Half Moon Bay Marathon - 9/23/2012

HALF MOON BAY MARATHON - 9/23/2012

Half Moon Bay California

I had a marvelous time at the Half Moon Bay International Marathon in beautiful Half Moon Bay California.  Yes it's true, "26.2 Miles of Running Heaven"!  The course featured 70% of paved bike trails and 30% packed dirt trails with beautiful views of landmarks that included Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, Point Montara Lighthouse and the world famous Mavericks big wave surfing area.  The course also offered amazing views of the Pacific Ocean!  This one is a must do for your bucket list.

Beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean...

Golf course at Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay...

 Cynthia is the race director for the Rio Del Lago 100 Miler...

 

 

I really didn't know what all the fuss was about.  As I got closed to the finish line there were lots of people waiting on me and looking very nervous.  There was a strict cutoff of six hours and I finished in 5:57:59 and had two minutes to spare. Seriously???  You didn't think I would finish in less than six hours?  Never under estimate the "Walking Diva".

 

Book signing and I spoke at the expo...

 

 I also spoke at the pasta dinner...

 

I had a lot fun speaking at the pasta dinner...

 

Thank you Eric for a race of a lifetime...See you next year!

www.halfmoonbayim.org

http://www.hmbreview.com/sports/first-steps-made-toward-marathon/article_1d0a6ae2-0804-11e2-a497-0019bb2963f4.html

 

RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK MARATHON - 9/24/2012

San Francisco California

The course is a 4.5 mile loop round Lake Merced.  The weather was nice and I got to see Danni but missed her at Half Moon Bay Marathon...We are wearing our HMB neon shirts.  I finished 6:56:00.

 

Beautiful day in SF at Lake Merced... 

 

DOUBLE DOG DARE MARATHON - 9/25/2012

San Francisco California

Double Dog Dare Marathon was held at Lake Merced and this was a triple marathon weekend for me and Danni.  It's always a pleasure to see my marathon buddy Hector.  I finished 6:58:00

Half Moon Bay, Race Against the Clock and Double Dog Dare marathon medals...

 

Check out "Tracy's Racing" great races, affordable prices and unique medals.   http://www.tracysracing.com/

 

 

My book "My Journey to Guinness" is available!!!  Get your copy today!

 

 www.yolandaholder.com

 



Endure the Bear 50K - 9/8/2012

ENDURE THE BEAR 50K - 9/8/2012

Big Bear Lake California

Endure the Bear was a bitter sweet event for me because in 2010 I got the phone call that my brother James died of a massive heart attack.  The cell service up in the mountains is limited and the call that he died was the only call that came through.  Last weekend I got a call during a marathon that my mom had a massive stroke.  God is good and without my journey not sure how I would have gotten through it. 

 

 

It was a beautiful day in Big Bear Lake with temperatures reaching in the high 80's and I was truly blessed that neither altitude nor heat was an issue. The course was very hilly and hard. I finished in 8:50:43.

It was nice to see Nancy again and I met Sandy and this was her first 50K and she finished.

 

 

MARATHON MADNESS - 9/9/2012

Santa Monica California

 

Marathon Madness was held in beautiful Santa Monica California and this is a new course for Rocket Racing Productions.  It's always a pleasure to see the amazing Julie Weiss.  Julie is running 52 marathons in 52 weeks for pancreatic cancer.  Check out her website;  www.marathongoddness.com

I finished 6:15:41

 

 

SUMMER SPECTACULAR MARATHON 9/15/2012

Santa Monica California



 

I love the new course in Santa Monica.  We run through Santa Monica Pier to Will Rogers Beach and back through Venice Beach.  I met the lovely Christy today.  It was a beautiful hot day!  High 80's but felt like the high 90's.  I finished 6:38:58

 

Move ahead...

Life continually teaches. We eventually learn.  The lessons take their toll on us, but we do survive.  It's like getting a degree in hard knocks and finally graduating...to the promise of better days ahead.  It's like getting your passport stamped:  "Been here, done that, managed to make it through."

