Cinderella Trail Marathon - Marathon #69

Cinderella Trail Marathon was run at Joaquin Miller Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, California. Cinderella has nice views of the Oakland Hills and the Bay Area. Cinderella's wicked step sister got me! I have done the Sequoia trails many times and found it to be hard and challenging, but Coastal Trail Runs found a way to make Cinderella course even more challenging! That course was WICKED!!! I finally finished 7:45:33

Monica is vacationing with her parents from New Jersey and decided to add a 10k to her vacation plans. Katrina is running her first 10k trail run. Way to go ladies!

Thank you race director Wendell for a challenging marathon #69!

KNOW HOW TO OVERCOME FAILURE

"FAILURE"

It's only a word.

But it carries with it so much pain

and so little concern,

so much frustration

and so little respect,

so much stress and so little understanding

that people spend their lives

running through their days

in hope of avoiding the long arm of this little word.

To test your vision, you must risk failure.

To temper your ego, you must risk failure.

To tell your story, you must take a chance.

To see beyond the horizon, you must spread your wings.

To be all you can be, you must stretch, flex, try and go

beyond your proven limits.

To bridge the silence, you must risk rejection.

To advance into the unknown, you must risk all

your previous beliefs and emotions that feel so secure.

Failure is not negative. It is a teacher. It molds, refines,

and polishes you so that one day your light will shine for all to see.

It isn't the failure you experience that will determine your

destiny, but your next step and then the next that will

tell the story of your life.

- Tim Connor-

Keep Believing in yourself and your Dreams!

Yolanda "Walking Diva"

http://www.coastaltrailruns.com/

http://www.marathonmanics.com/

http://www.50statesmarathonclub.com/

Rockin the Coto Trail Marathon - Marathon # 68

Rockin the Coto Trail Marathon was run on well groomed horse trails in the beautiful Coto de Caza. I was really tired from the brutal Mt. Disappointment 50k yesterday. I finished the race a little slower than usual. 7:11:35 Congrats Amazing Joe! 52 marathons in 52 weeks! Ten stars and Titanium Status! You are a ROCK STAR!!! I'm so proud of you.

Cadillac Steve is truly a Maniac!!! He has done 36 ultra/marathons this year. Steve loves trails and the harder the trail, the happier Steve becomes. You keep on cruising Cadillac Steve! This is Bella and she is training for her first 50k next month. Good luck Bella, you can do it!

Gail is running her first double. She asks me "how do you do it, doubles every weekend?". Ultra runner Chris enjoys running trail marathons and ultras. Chris has done many 50k's, 50 milers and four 100 milers. Chris is also a very cool husband and dad. Keep running Chris!

JUST BE YOURSELF To be who you are is to be enough. To share who you are is to share enough. To do what you love is to do enough. There is no race to win and nothing to be proven, only dreams to be nurtured, a self to be expressed, and love to be shared. Never doubt your worth, and always know, without any doubt, that you are truly valued.

-Donna Newman-

Keep Believing, With God all things are possible

Yolanda "Walking Diva"

http://www.charliealewingracing.com/

http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/

http://www.50statesmarathonclub.com/

Mt. Disappointment 50K - Marathon #67

Mt. Disappointment was run on trails and canyons in the San Gabriel Mountains. The course was scenic but extremely strenuous and challenging. Okay lets be honest...The course was freaking HARD!!! The final 4 miles to the summit at Mt. Wilson was BRUTAL!!! Yes I was disappointed! I finally finished 9:16:40, half dead, heat exhaustion, altitude sickness, and lost 6 pounds. But how soon do we forget, I will be back next year to challenge Mt. Disappointment. I WANT REVENGE!

This is my friend Beiyi. Beiyi is the one who introduce me to ultra marathons. Beiyi has done many 50k's, 50 milers and last year her first 100 miler. Last week Beiyi did the Sonoma Triathlon (Ironman) and one week later she runs the brutal Mt. Disappointment 50k! Beiyi you are AWESOME! Let me say it again...The forties are fabulous!

I followed Mary the first 8 miles or so. Mary has done four 50k's and back in April her first 50 miler at the beautiful American River 50 Mile Endurance Run. Mary would like to run an ultra in every state. Good Luck Mary!

There were lots of familiar faces and everyone was eager and ready to challenge Mt. Disappointment.

We travel though riverbeds and climbed over trees. The course was very technical.

