BULLDOG 25k and 50k Ultra Runners

Congratulations to all you trail runners! YAY!! Everyone did such a great job on Saturday! I know you are all so proud of yourselves! I have to say I had such a great time.

Our journey started by picking up Vikki and Korrinne, and having Vikki nervous about the race start and time, and Korrinne getting car sick. It was very exciting! We have a very funny story to tell.

Getting the 50k'rs off was so much fun. I loved seeing everyone excited and ready to go before the race.

Donna, Linda, Sue, Vikki, Yolanda, and even Jay decided to join in on the fun just a little late for the start...:)

Then the 25k'rs start...Esteban and Dave passed us right away, we knew they would.

Then Korrinne, Elizabeth, Pete and I ran together until the last 2 miles. They did great, and we had such a fun time singing, and climbing "mostly" uphill, and running "mostly" downhill. :)

We had the best views didn't we? Now, if we could have just had the weather we have been having in El Moro the past 13 weeks, that would have been the best! You all did great!

Coming in and then being able to see Rocio finish, then Alayne, and Cyndy, Tony was awesome. I hope you all had a great experience and I hope you all learned something too.

Something most of you didn't get to see was the 50k'rs finish. It got so much hotter, and they all did so great! It was 104 degrees out there, and believe me not an easy course. You should all be proud. Vikki came in and i think she said 6th in her age group. She is an awesome rockstar! Then Yolanda, whom most of you met there, and will meet during the new session. Then Donna and linda, and they were rockin' it. Then Jay, who Finally mastered the 50k, and looked great doing it, and then Sue with 1 minute left to spare! It was really awesome to see all of you out there running along side her, waiting with her diet coke, and cheering for her at the OC Trail Tales finish line! She did truly appreciate it! Thank you.

Pete and I are really proud of everyone. Whether you ran the race or not, we are really proud and honored to have you in our lives to share what we love. Thank you for sharing your time with us.

We would also love to have some testimonials for the website with your cute photos next to them if any of you would like to volunteer. Just let us know if you would be willing to have your face up for the world to see. :)

If you are not coming back for the new session, please know we will miss you very much and would really like a check in every now and then to see how you are doing. Also, it would be nice if you came out and did a run with us. We wont be able to live without you, so you will have to keep us informed of how you are doing.

The new session officially starts September 11th, and it is a Saturday. It will be the only Saturday we meet, and then it will always be Sundays. We are really looking forward to all the newbies, and have a few new trails to share. We will be having a couple travel days, and will let you know in advance so you can plan the dates. We are looking forward to this, and are excited to share these beautiful trails with you.

For this coming up Sunday, We will be pacing our friends for their 100 mile race called AC 100 miler. We are looking forward to that, and can not wait to help and cheer, and do whatever we can to get them through their big race. You all still have that opportunity as well with Chimera 100 miler coming up September 18 and 19th I believe. I do have a few of you that have volunteered, but could use a couple more.

We also have volunteered for Los Pinos, and that is a shorter time commitment, and can use your support as well. Now that you have been in a race and have seen the volunteers and what it takes for one of these races, for the even longer races, it is even more important. It really takes an ultra runner to help too because they know what to look for and how to help (hopefully). So any help anyone can give, is awesome, and we all thank you.

In closing collectively as a group a strong bond has taken place in a short span of 13 weeks. I recall our first group run at Peters Canyon- we started our run at 7:07am because nobody was chatting... as everyone started to get comfortable our start time increased to 7:18am hmmm mmmm.... a few guests have shared with me after our run on Sundays that they felt a strong sense of connection between everyone. When we started this program that was our goal, and to enjoy the freedom of the trails. The feeling of empowerment after a 14.4 mile or 27.3 mile training run does create character and gives you a better idea what your body can handle. I must say I am very impressed on everyone progress thru this program.

As for Skip, Natasha, Jeremy, Jenna, and Tom- we wish you a speedy recovery. And we look forward to seeing you come back out when the body heals.

Congratulations again to everyone, and Thank you for everything!

O ya we are working a javiers lunch or dinner gathering details will be posted soon.

Corrinne and Pete aka, Ma and Pa

BULLDOG

Good morning!

