Rocky Road Run Marathon & Marin County Marathon

Marathon # 35 & 36

What a great marathon weekend! This was a double inaugural weekend. Marathon # 35 was Rocky Road Run 100 miler, 50 miler, Marathon & Half Marathon endurance run in Coto de Caza, CA. Rocky Road Marathon did test your endurance. I did the marathon and started the marathon with my good friend Roxana.

At the start of the race Roxana and I took the wrong trail which was a 2 mile loop on the horse trail. The mountains were rocky, single track, steep climbs, hilly, and lots of climbing. I said to Roxana "I'm not mentally prepared for this; I didn't know this trail marathon was so hard". Roxana said "just suck it up, keep going and stop complaining". As we arrived at the aid station the volunteer ask if we were doing the 100 or 50 miler. We both were happy to hear we were on the wrong trail but not happy that we did an extra 2 miles. I finished the marathon in 6:11

This is my friend Amazing Joe and his first 50 miler! Last year Joe did his first double, Palos Verdes Marathon & OC Marathon. Joe was very concerned that he wouldn't be able to finish OC marathon. I said don't worry, you will be amazed at what the body can do and you will even be faster on the second day. Joe finished Palos Verdes in 5:56 and OC in 5:34. He took off 22 minutes!!! That's amazing!!! Now you know why I call him Amazing Joe. Rocky Road Run 50 miler was Joe's 19th marathon/ultra this year! Happy running Joe.


This is Rudy from Fresno, CA who's a fast road runner and enjoys doing ultras. Rudy's running the 100 miler and I finished the marathon. Rudy and I last seen each other at Bank Trust First Light Marathon in Mobile, AL back in January. Rudy is going to run the Lake Tahoe Double Dare. The Double Dare is two laps around the lake in opposite directions. (144 miles) I'll be there walking the Lake Tahoe Triple. Good luck Rudy!


Thank you Race Director Charlie for a well organized, challenging, love the medal and shirt marathon. I'll be back next year for the 100 miler. I must have that beautiful buckle to add to my collection. Special thanks to Rob Cowan co-race director for a well done inaugural.

Marin County Inaugural Marathon was marathon #36. The marathon started with my marathon buddy Dennis who picked up my bib & chip. Dennis is working on completing his 200th marathon this year. It was a beautiful morning in Marin County. The course was challenging, hilly, and nice views of the ocean and mountains. My goal was to finish in less than 6 hours. I'm a little sore from yesterday's race and I didn't get much sleep. I'm still nursing a blister from my 107 miles a few weeks ago. Another nice feature that I liked about Marin Marathon is that they had 6 hour pacers. I walked with Dennis and two of the first half pacers. As we reached half way we got new pacers.

I met Karen. Karen is 58, single, a mother of 3 (18 year old, & 14 year old twins), works full time, has run 104 marathons and is a Breast Cancer Survivor! Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. What amazed me is that she had a mastectomy, after the surgery she went for a run and the next day she went for a run again. Karen's passion and love for running didn't let anything stop her, not even breast cancer. Karen paced me and we finished the Marin Marathon in 5:52:50. Thank you Karen, you are my "She-ro"









What I love about my journey to Guinness is that God puts amazing people in my life, even if it's just for a moment.

Within our Dreams and Aspirations we find our opportunities.
Sugar Ray Leonard, Boxer

Keep Believing,
Yolanda "Walking Diva"

http://www.dirtyredgear.com/
http://www.charliealewineracing.com/
http://www.marinmarathon.com/
http://www.laketahoemarathon.com/

CAMP PENDLETON HARD CORP MARATHON & SKYLINE TO THE SEA TRAIL MARATHON

Marathon # 33 & 34

Marathon # 33 was at Camp Pendleton Hard Corp Marathon in Oceanside, CA. I finished 5:59:04. I'm still recovering from my 107 miles last weekend. I saw my new marathon friend Irlan "The Dreamer" MM# 2112. Irlan is new to marathoning and loves trails. We met at Sycamore Canyon Trail 50k in Malibu.

Marathon #34 was Skyline to the Sea Trail Marathon in Los Gatos, CA. What a tough but beautiful marathon!!! I finished 7:05. The course was so pretty and the waterfalls were calming. We ran though the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains at Saratoga Gap though Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and ended at the Pacific Ocean at Waddell Beach.

I met Debbie & Maureen from Chino, CA. This was their first marathon. Can you believe they picked a tough trail for their first marathon??? Wow!!!

I loved Skyline to the Sea Trail Marathon! Will do this one again.

