Jingle Bells Trail Marathon

I had a little break last weekend and only had to run 39.3 miles. Now it's back to the marathon double weekend. I only need to complete two more 52.4 mile weekends and a single and I hit my Titanium goal. I'm getting so close, yet these final races get harder and harder. I am exhausted. On top of cranking out the 26.2 miles, I have to deal with traveling 400 hundred miles and car camping in the Mini-bago. I can tell you that sleeping in a Mini Cooper is like trying to snooze in coach on a transatlantic flight. These are the things I have to do to get to Titanium.

Another road trip? Really?

For life time marathon #55, I returned to roam the rattle snake invested trails Sycamore Canyon. Up and down hills that never seemed to end, I plugged along. I started out with four layers because it was so cold at dark o'clock, but by 10am, Mr. Sunshine threw rays of warm shines at me. I had to peel most of what I had on off. If it had gotten any warmer, I probably would have had to complete this marathon naked, which wouldn't have been a bad thing because it would have scared all the rattle snakes away! In any case, what got me through this brutal trail race was a couple of Marathon Maniacs who kept me laughing throughout the 26.2 miles of trail hell.

Trail hill. Yay.

These two kept me plugging along on the trails.

I asked for an action shot, and Jean Ho delivered!

Finally got to meet ultra runner Rachel Spatz. She's ultra cute :-)

Dale Dale on the trail.

I'm so happy to get this done because it brings me one step closer to reaching my goal of 52 marathons in 52 weeks. Like I said, as I get closer and closer to the goal, it gets harder and harder. With only a few left and a lot at stake, it's do or die. I have to finish the mission. Any DNF at this point and it's GAME OVER.

Titanium Score Board: 48 down, 4 to go.

48 down. Really? Wow, that just sounds so surreal. ONLY 4 LEFT!!!