Diablo Marathon - Marathon #80

Mt. Diablo Marathon was run at Diablo State Park in Clayton California. The course was extremely hilly, brutal, hard, pretty, beautiful, and scenic on single-track trails and dirt roads. I finally finished 8:31:36. I did the marathon not the 50K!!!

Remember Ernie! He's still going strong. 18 events this year ranging from a 10K to a 50K! You go Ernie! Jo Lynn and Stacey said "we are going to just have fun"! Carol from Alaska is here on vacation and said why not take in a 10k and enjoy the view.

This was my 3rd time doing Mt. Diablo and the hardest. All I did was climb and climb and climb and climb. It never did end. I started to cry and I wasn't sure if I was crying because of my brother or if my blood sugar was low. I believe it was a combination of both.

The views were spectacular! You could see the San Francisco Bay Area and the surrounding areas.

Oh my goodness!!! There were tarantulas everywhere!!! Scary, hairy, ugly, creepy tarantulas!!!
It's mating season...gross!!!!

Thank you Phyllis for your kindness and words of encouragement...

TRAVEL STEP BY STEP

As with all journeys, the difficult part is simply to begin. Your heart knows what to do; it's up to you to listen to that inner voice. Make your choices carefully and courageously, then take a deep breath and begin. One foot in front of the other, one day at a time, one cloud to push away, one sun to shine.

Travel step by step and reach for one goal before moving ahead to another. That's the way to find out what real accomplishment is. As you go, take it slowly. Your confidence will grow and, in the span of distance and time, you will surprise yourself with the sunlight you'll journey into the shadows you'll leave behind.

-Douglas Pagels-

Keep Believing in yourself and your Dreams!

Yolanda "Walking Diva"

http://www.coastaltrailruns.com/

http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/

http://www.50statesmarathonclubs.com/

My loving brother James

Dear James,

Words cannot express the love I have for you. You were the best big brother. When I think of you I think of good times. There was never a time that I could not count on you. You have always been there for me. You're my biggest supporter on my journey. I know you will be there with me as I cross the finish line.

When God picks flowers, he picks the most precious and beautiful to bring home. Until we meet again, I love you James!

Redwood Park 50K - Marathon #79

Redwood Park 50K was held in the beautiful and gorgeous Redwood Regional Park in Oakland California. Nice trails, tall redwoods and calming streams. Redwood Park is one of my favorite ultra marathons. I finished 8:22:26. Deborah is an amazing woman, she 's doing a 10k and was a little worried that she might stumble.

Decisions; choices: Today I had to make a hard choice of either go to my brother's funeral or continue on with my journey to Guinness. I spoke with my brother James a few weeks prior to his homecoming and he said " I will be at your record breaking marathon in Las Vegas". I know James will be with me. I dedicate the Redwood Park 50K to you James.

These young men are a part of the Oakland Rebel Youth Group. It's nice to see kids out running the trails. There was also a horse race. It was a busy morning at Redwood Park.

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE AN ANGEL BY YOUR SIDE

May you always have an angel by your side. Watching out for you in all the things you do. Reminding you to keep believing in brighter days. Finding ways for your wishes and dreams to come true.

Giving you hope that is as certain as the sun. Giving you the strength of serenity as your guide. May you always have love and comfort and courage, and...

May you always have an angel by your side. Someone there to catch you if you fall.

Encouraging your dreams, inspiring your happiness, holding your hand and helping you through it all.

In all of our days, our lives are always changing. Tears come along as well as smiles. Along the roads you travel, may the miles be a thousand times more lovely than lonely. May they give you gifts that never, ever end: someone wonderful to love a dear friend in whom you can confide. May you have rainbows after every storm. May you have hopes to keep you warm.

And may you always have an angel by your side.

You are my Angel James! I love you!

Keep Believing,

Yolanda "Walking Diva"

http://www.pctrailruns.com/

http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/

http://www.50statesmarathonclub.com/

Endure the Bear Trail 50K - Marathon #78

Endue the Bear was held at Big Bear Lake California. Big Bear Lake has beautiful trails and awesome views of the lake. I was having a wonderful morning until I got a call around mile 15. My niece called and said James (my oldest brother) is in the hospital and you need to come now. At mile 25 my sister text and said he died. James died of a massive heart attack at the young age of 62.