We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same. Carlos Castaneda

Keep Believing!

Yolanda "Walking Diva"

LABOR OF LOVE MARATHON, 50MILER & 50K

107 MILES - MARATHON #30, 31 & 32

This weekend was amazing!!! I finished 3 events that total to 107 miles. My journey started at Red Rock Hotel. At the start of the marathon I met up with some of my marathon buddies.

I started the marathon at 7am and finished in 6:06:40. The marathon course was beautiful and a little challenging. The views of Lovell Canyon were very pretty. After finishing the marathon I changed bibs and started the 50 miler. The 50 miler course was the same as the marathon. 11 mile loop 4 times with a short 6 mile loop. I'm feeling great and everything is going ok until 1am. I started to get delirious. The darkness of the night cause by sense of direction to become off and I started to lose my balance. As I was nearing the start/finish area I felt like I was lost. I saw a car coming and I stopped the driver and asked "where is the campground" she said "what???. I said "you know, the campground. The Lady asked me what was I doing in terms of 50 miler, 100 miler. I said " 6 miles and that's when she said to herself that I'm getting delirious. She told me that I was going in the right direction and had about a half mile left. I'll tell more about being delirious at the end.

The last 6 mile loop I started to lose my balance. I started wobbling and walking like I was drunk. Now I'm back at the start/finish and have finished my 50 miler in 14:10:36. I finished around 3:30am. It was very cold, 37-40 degrees. I have about an hour and a half to rest. I changed bibs and chip and got ready for my 50K. I have 76 miles under my belt and 31 more miles to go, just a little 50K, that's all just 31 little miles...a piece of cake...This is how I talk to myself. It's 5am and I am off to walk my last little 31 miles. I'm walking but my legs felt like lead and they feel very heavy. I have blisters on both feet. As I was approaching the 11 mile mark which was the turnaround for the marathon, 50 & 100 miler, it dawn on me that the 50K had an out and back to the Summit. I looked at my garmin and I was already 3 hours and 11 minutes into the 50K. The cutoff for the 50K was 9 hours. Now I'm starting to get nervous. I reached the 11 mile aid station and started asking the volunteers questions about Lovell Canyon Summit. As I started walking up the canyon I realize this part of the course was a trail. I started walking up and up and up. I panic! I started crying! Oh my god I'm going to DNF (did not finish). I heard a runner coming and I turned around, wiped my tears and said "are we going in the right direction?" He said "yes, and you have a good pace and I have been trying to catch you". I said no I don't, and I won't make it, I don't have enough time. The runners name is John. John looked at his garmin and said "you do at this pace and we are almost to the top, you have nothing to worry about. John was my angel. John gave me positive reinforcement. Once again I was delirious.

Lovell Canyon Summit was beautiful! Awesome view! I headed back down the mountain. I finished my 50K in 8:41:02 My husband was waiting for me at the finish line and so was a surprise from the Race Director Joyce. I received 4 medals and a buckle! The buckle was the surprise. The medals are beautiful!!! so is the buckle.

Wow!!! I did it!!! 3 events, 107 miles in 28:58:08.

What I learned from this experience is that you can get delirious when running/walking a 100 miler. I saw the Lady ( sorry I didn't get her name) and she was very concerned about me. I thought I could be in the dark without a marathon buddy.

Labor of Love was the best marathon, 50 miler, 50K that I have done!!! Loved it! I'll be back next year! Well maybe not for 3 events.

The rolling hills of the Desert Canyon road...I Run to discover the depths of my soul & to climb to new heights of possibility. www.calicoracing.com

My running gear is by Dirty Red Gear www.dirtyredgear.com

When your Dreams become your Life and your Life becomes your Dreams you begin to see God all over them.

Keep Believing!

Yolanda "Walking Diva" Holder

Hello,

My name is Yolanda Holder aka "Walking Diva". Some of you may know me and for those of you who don't, I was Marathon Maniac of the Year 2008 & 2009. In 2008 I walked 65 marathons and In 2009 I walked 77 marathons. This year I'm taking on a new challenge. I plan on breaking the Guinness World Record. "Most Marathons Run in a Calendar Year by a Woman". The record is 100 and I plan on walking 101.

As of April 4th I have done 29 marathons & beyond. This weekend I am taking on a huge challenge. I'm walking three events that total to 107 miles!!!

Labor of Love Marathon, 50 miler & 50K. I have 32 hours to finish all three event. Prayers and Good Luck wishes are

truly welcome.

Keep Believing in Yourself and Your Dreams.

Yolanda "Walking Diva"