this one's for cate!

on saturday i ran #2 in the WTRS up at Blue Jay. i am happy to report that i had no mishaps and stayed upright, which is more then i can say for George and Doug. the course was run on much of the same trails as last time, which makes it very rocky and technical. the rocks really seem to slow me down and i am very skittish coming off a sprain and a recent fall. two weeks ago we ran a 12K (which means nothing cuz the course was long) and this past saturday we ran a 15K (but i have no idea of the distance) best guess is that it was a mile and a half longer this week but i ran only five minutes slower and that is progress. it turned out to be a perfect day which was a nice surprise since rain had been in the forecast.

i have some friends, Robert and Cate. Robert is an ultra runner that i had met a year ago but i had heard of "the Robert Lore" before i had met him. i had stumbled across his AC report and what an insanely crazy read was that!? his wife Cate is his best friend and i met her while she helped out at the BackBone and again while crewing at AC.

this past fall, Cate was diagnosed with breast cancer. they are likening her progress to the aid stations at the Western States 100 mile endurance run. i have been searching for a symbol to give me courage, hope and strength while i train to finish that very race this June.

when i run, i think of Cate often. what better way to find courage, hope and strength then to get it while thinking about Cate and her journey and what she is faced with at this time. my running partner George and I will be wearing our pink Hoag Cancer Clinic bracelets while we train and while running Western States. we will be carrying Cate in our hearts as we strive for courage, hope and strength to we cross the finish line and we will be waiting for Cate to cross the finish line of her very own and personal race.