Catalina ECO Marathon 400 Lifetime Marathon

MY 400 LIFETIME MARATHON

CATALINA ECO MARATHON - 11/10/2012

Avalon California

If you would have asked me six years ago what are your plans to do with your life in your 50's? My answer would not have been to break an eight year Guinness World Record for the "Most Marathons Run in a Calendar Year" by a woman nor would it have been to power walk over 400 lifetime marathons/ultras.  Sometimes God puts amazing dreams on our hearts and if we listen to that little voice, he will make what seems impossible possible.  Catalina ECO marathon was my 400 lifetime marathon/ultra and marathon #97 of the year.  I'm on pace to break my own record.  Record breaking marathon #107 will be at the "Honolulu Marathon" December 9, 2012!!!  Hope to see you there...

It's always nice to see my friend Cat...

Good to see Andrea and Legacy runner Deo Marathon Maniac #22

 

We could not have asked for a more beautiful day on the island...a little windy but that's okay...

 

Don't let this beautiful Island fool you.  The course is run on beautiful, rugged, single track, ridgelines and breathtaking trails with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.  I conquer the "Catalina Crush" hill.  This is a famous hill at mile 19 of the marathon course.  I came, I saw, I conquered!   I finished 7:08:40

If you run Catalina Island Marathon in March and Catalina ECO in November you will receive this beautiful "Double Buffalo" medal.

Thank you Kevin and Meghan for a fun time on Catalina Island.

http://catalinaecomarathon.com/

 

Every great dream begins with a dreamer.  Always remember, you have within you the strength, the time and the passion to reach for the STARS to change the world.  Believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams.

 

I have the perfect gift for you and your love ones.  Guaranteed to get you up and moving.  "My Journey to Guinness" book!  Get your copy today...

www.yolandaholder.com

 

 

 

 

 



Really Big Free Marathon - Coast to Coast Marathon

REALLY BIG FREE MARATHON - 11/3/2012

Boulder City Nevada

(photo courtesy of Giovanni)

I only had one day off after finishing 204.8 miles in six days.  I'm feeling strong and managed to finish this hilly marathon in 6:08:19.

 The course was pretty and hilly...

I'm not sure why it's called Really Big Free Marathon because it cost $50

 

 

 

COAST TO COAST MARATHON - 11/4/2012

Huntington Beach California

 

 

 I'm very excited to say that Coast to Coast Marathon was marathon #96 and I'm 11 marathons away from breaking my own Guinness World Record for "Most Marathon Run in a Calendar Year" by a woman.  I finished 6:05:08.

 

Fall asleep with Intention.

Dream with Desire.

Wake up with Action.

-Tone It Up-



Day of the Dead Series (Quad) 10/29/2012

DAY OF THE DEAD MARATHON SERIES (QUAD) 10/29/2012

Las Cruces New Mexico

The inaugural "Day of the Dead Marathon Series" was held in Las Cruces New Mexico.  The series consist of 4 days of marathon distance or a half marathon.  I had the honor of running with some of the top marathoners in the world.  Jim Simpson (in the red shirt) is making history.  Jim is the new North American record holder for lifetime marathons.  967 marathons and will reach 1000 marathons by March 2013.  Larry Macon broke his Guinness record and still has two months to increase it.  Jim, Larry and I are the only three people in the US that have run over 100 marathons/ultras in 12 months.  Traviss Wilcox (UK) and Angela Gargano (Italy) have run over 100 marathons too and we are the only five in the WORLD!  Pretty cool...

 I had the honor of meeting Wendelin Lauxen from Germany. Wendelin is on a journey to regain his World Record for the least amount of time to do all 7 continents.

It's always fun to see Vincent!  Good luck on your 100 marathons in a calendar year! You got this...

Bill and Tim, day 4, looking strong...Welcome back Tim...

The course was a three mile out and back on a flat, paved, scenic trail along the Rio Grande.

 

The swags were awesome.  Very nice cotton t-shirt, nice medal, second medal if you finish all four marathons and a 8 by10 logo picture.  I got a plaque for being dead last and a special award flask.  I finished:
Day 1: 6:41:32, Day 2: 7:06:35, Day 3: 6:49:13, Day 4: 6:34:00

 

 

Thank you race director Clint of "Mainly Marathons" for a well organized race.  Mainly Marathons motto is "Go Slow, Go Far, Go Often".

 

"5 Days, 5 Marathons, 5 States" is the next event...check it out!

 www.mainlymarathons.com  

Javelina Jundred Miler - 10/27/2012

JAVELINA JUNDRED MILER - 10/27/2012

Fountain Hills Arizona

 

Javelina Jundred Miler was held in beautiful McDowell Regional Park in Fountain Hills.  I was very nervous about doing Javelina because I had done EC100 Miler the weekend before and this would be my first back to back 100 Miler.  Both EC100 Miler and Javelina have strict cutoffs and a 30 hour limit.  Javelina has six and a half loops on the rolling single track and jeep track of 15.4 mile Pemberton Trail.  The race begins in the clockwise direction and alternates each loop (washing machine style).  Each loop climbs to a high point of 2400 feet.

 

I had the pleasure of walking the first half with Jennifer...

