The first amazing thing I did in 2011 was I met some of the most amazingly beautiful and inspirational people and I put them in the “spotlight” on my blog.  I want to say THANK YOU to everyone that shared their amazing stories.  Your stories inspired and motivated many people to get fit and get healthy.  Thank you to all and keep inspiring.

The second amazing thing I did was I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried some new adventures and I checked a few things off my bucket list.  I did 31 races total and two were 100 milers. Each ultra marathon is different and you’ll never know what’s going to happen unless you give it a try.  The Run-de-Vours 100 miler I finished in 25:47and EC 100 Miler I finished in 29:57 with three minutes to spare.  I did a Mud Run, and was one of 8,123 runners that participated in the Santa Run that broke the Guinness World Record for the most Santa’s.  There were lights and cameras on the red carpet at the Stiletto Dash.

Another amazing high light was my 300 lifetime marathon at Catalina ECO Marathon on the beautiful Catalina Island and I finished off the year with a 48 hour run at “After The Years 48 Hour Run" in Arizona and I completed 105 miles.

 

My wish for you in 2012, get fit, be healthy and find your own “happy”.  Wishing you a healthy and happy year and May all your dreams come true.  You are the creator of your own destiny.  You have the power to plant your own garden and find peace and serenity in places most people don’t or can’t see.  I wish for you to have the courage to live a life true to thyself and not the life others expect of you. Life is a choice and it is your life.   The amazing thing about life is that you choose what you allow into it, you choose how things affect you, and you choose how you react. Choose wisely, choose honestly and choose happiness. Happiness is a choice and you create your own happiness.

  

Keep believing in yourself and your dreams.  You’re never too young to try something new. Start today living your dream and to accomplish your dreams you must not only act but also dream and not only plan but also believe. To be successful you must shine your own light, follow your own path.  Leisure walking is one of my favorite escapes and opportunity to reflect on my life issues.  You are an amazing person and may God continue to shine his light and blessing on you in 2012.

-Yolanda”Walking Diva”-

In the "Spotlight" with Keira from Southern California

Meet the gorgeous elite Ultra Marathoner Keira from Southern California...She's strong, fast, and amazingly fabulous!!!

My name is Keira Henninger and I am the race director of Top notch Ultra-Marathons & Trail Races all across Southern California and I am also a competitive ultra-marathon runner ranking in the top 20 women in the United States. I strongly believe in the positive mental benefits of running, as it has played an important part in my own emotional healing through life.

I was raised in a house that backed onto a large open space reserve, with miles of trails, but it was also an extremely abusive household. Both physically and mentally it was never a peaceful place growing up. Given that the house was a scary place to be, myself and my siblings spent all day on weekends playing outside on the trails. I was a huge tomboy, and started running cross country in middle school. By the time I reached high school I had tried every sport I could get to, but it was always running that I was most talented at. I cannot imagine living and not running, and to me the sun is God's medicine. I love to play outside running on trails.

But it wasn’t just running that got me through the hard times, I quickly learned to mentally separate myself from the situation, and pray. Most would think that God was never answering my prayers by letting the abuse always happen, but I believe the total opposite: If it wasn’t for God I would have never made it out of my childhood alive; He was my saving grace as a child, and my strength and rock today; He answers every single prayer I ask of him. Do not ever be afraid to pray bold prayers, and have faith.

I also became used to making responsible decisions from an early age. At 19 I had a baby, but I was determined to not let that shape the course of my life. We are the choices we make. It’s OK to make mistakes as they are learning tools, but it’s not OK to continually make the same mistakes. Learn from your bad days, and move on. Forgive, forget, and just move on. Hard work coupled with consistency and determination will only lead to success. I have overcome challenges and experiences that would give many people an excuse for failure. But in my case, they have only made me more straightforward. I am a fighter, and if one door closes I look for a better one to open.

I am big on integrity, and really meaning what you say to people. Do not say things you cannot back up, as it will only end up hurting you in the end. I also think it’s important to love the heck out of yourself. Be your own biggest fan: so many people destroy their own success by cutting themselves down everyday.

I always remind myself if I made it through my childhood I can make it through anything. Always look at the worst you have been through, and then think about how bad the situation is now you are in. There is nothing wrong with showing yourself some love! Just by trial and error I started going out of my way to compliment myself everyday. I made it a point to catch myself whenever I said anything negative, and would replace it with positive words. I try and just remind myself that I am a great mom, strong, kind, fit, and am capable of anything I set my mind to. The craziest thing of all? In 2005 I ran my first marathon, and it took me almost 5 hours to finish. In 2010 I won the Angeles Crest 100 mile race in the high mountains of the Angeles National forest. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, and sheer determination. The world can be yours if you just reach for the sky. All my information can be found on my website at: www.keirahenninger.com/
-Keira-

Keira Henninger
Leona Divide 50LLC
949 322~2048http://leonadivide5050.com
http://Lospinos50k.com
http://leonavalleytrailraces.com
http://RAYMILLER5050.COM
http://griffithparktrailruns.com
www.keirahenninger.com
http://keirahenninger.blogspot.com/

In the "Spotlight" Pvt. Ronnie D Hampton II

Pvt. Ronnie D Hampton II

I am honored to spotlight my nephew Pvt. Ronnie D Hampton II.  Pvt. Ronnie graduated from Marine Corp Recruit Depot San Diego, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion.  Platoon 2125!