Just a few notes before this weekends race. I know some of you are getting a bit nervous, because it is your very first trail race. That is totally normal!! YAY! A bit of nerves is great to get that adrenaline going. :) Hopefully some of the things i am posting will help you calm a bit, and get you prepared.

Please start packing today if you haven't already done so. Things you might need...

Handhelds

backpack

buff

clothes for before, and after

xtra socks

sunscreen

gu's or gels

heed or other electrolytes

salt stick

sunglasses

flip flops for after

towel

camera

aquaphore for your lips

chaffing bar or sport shield

blister shield

keniseo tape or knee bands

electrolyte pills

snacks for after

bars

this is just a sample list. Hopefully you have things layed out and can visualize what you will need for the race,and or drop bags. Also, what are you going to wear after? Are you going back to the hotel, or are you driving home? Pack accordingly.

Some of you have read or heard that you may get lost because of ribbon changing. Yes that does happen, i am not going to lie. I have been lost. Pete has gotten lost. Skip and I got very lost in Oregon, and i think we were in the 28 mile zone, and it is very frustrating. Please get a map of the course, and listen to the race instructors instructions in the morning. If you have gone a couple of miles without seeing a ribbon, or anyone, you are probably going the wrong way. There are not too many places you can get lost on this course, but it can happen. They sometimes mark courses the night before a race because they start so early, and hikers and bikers think its cute to re-route us runners sometimes. NOT cute! Pete and I will be there, and we will be counting heads. We will come looking for you if we think it has been too long. You probably have nothing to worry about. Just don't follow Jay. :) Just kidding Jay! :)

Carpool...Everyone should know how they are getting there and back, if you don't, please call me.

Like I said before, we will be there, cheering for you, and we will come and get you after our race. We will have some goodies, and yummies for when you are done, and I hope everyone has a fantastic day! Everyone is going to do great! Stay within yourselves, and run YOUR race.

If you have any questions or any other concerns, please feel free to blog, email, or call us. :)

See you Saturday!!!

Big Bend

I can not believe this week was our last training run! I am a bit sad, but happy at the same time, that you have all almost completed the class! I hope you have had as much fun as Pete and I. I know some of you are coming back and we will get to see you every weekend still, but I know some of you will not be. Just remember to come visit once in awhile, and facebook, and keep in touch. We will miss you. :(

Everyone was AWESOME going up big bend! WOW...Esteban! I think Esteban ran pretty much the whole way! Same with Sue...Great job you guys! Do you think it was nice to wait til the end of the class to throw that hill at you? Could you imagine if that was the first class?

Creature Feature....Loved seeing the deer in the beginning of Big bend. Finally a creature feature that is cute.

Vikki, thank you for the wonderful pre and post yoga. It was awesome! It does remind me how much I miss my yoga. Now that Vikki isn't moving, she will be staying on as our yogi! Thank you Vikki.

Skip is at home and supposed to be resting. Everything went well with his surgery, and if he is feeling up to it, we may see him at Bulldog cheering us on. :) We miss you Skip, get some rest.

For those of you with injuries...You all did so awesome. Injuries happen, and as you all saw me go through, sickness as well. For those of you not doing Bulldog, we will miss you too, and wish you could be with us. There is always another race, and your health and welfare are more important. Please rest, and come out with us when you are better.

Our meet and greet for the new students is Sunday @7:30am the day after Bulldog, and we are doing an easy 4 miles. Please come out and wear your Bulldog shirt, Medal, OC Trail Tales shirts, whatever...join us in celebrating your final exam. Just don't scare off the newbies. :) After that, we are taking a little break with our bodies to give them a rest, and the new session starts Sept. 11th. It is a Saturday not Sunday because Pete and I have a race for our groups in Snails Pace, that is their final exam, on the 12th.

Finally, Please let me know if you want to help and volunteer for Chimera 100 miler, on September 18th, and 19th. Los Pinos 50k, on November 20th. OC Trail Tales will be doing an aid station, and it would be alot of fun, and good experience for those of you wanting to do higher mileage. You don't need to be there all day, just a couple of hours if that's all you can do. I need to make a list of volunteers and give them to the race directors. You get goodies, and food, sometimes a shirt or jacket, and most of all you get to see your fellow trail runners at their best! (not for the squemish)

Good job everyone!!!