The temperature got up to the high 80's and I got a mild case of heat exhaustion but managed to keep it under control.

Beautiful Arizona desert with no shade...

 

Jennifer and Jean are first time Javelina finishers!!!

 

I stayed focus and never gave up hope even with the heat exhaustion. I started to lose weight and I could feel it so I upped my intake of food and water. (I know my body very well.)  There were a few miles on the trail that was very rocky and I fell and scraped my knee and elbow but I didn't let the fall keep me down.  I got up, dust myself off and continued on.  My weakness is the night so I turned my weakness into my strength.  I faced my fear of the night and power walked a 14-15 minute pace.  I was blessed that it was a beautiful night with a full moon and bright stars.  The night weather was excellent too, low 50's.  As the sun started to rise so did I.  I got a burst of energy and finished Javelina Jundred in 28:11:01.  Unbelievable...back to back 100 Milers!

 

I just finished the Javelina Jundred and now I am on my way (no sleep) to New Mexico to do the "Day of the Dead Series (Quad)"...Yes that's four marathons in four days.  Check out the "Day of the Dead" blog to see if I'm dead or alive.

 

 



EC100 Miler = 10/20/2012

EC100 MILER - 10/20/2012

Corona, CA

EC100 Miler Endurance Challenge started in Corona and ended at the Santa Monica Pier. The course runs through the coast of Southern California, three counties and 25 cities!  100 miles, 30 hours, 25 cities, 3 counties and 1 cause.  The 100 Mile Club is a physical fitness and life skills project for all individuals based on the goal of running (walking) 100 miles at school or work during a single school year.  The 100 Mile Club goal is to help our runners experience fitness and true personal success through attainable physical fitness goal.  www.100mileclub.com

(pictures courtesy of Jessica Montoya)

Last year I did this race and finished last with a finishing time of 29:57 and this year I was on a mission to not finish last.  I finished in 26:27!!!  I shaved 3 hours and 30 minutes off my time...Can you believe that???  I'm still in awe...

This is mile 97 and I'm still smiling.  I felt strong, excited, motivated and happy to be finishing!  No blisters, no back problems, just pure joy!

 

 My beautiful buckle...

 

 



WINE COUNTRY MARATHON - 10/14/2012

Healdsburg California

Wine Country Marathon was held in beautiful Healdsburg.  We ran through California's award winning wine region.  There were miles of vineyards and dozens of wineries.  The course had rolling roads and breathtaking views!  Loved the conversation with Cathy and with her help I finished 5:44:32.

 

We look good at mile 10...(don't tell anyone I said that)

 Yes!!! food, wine and beer!!!  It's always fun to see Chris...

(pictures courtesy of Chris Jones)

 

beautiful shirt, wine glass, and a nice medal...

 

 

HORSESHOE LAKE TRAIL MARATHON 10/13/2012

Palo Alto California

 

Horseshoe Lake Trail marathon was run along the Bay Area Ridge trail with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Cruz Mountains.  I got lost driving to the start and started a few minutes late but I didn't let getting lost stop me from finishing and placing 3rd in my age group.  I finished 7:29:03.

beautiful views...

 www.coastaltrailruns.com

 

My Journey to Guinness book is now available!

 

www.yolandaholder.com

 

 



Rio Del Lago 100K and Quadtoberfest - 10/6/2012

Quadtoberfest Day 1 - 10/5/2012

Lake Merced, San Francisco California

Always have a plan B. My plan was to do Quadtoberfest Day 1 which I did and I finished in 7:02:01 and headed to Roseville California to do Rio Del Lago 100 miler. 

 

RIO DEL LAGO 100K - 10/6/2012

Roseville California

 

The course was beautiful and scenic and it started and finished at Beals Point.  The course ran through Twin rocks, Horseshoe Bar, Rattlesnake Bar, Auburn Dam Overlook, No Hands Bridge into Cool Fire Station.  I made all the cutoffs but all I could think about was the two black bears that I saw last weekend in Lake Tahoe.  Because I had no one to pace me throughout the night I dropped to the 100K (62 miles).

I tagged along with a team of four runners and one of the runners got sick (thank goodness) and walked with me and we finished together.

Jimmy Dean was the guest speaker and the winner of the Lake Tahoe SUPER triple 20:37:27 and I found out that day that I was the women winner of the Lake Tahoe SUPER Triple 30:41:44!  What an honor and how cool was that???

 

I finished the 100K in 19:41:08 and got a few hours of sleep and then drove to San Francisco to do Quadtoberfest Day 3.

Beautiful Buckle

 

QUADTOBERFEST DAY 3 - 10/7/2012

Lake Merced, San Francisco California

I made it to the start with 5 minutes to spare and race director Tracy said" What are you doing here, I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow?"  She was so worried that she wouldn't have a medal for me.  I finished 7:12:10

 

QUADTOBERFEST DAY 4 - 10/8/2012

Lake Merced, San Francisco California

 

 

I finished day 4 of a quad that wasn't planned with Larry Macon in 7:11:11.  That's how I needed up with 3 marathons and a 100K.

26.2+62.0+26.2+26.2=AWESOMENESS!  Another amazing weekend to my journey to Guinness.  Thank you so much for following my journey.

 Who's bad???