Big Bear, Mt. Baldy, & San Jacinto/Idyllwild trips & Trail running!!

*Life is awesome*

I wasn't really sure where to even begin with this post because so many amazing things have been happening in my life I just don't want to sound redundant. I honestly cannot even begin to express how friggin rad life is so I will just start with this news...and yes this has been VERY hard to keep quiet about!! – August 20, 2011

The Montrail Ultra Cup is the country’s only nationwide ultrarunning point series. The series consists of 10 races in 7 states with a total cash purse of $16,000. The schedule for the 2011/2012 Montrail Ultra Cup can be seen below and found online, along with more details, at Ultracup.montrail.com.

2011/12 Ultra Cup Race Schedule
1. Waldo 100k – Willamette Pass, OR – August 20, 2011
2. Run Rabbit Run 50 – Steamboat Springs, CO – September 17, 2011
3. Vermont 50 – Brownsville, VT – September 25, 2011
4. JFK 50 – Hagerstown, MD – November 19, 2011
5. Bandera Trail Runs – Bandera, TX – January 7, 2012
6. Way Too Cool 50k – Cool, CA – March 10, 2012
7. American River 50 – Sacramento, CA – April 7, 2012
8. Leona Divide 50 – Lake Hughes, CA – April 28, 2012
9. Ice Age 50– La Grange, WI – May 12, 2012

10. Western States 100 – Squaw Valley, CA – June 23, 2012

Leona Divide is now part of the Montrail Ultra Cup. I am absolutely thrilled, and cannot put into words how completely *awesomesauce* this is. Love Montrail, and also love Mountain Hardwear!! This does definitely take Leona to a different level as far as the incredible talent that will now be at the race, and unfortunately I will have to take out the 30k.  No sweat there though as I have plenty of other races for those shorter distance runners to tackle!! I am also in the works of putting together a few more shorter distance trail running events so hold tight I promise more to come!
http://leonavalleytrailraces.com
http://griffithparktrtailruns.com


I have been spending the last 6 weeks since Ohlone 50k enjoying the heck out of life!! A few weeks back Jesse and I spent an entire weekend up at Big Bear getting me all trained up for AC100, and he also had a mountain bike race he kicked butt at(OF COURSE!!). Been doing some crazy night runs at Mt. Baldy, and then this weekend myself, Jesse, and my little brother Eric Wickland went up to Idyllwild and did about 80 miles of High altitude training. We climbed every peak in the San Jacintos, and it was one of the best weekends of my life!! Below are a slew of pics of life lately and all the craziness that has been happening!!

I absolutely love to run in the Mountains all day, and am blessed to have people in my life that completely love to play the same way I do!! While out in the San Jacinto's this weekend we ran into tons of Trail Running friends, and had the time of our lives! Some of the best things in life are free!! The three of us(me, Jesse, & Wick) rented a cabin in Idyllwild all weekend so what was super exciting was watching the live webcast from Western States!! We were like three kids checking updates....so proud of all my Coyote friends that rocked(go June, Kevin, Stan, & Michael!!) and of course the most proud of my dear friend Scotty Mills. That man is my absolute hero, and this was his 16th WS100 finish! Hell ya General Mills! ;o)

Last I have some super huge news going on with the marketing team  at Rudy Project& the super friggin RAD SAUCE  Chris Lupo. We will be putting together the first ever Rudy Project North America Ultra Running Team, and we are so stoked about this. I am pumped because I am going to be the team manager(yes someone pinch me), and I get to hand pick the athletes myself. Please email me if you have interest(leonaracedirector@gmail.com), but keep in mind I am being very selective. & limiting it to 7 athletes. I already have most of my team picked out but good luck to all that apply and have applied. We will be teaming up with quite a few other solid companies to make this such a great team!! Love Rudy Project so much, and am pumped about this!!!

I am so excited about life....and feel more ready than ever to race Angeles Crest 100 mile. I am hungry, and have no doubts I am 100% ready to rock this race in the mountains. After going off course a a few times last year, and even one of the times for an entire hour. I really want to get the 24 buckle I deserved last year. All things happen for a reason, but this year that will NOT happen.  I am ready to race, and will do that the entire time & length of that race. After AC100 I plan to take some down time, and then I am taking a huge camping trip up to Yosemite & three rivers.  Endless amounts of Trail Running, Hiking, campfires, and swimming. Pumped for that fo' sure!

On a last note I am also super excited for my son to already be starting cross country again! I cannot believe how fast an entire year went by(what a year!!), but this season for him will be great. He is running a solid flat 16 min 5k right now, and is pumped about the new season at Dana Hills High School. I definitely don't run with him anymore as he would kill me to death if I did! LOL....

Keep livin' life everyone, and make it the best it can be everyday!! Don't ever settle for what does not make you the happiest as stuck you will stay!! On, on, on with life my friends!!

P.S.
A really cool article just came out on me, and I thought some would be inspired! Thanks Maurya!!
http://blog.spartanrace.com/the-gold-standard-series-ultra-chicked-part-two-keira-henninger/