Listening to others...

I have a ton to write about, but I first wanted to touch on an amazing article that was written about me in Beyond Limits Magazine. I am honestly at a loss for words for how thankful I am to Bill Murphy and his entire crew at Beyond Limits Magazine. Please check out the link below.... http://beyondlimitsmagazine.com/punching-back-an-interview-with-keira-henninger

It's funny because in the last four months I have met more people that have inspired me far more than I ever thought I could imagine existed, and I hope with all my heart this article will help inspire someone out there trying to get there life together or just pick up the pieces if things have fallen apart. My life is in such an incredible place right now, and it all stems from hard work. I fully believe hard work, determination, and drive coupled with an extreme positive attitude can move mountains. I live life to the fullest, and just refuse to believe you ever have to stay in a place if it does not make you 100% happy! The only limitations we have are the ones we set on our own self. Period.

Ok so this weekend I have been instructed to not run the Bandit 50k...UGH!!! I am feeling incredible, and in tip top shape, but my coach tells me it's just not quite time to race yet. My itband is 100% better, and he still wants me to focus on my core strength, and pool swimming, and biking. All I want to do is race...I am super competitive, and thrive off racing. I literally have no fear, but this is also one of my biggest faults. I race to much, and tend to over train, and slowly but surely we are changing that. I feel like I am getting friggin stronger than ever, and my legs are just solid muscle right now. I hate that I have not raced yet in 2011, but am going to listen to my peeps, and be smart. Mesquite Canyon will just have to be my first race for 2011. I still plan on going up to bandit tomorrow and helping out!! Would not miss a day with all my Ultra family no matter what!! Plus I wanna see my dear friend Chris Price rip the shit out of that course....word!!!

Yesterday I spent the day crewing my CoyoteSauce *Jimmy Dean Freeman* while he attempted to run the entire length of the Backbone Trail(68 miles). He has done this before, but this time was joined by a whole gang of different peeps from the So-Cal Ultra Scene. I was stoked to be there bitch fo' the day...lol!! It was an awesome day full of tons of awesomeness(not even sure if thats an actual word??) but unfortunately had to be cut a few miles short due to the weather. Seriously a crazy ass storm came in, and between three inches of rain started hammering on the runners. At mile 50 I had to force Jimmy Dean in the car. He did not want to stop(crazy ass??), but once in the warm car he was all smiles. It was also great to see some other friends along the way stopping by to help out~love ya Jayme Burtis!! A whole crew of us went out to dinner later, and had a super fun night ;)

Some great people that joined the run were Pam and T, and the hilarious Coury brothers from Tempe, AZ. These guys are just the best, and my peeps no doubt!! Jamil and Nick Coury are not only EXTREMELY talented Ultra Runners(hello Hard Rock finishers!!) they are also Race Directors. They put on a whole slew of amazing Ultra and Trail races throughout AZ in places like Wadell, Ash Fork, and Fountain Hills. All of there races are absolutely top notch, and they are all ran on trails. They range in all different distances so please check them out! http://www.aravaiparunning.com/aravaiparunning/page.php?5
I will be out there in March running there 50k Mesquite Canyon! Love me some Coury Brothers!! Below he is sporting one of my favorite Inknburn shirts that says run or die(www.inknburn.com)

Leona Divide is right around the corner so if you have not signed up please do so!! Don't forget we have added a 50k and 30k to the distances, and these are all run on beautiful Southern California Trails. Check out:
http://leonadivide5050.com

Have an amazing rest of the weekend and week everyone!!! Life is just a blast right now hope you are enjoying it also!! AWESOME SAUCE!!!

LONG PS.....
Ok so today(Sunday) I cruised up to the Bandit 50k/30k/15k Trail Races in Simi Valley. I did not race as I explained earlier(wanted to almost ready!!), but I wanted to give a few shouts out to the race, and some people I hung with. First off this race is done up great. The start/finish line was awesome, and honestly overall it was a great event. I will definitely go back next year fo' sure and run it. I drove my dear friend Carmella up to run her first 30k and she did amazing!! So proud of this girl!

Next I got to see my dear friend Chris Price not only win the Bandit 50k, but he friggin smoked the course in 4:12. This course is wicked technical, and NOT easy. My lord this guy is on fire. He ran his first 50mile at my Leona Divide last year, then he won my Los Pinos 50k back in November, and I cannot wait to see him race my Leona Divide 50mile in April...hmmm...I dunno Chris maybe I should just come to all your races cause I seem to kind of be your good luck charm! LOL! Pic is him at the finish below. I was so bummed his amazing(she does Tri's) wife Elissa couldn't be there but she will definitely be at Leona! Yippie!!

I also spent the better part of the afternoon hanging with John Medina. He is an amazing guy, and the founder of the very cool Trail Running group the Santa Monica Mountain Goats!! Please check them out at http://mountaingoats.org I am definitely looking forward to having his Mtn. Goats help me out at my newest race I am putting together the "Ray Miller 50mile/50k". Please keep your eyes out for the website coming soon!! This race is gonna be just wicked awesome, and touch some of the most remote parts of the Santa Monica Mountains!! Race date is Saturday February 25th, 2012. Below is a pic of me and John, and some other friends at the Bandit Race.

Ok gotta jam the week is off the hook packed!!! I am traveling all over the place in the next 6 weeks...AZ twice, NY, San Fran, maybe Washington...whoo hoo!! On, on, on with life everyone!!

Leona Valley Trail Races!!!