Welcome back Jeanette! We all missed seeing your beautiful smile.

Lord, someone I loved died today, and there's this great empty spot in my heart. I need you to fill it, to assure me that I well see my brother again in the kingdom that you promised. Help me to shed honest tears, but also to remember all that was good between us. Help me to honor the memory of our relationship by sharing love with others even as love was shared with me.

I finished 9:37:16

Death is nothing at all - I have only slipped away into the next room. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Plan, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without effort. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was: there is absolutely unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of your mind because I am out of your sight? I am but waiting for you for an interval, somewhere very near just around the corner. All is well. Nothing is past: nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before - only better, infinitely happier and forever - we will all be one together with Christ.


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

Yolanda "Walking Diva"

http://endurebear.wordpress.com/

www.marathonmaniacs.com

www.50statesmarathonclub.com

American Discovery Trail Marathon - Marathon #77

I did it! My first Quad! 4 marathons in 4 states in 3 days!!! I didn't arrived in Colorado Springs until 2:30am. My flight coming from LAX was grounded and required attention from the fire department. I wasn't concerned about my life, but losing a marathon. American Discovery Trail Marathon was run in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The race started at Palmer Lake and finished at America the Beautiful Park. The trail was scenic and beautiful. I finished 6:15:36

Miss Diana "Liberty Lady" from Virgina was present. Our paths crossed back in January at the Miracle Match Marathon in Waco Texas. Diana was very concerned about my weight. I assured her that I was just sleep deprived and exhausted. Thank you Diana. This is Megan and her very first full marathon. It was a pleasure to meet you Megan and good luck!

There were a few marathon maniacs ready to rock the trails.

KEEP BELIEVING IN YOURSELF AND YOUR DREAMS

Every goal that has ever been reached began with just one step...and the belief that it could be attained. Dreams really can come true, but they are most often the result of hard work, determination, and persistence. When the end of the journey seems impossible to reach, all you need t do is take one more step. Stay focused on your goal and remember that each small step will bring you a little closer. When the road becomes hard to travel and it feels as if you'll never reach the end...Look deep inside your heart and you will find strength you never knew you had.

-Jason Blume-


Keep Believing!

Yolanda "Walking Diva"

http://www.outtherecolorado.com/latest-blogs/holder-panzer-take-adt-marathon-runs-to-the-extreme.html

http://www.adtmarathon.com/

http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/

http://www.50statesmarathonclub.com/

Run the Marina Marathon - Marathon #76

Marathon #3, state #3, day 2, Sept 5th. I finished Buckeye Marathon around 1:15am. RJ drove while I slept. I got about 3 hours of sleep. Run the Marina Marathon was held in Long Beach California. The course was run along the marina. The weather was perfect, cool and cloudy. I just left 104 degree weather in Arizona so cool and cloudy was perfect! I finished 7:12

Cyndie is MM#90 from Oregon. Our paths crossed back in July at Foot Traffic Flat Marathon in Portland. Good seeing you again Cyndie...

WOW!!! I saw Moses at the Santa Rosa Marathon. Moses is 78 years young! Moses you look 58! When I grow up I want to be like Moses!!!

Mr. Larry Macon is also running 4 marathons in 4 states in 3 days. You're my inspiration Larry. Remember Gail a few months back. Gail was running her first double. Gail has marathon fever. Gail is running a triple this weekend. You go Gail!

I love Southern California. Where else can you find yoga on the beach and boot camp on the beach. Life's a beach in Southern California.

SEE YOURSELF SUCCEEDING

The way you see yourself has a lasting impact on your life. When you consider yourself worthy of achieving your goals...you'll become who you want to be. you'll see yourself as confident and capable, and you'll follow a different path- because you now see yourself walking toward success. We don't always realize the full impact of our thoughts - how far they reach or how they truly affect us and our goals. See yourself in this brand-new light. Think you can - and you will. Do all you can to become everything you want to be.

-Barbara J. Hall-

Keep Believing in yourself and your dreams!

Yolanda "Walking Diva"

http://www.charliealewineracing.com/

http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/

http://www.50statesmarathonclub.com/