 

There are no guarantees that you won't have to go back to "school" for a refresher course, or that you'll never have to make a difficult journey again.  But you're older, wiser, and stronger than before, and it's nice to know you can leave yesterday behind.  The price was paid.  Now it's time to move ahead - and do the very best you can.

-Douglas Pagels- 

 

 

"My Journey to Guinness" book is now available!

www.yolandaholder.com

 





5 Marathons in 4 days in 2 States -

5 MARATHONS IN 4 DAYS IN 2 STATES!
August 31, 2012 - September 3, 2012

 

WOW! You never know what life is going to throw at you.  I set out to do 5 marathons in 4 days in 2 states. Day 1, Marathon #1 - "Kicking off Labor Day Marathon" August 31, 2012, in Fullerton California.  What a great way to start off the long weekend with Mr. Larry Macon the Guinness World Record holder of the "Most Marathons Run in a Calendar Year" by a man.  Larry ran 113 marathons in 2011.  I took the early start and I finished in 6:44:30.

 

Day 1 - Marathon #2 - "Once in a Blue Moon 12 Hour Run" August 31, 2012 was held in Henderson Nevada and started at 7pm.  This one time only special edition race was a 1.22 mile loop around the beautiful Equestrian Park.  We had an option of running a 1 hour, 3 hour, 6 hour, or 12 hour event and I did the 12 hour which gave me plenty of time to do a marathon distance and get back to California.  I did 26.84 miles.

Yay...I got to see my amazingly awesome and talented friend Grandma Kimberly!  You are truly blessed.

Marathon Mitch won second place and I got to walk a few miles with Sofie.  Sofie is so funny and you would never believe what we talked about in the middle of the night. 

When Giovanni, Mitch and Chris get together it's always a party!

Yep...I was hot and thirsty. 

I finished up Marathon #2 at 2:30am and headed back to California.  The drive was long and I was so tired and not to mention I have been up now for 24 hours.  I drove the speed limit and drank a lot of coffee.  It took over 4 hours and I made it to the start of Day 2 - Marathon #3 at 6:45am and the race started at 7am.

Yes I still have on the same clothes from last night so I decided to jazz it up with a hat.  Day 2 - Marathon #3 - "Blaze the Path Marathon" September 1, 2012 in Lake Forest California.  As I was walking to the start my cell rang and it was my sister Richelle and she said "where are you?"  I have been trying to reach you.  Mom had a massive stroke and you need to come now. (mom lives in the San Francisco Bay Area 7 hours away).  I said to Richelle will she know that I am there and she replied I don't know. 

 

A few hours later my niece Annette called and said the choice is yours and we are pulling the plug at noon tomorrow and I ask my niece the same question will mom know that I am there and she said no, she is brain dead.  I cried on the phone with my niece well over 2 minutes and thank goodness for friends. Cyndie walked with me the rest of the marathon and listen to me reminisce about my mom.  I finished 7:07:45

Day 3 - Marathon #4 - "Run the Marina Marathon" September 2, 2012 in Long Beach California.  I chose not to see my mom and she passed away Sunday morning at 3:30am.  Cyndie was so good she let me talk all day about my mom and I laughed and cried for 26.2 miles. I finished 7:05:00.

Day 4 - Marathon #5 - "Labor Day Marathon" September 3, 2012,  Huntington Beach California.  I finished marathon #5 with Larry Macon and all I can say is, if you're feeling down and sad and you want to wallow in your sadness then don't run/walk with Larry.  My face says it all.  Thank you Larry!!!  I finished 6:59:03.  Thank you God for giving me the strength to finish 5 marathons in 4 days in 2 states.

 

 RIP Mom.  I love you and will miss your greatly.  My mom was a loving mother of 11 children, 22 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great great granddaughter. My mom died of a massive stroke.  March 7, 1938 - September 2, 2012.

 

I love you mom, rest in peace...