Pvt. Ronnie will be going to Carolina to study "Combat Engineering".  Good luck Pvt. Ronnie!

As we pray for America, we also pray for the soldiers, airmen and sailors who help keep our nation free.  The brave men and women in our military sacrifice each and every day to let Americans live a life where they are free to worship God and to be safe from our enemies.  We should never forget the sacrifices that they have made, not just today, but in years past.  And not just those serving in the military.  The families of our men and women in uniform give to our country as they make hard decisions that allow their loved ones to serve.

Thank you Pvt. Ronnie D Hampton II and the Hampton family!

In the "Spotlight" with Violeta

Meet the amazingly beautiful and determined Violeta from Southern California!

I wasn't always so active, I started running because of my stressful life stye, it was a dream to me to run a full marathon, I could barely run for 15 min without running out of breath. My dream came true on May of 2009 my first full marathon, never ran 8 miles before that and with only 3 weeks of training, I crossed that finish line at Los Angeles Marathon after almost crying at mile 22, but never giving up. It was such a great feeling of accomplishment that I will never forget!

 That same year on December coming back from my second life time marathon Las Vegas Rock and Roll, we had a car accident at the junction of the highway 215 and 15, ice on the road, raining conditions, wind blowing too strong, who knows what caused our car to go off the road and down the cliff, the car rolled down more than 3 times landing upside down, I was trapped and just wanted to get out to see if my kids were safe. When I got out they were already out and safe with minor scratches, I had no idea how bad my injuries were at that time, right after seeing my 2 girls safe I passed out, waking hrs later in the hospital with 7 fractured bones in my spinal cord, 2 head concussions, a black eye, bruises and cuts all over. The most essential tasks like sitting up from my bed, walking to the restroom, reaching to put on my socks was a challenge itself. The injuries kept me from running for about 4 months, God knows how many times I tried to run before that only to stop after a mile because of the excruciating pain.

April of 2010 and after one and a half month of hard work and dedication reached my first 10 miles. Finally signed up for a half marathon on May of 2010 which i finish at 2:11, my next half marathon was the following month June of 2010. I had woken up to a new me, the following month I ran San Francisco Marathon finishing at 4:51. When I crossed that finish line at SF it was more than just getting a medal, it was believing in myself that if I wanted it and worked for it I would achieve it. October I ran Long Beach Marathon, December ran Las Vegas Rock and Roll, went back to celebrate my survival, since, its been my reborn Anniversary Marathon, also in December ran Operation Jack Marathon.

In 2010 I ran 2 half marathons and 4 full marathons coming back stronger than ever from a horrendous injury with the most positive attitude and coming across very wonderful people along the way, these marathons also qualified me to become a Marathon Maniac, my new running family!

I set a goal for 2011 of running 12 marathons in 12 months but I exceeded my goal and I'm about to complete 20 marathons on December 26th of 2011.

Now, people ask me "why do you run so much" ... I run because I can, because I was given a second chance at life, to live it to the fullest, to encourage those who can but wont, I run because I know its a gift for me now and because I know how it feels to want but can't. ""I don't live to run, I RUN TO LIVE""

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story, I hope that this could motivate other people to never give up, never underestimate themselves, to work hard for what they want and that believing is achieving.

-Violeta-

Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon 12-4-2011

This was the first year the Las Vegas Marathon was run at night.  I did the half marathon because of the strict cutoff.  I finished 2:47:06

This was my first year of really enjoying me.  The Santa Run, Stiletto Dash and a half marathon in one weekend was awesome.  I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried something new and loved it!!!

You Can Be Anything You Dream Of
Every day has its own rewards and its own unique challenges.  None of us has the same exact worries or responsibilities, because life is shaped around each of us as individuals.  It's important to remember that we all create our own worlds.  Who we are and the way we act are how we control our lives.  There are endless opportunities for us to change and rearrange the day-to-day moments we are given.  It's up to each of us to decide which way we want to go; how far or how fast we go in life are the choices we all must make for ourselves.
Deanna Beisser-

Rock N Roll Stiletto Dash 12-3-2011

The Rock N Roll Stiletto Dash had lights, cameras, red carpet, glitter, glamour and a lot of fun!!!  WOW!!!

I got interviewed by the beautiful Heather Ford!

Marathon Maniac Marcia made it to the second round.

There was pretty ladies with pretty dresses!

I didn't fall or lose my shoes...I survived the first "Stiletto Dash" and had a good time.  I loved it!!!  My dress is by "Running Skirts"

www.runningskirts.com

We received a tote bag, stiletto key chain and a necklace.

Las Vegas Santa Run 12-3-2011

LAS VEGAS SANTA RUN

Las Vegas regained the Guinness World record for the most runners dressed in Santa suites at the Las Vegas Great Santa Run!  This was the seventh annual event and I was one of 8,123 participants that ran the 5K and one mile walk.  The World Santa Challenge record was previously held by Liverpool England.

Monica of Fox 5 News was the host and also interviewed me last year when I broke the Guinness World Record.

Larry is one of the guys in the show "Divas" at Imperial Palace Hotel.

And our own Maniac celebrity "Angie" from Utah!!!

I was apart of history!