THE PATH TO A DREAM The path to a dream is paved with sacrifices and lined with determination. And though it has many stumbling blocks along the way and may go in more than one direction, it is marked with faith. It is traveled by belief and courage, persistence and hard work. It is conquered with a willingness to face challenges and take chances to fail and try again and again. Along the way, you may have to confront doubts, setbacks, and unfairness. But when the path comes to an end, you will find that there is no greater joy than making your dream come true.

-Barbara Cage-

Keep Believing in yourself and your dreams,

Yolanda "Walking Diva"

http://www.mtdisappointment50k.com/

http://www.marathonmanics.com/

http://www.50statesmarathonclub.com/

Skyline 50K - Marathon #66

Skyline 50K takes place at Lake Chabot Marina in Castro Valley, California. The course travels through the redwoods and ending with beautiful views of Lake Chabot. I finished 8:08:33

It was nice to see Mr. Larry Macon, Guinness World Record, 105 marathons in 2008! Also, Larry is on his 11th round of the 50 states. You are my hero!

Melissa and Jennifer are ultra ladies. They love to challenge themselves. Go get them ladies!!!
Cindy and I our paths cross back in May at the Redwood Park Trail 50K. This is Cindy's 3rd 50K this year. It's always a pleasure to see you Cindy. Good work!

This is Miss Lisa the coach of Team in Training. There were many first timers. Ramesh (sorry for the pic) is attempting his first 50K. Good Luck!

I would like to give a shout out to Dan & Melissa, they got engaged last week. Maybe a trail wedding? Congrats!!! Many blessing...

Thank you race directors Jennifer and Adam for a race well done.

MAY THERE NEVER BE A DREAM THAT IS BEYOND YOUR REACH May there be no dead ends in your life and no roads traveled without blessing. May no day be too short to fit love and laughter into it; may time never be so scarce that you cannot give yourself some quiet and gentle thoughts. May here be no friends too busy for you and no family member who doesn't greatly love you. May there never be a dream beyond your reach or a star that you are unable to touch once you get started on your journey. May you remember all you have had from the start and all that is yours forever.

-Mary Klock Labdon-

Keep Believing in your Dreams!

Yolanda "Walking Diva"

www.skyline50k.us/

http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/

http://www.50statesmarathonclub.com/

http://www.teamallstars.com/

Run the Beach Marathon - Marathon #65

Run the Beach Marathon was at Sunset Beach in Huntington Beach, California. The weather was overcast and in the low 60's, great for a morning marathon. It was really nice to see some of the local marathoners. I finished 6:46:48

Kurt and I met last year at Death Valley Marathon. Since meeting Kurt he has become a Marathon Maniac and has run a marathon a month. Kurt is on his way to Ruthenium Level ( 5 stars).

Min has a back injury and hasn't run much this year. Good to see you Min!

Charles is a 50 Stater and is on his 3rd round of the states. Brad & Mary are my favorite couple. They are always smiling and having fun together.

Ironman Laura was not a part of the marathon. I notice her Ironman tattoos which started our conversation. Laura finished her first Ironman in Arizona last month. She's still feeling the high and excitement. Laura did an Ironman for her 50th birthday. I rest my case. Our forties were fabulous but our 50's are AMAZING!!! Laura? You go girl!!!

THERE IS ONLY ONE KEY TO SUCCESS: NEVER QUIT! Believe in yourself and your vision of the future. Surround yourself with those who believe in you and will help you achieve your goals. Keep your dream alive despite the challenges along the way. There will always be those who try to steal your dream by laughter or criticism. They cannot understand what drives you to always want more. In safety, there is no failure - neither is there success. Only by taking the risks that others fear can you achieve greatness. Change can be frightening, but only by changing can you experience growth. Only by challenging yourself to do what seems impossible can you ever know how much you can achieve. There is only one key to success: never quit until you win. It may require a lot of changing, but you can do it. The seed of greatness lies within you. Nurture it, and there will be nothing you can't do.

- Lisa Marie Yost-

Keep Believing in yourself and your Dreams!

Yolanda "Walking Diva"

http://www.charliealewineracing.com/

http://www.marathonmanics.com/

http://www.50statesmarathonclub.com/

http://www.teamallstars.com/

A Mother's Love

This is my beautiful mom. My mom had a heart attack last week. She is recovering and doing well. Mom, there isn't a day of the year that you aren't special to me. You've given me so much, love from your heart and the warmth of your touch. You're my BFF and we have a very special bond which only comes from God. I pray that you have a speedy recovery and may God continue to bless you with good health. I love you mom!