Just wanted to do a quick post that my "Leona Valley Trail Races" website is officially up and rolling, and registration is now open!! Please go to: http://leonavalleytrailraces.com for all the info. Gonna be a great race!!! Whats cool is it has a Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, & 5k!! Looking forward to having Andy Noises great group the BDP's out in full force helping, and some other amazing groups as well!! Please keep your eyes open also for two other INCREDIBLE trail races I will be breaking out this Summer also. WORD!!!!

I decided to not go up to Montana De Oro this weekend. I really wanted to hang with all my friends, but just had some stuff come up, and am super focused on Bandit 50k in Simi Valley next weekend, and Mesquite Canyon 50k in March out near Phoenix/Tempe March 12th. I needed to train today and yesterday and really focus on putting that first. Since I wasn't quite ready to race yet I will just save it for next weekend.

Yesterday I had an amazing weekend with all my friends running almost 7 hours in the Santa Monica Mtns. I just don't know to many people that can run on trails, and have views of the ocean while running on beautiful single track trails...unreal!!! I love my friggin life!!!! I got home and swam for 90mins, and then saw my son off to Winter Formal. So fun!!

Ok everyone have an amazing week, and enjoy life to the absolute fullest!!!! Life is just awesome sauce!!

Yo!!!

As always life has just been nuts for me(but nuts in a good way!!!) I have been running, cycling, swimming, and hiking a ton! Enjoying life to the fullest, but *SLAMMED*!! I have now taken on another race that will be to date one of my biggest events yet I will put on. I have to keep all the details under wraps for just a little while longer, but very, very soon I will get all the info out.

Today something very funny happened...someone in my life has talked me into doing a full Iron Man. Honestly I have no idea how this even happened...but since he is gonna do it with me I am like what the hell why not. I absolutely LOVE to cycle, and swim, and we have been doing it a ton together so I am gonna give it a shot. He is going to make me do a half distance first though sometime this Summer cause the Iron Man that he is doing is in November in AZ. He is gonna check and see if it is sold out so hopefully I can join him there! It's weird because yesterday I ran for a few hours on the trails with my brother Wicky, then swam for 90mins, and then went and lifted. Tomorrow I will do an early 10miler on the trails, then a 60mile ride. This is just normal stuff for me. I am always Trail running, cycling, and swimming. It's just what I do. I happen to just love to run Ultra's, and used to be super afraid of riding on the road. I am definitely over that fear, and have been killin' it on the bike...killin' it!! My strength is actually swimming. I ocean swim at least once a week if not twice, and it just comes naturally to me. My coach watched me get in the pool on Monday, and was like...hmmm..you are in the wrong sport sweetheart! LOL! To bad my favorite sport is Ultra running!!! Definitely sticking with Ultra's, but it's all great fun, and I don't care what i am doing as long as I am out enjoying life!

I am super excited to head up to Montana De Oro this weekend and hang with my crew. I am not running the 50k though, and plan on dropping down to the 30k. I have Bandit Trail Run 50k the weekend after, and refuse to let Chris Price beat me by more than 30mins. Seriously this is a heated rival, and he is not a Lakers Fan(which pisses me). To bad Hone won't be racing Bandit Trail run either...man those boys are such trash talkers!! Word! Next month I am so super pumped to head out to AZ for the Mesquite Trail run 50k. It's not far from Phoenix, and I plan on tearing the crap up out of that course. It's tough, rugged, and totally my type of course. Going to this race with my game face on fo' sure! I am then supposed to zip up to Washington the weekend after to Krissy Moehl's race Chuckanut 50k, and super excited about that! Two weeks after that I have Lake Sonoma 50mile! Word! Cannot wait to go up to that race cause my entire Sauce crew will be there in full force! Yippie!! I look forward to getting my ass handed to me by the very top in my sport. Devon will be showered, fed, and eating by the time I cross the finish line...lol! Love you Devon!!

I also wanted to touch quickly on some great shoes I have been killing the trails in. I have posted a few times on some shoes I love(tons of great ones out there), but I am lovin' me some TrekSta Trail Evolutions(http://www.trekstausa.com/p-24-womens-evolution-with-nestfit.aspx). These shoes are so incredible, and comfy, and just solid for gripping technical trails. I also love the Kobra's that they make. These are more suited for icy, technical, and slick Trails. Both shoes are made with this incredible Icelock/Hyper Grip Sole, and are just an amazing shoe on the Trails. They both have great ankle support, and incredible traction. I am super stoked to be working with them, and if you have not tried a pair of there shoes do so cause they are friggin rad!!

Also wanted to quickly touch base on another company called Soleus. They make incredible watches, and have something very cool in the works in the way of a watch made specifically for Ultra Runners. SOOOO excited about this, and everything about this company. I am super excited to be working with them also, and people you are gonna die when you see this new watch they have come up with. Keep your eyes on my blog for tons more to come out about this!! (http://www.soleusrunning.com)

Ok everyone have an incredible week and weekend!! Dont forget the next training run for Leona Divide is Sunday February 27th. Gonna be so much fun!! All info can be found on the website~http://leonadivide5050.com Race is fillin up so if you have not yet registered do so! Don't forget the addition of the 30k distance. Last, but not least one of my other new races Leona Valley Trail races will be open soon for registration on IAmAthlete. Please go to http://leonavalleytrailraces.com for registration info!

Get out and enjoy life people!! Don't ever take one single moment for granted as it is a gift, and meant to be lived to the fullest!!