Whew, my legs are like jello right now. Just chilling after running the Bay to Breakers race in the morning and I'm so glad that I went this year. I went to sleep at 10pm the night before but somehow my system just couldn't wait for the race I guess. I woke up at 4 and I was like, what's going on? I looked out the window, saw stars in the clear sky, and was relieved that this year we won't have to run in the rain like last year. Anyway, chilled, got ready by 6:30 and hopped onto the muni express train. Lemme tell you, if you were to ever run B2B, please get a muni express pass. It's a pretty good feeling when your bus is passing all those stops, teeming with people who wanted to get on.
7:45am: We get off at the embarcadero. It's JD's first time in a portapotty, so of course, it's reason for some special celebration. I shake the portapotty around with her in it. Hey, at least I didn't tip it over! Ernest, Esther and I played innocent when she came out. On to the starting line!
8:00am: With tortillas flying above our heads and not a sight of naked running men yet, we start the race by walking the 1st quarter mile. Um...did the entire SF population come out or what? This place is more packed than downtown Hong Kong or Tokyo! We weave around all those people walking in the middle. Friends, next time you run this race, take the flanks on either side to get yourself ahead of the herd.
8:13am: Just as we passed the mile 1 marker (11 min for the first mile, kinda slow), and myth becomes reality. There they are, the infamous naked men running right in the middle of the road and fellas, it's not a pretty sight. I don't see their number bibs since they didn't safety pinned them to their flesh :P, but man, if you're behind them, you pretty much can't see anything anyway. All of a sudden, there's more motivation to pick up pace and avoid these moonies. As I weave around the people on the left hand curb, the runner in front of me changed direction and a parking meter almost took me out.
8:30am: We're on Hayes, just passed one of my favorite places, Fritz, when the incline begins. The music blarring out of the apartments sure helps though. Techno, Brazilian jazz, Mariachi, Funk, Rock, Hip Hop, Gospel. A pretty good sampling. Maybe I wasn't paying attention, but I lost the other three. Great.
8:35am: Running, looking for the other three. It's hopeless. We're at mile 4, down the panhandle on Fell. Halfway through!
8:45ish: I found JD and Ernest! Cool. Entering Golden Gate park. At the mile 5 marker, beginning to get tired. Hmm... maybe I shouldn't have eaten that pork bun (Cha Siu Bao) in the morn huh? Where's the water station???
9:00am: Esther must be way ahead. I'm lagging behind. My brain telling me that I've actually never ran more than 4.5 miles at a time, ever. But why is that 13 year old kid passing me? That punk! :) Both JD and Ernest get second wind and I try to keep up.
9:15am: Mile 7! The last half mile must be the hardest. I can see the windmill so the ocean is near, and before long, yes, the view of pacific ocean and Beach Chalet on the left.
9:25am: Thank goodness I see the finish line. I finish the race in 1:20:32. A couple minutes behind Esther and 1 minute behind the others. I'm just glad I made it without walking that much. I pulled out the Clif Bar and it never tasted so good. I look at the ocean and the clear blue sky. Yeah, I feel pretty good right about now. Glad I did it.
We went to footstock afterwards to get a t-shirt but didn't stay for Bonnie Raitt. I kinda wanted to hear Bonnie Raitt. :) Just kidding. We then went to Fritz for some good salad and fries and ate it in the sun. Pretty good day I'd say. :)
7:45am: We get off at the embarcadero. It's JD's first time in a portapotty, so of course, it's reason for some special celebration. I shake the portapotty around with her in it. Hey, at least I didn't tip it over! Ernest, Esther and I played innocent when she came out. On to the starting line!
8:00am: With tortillas flying above our heads and not a sight of naked running men yet, we start the race by walking the 1st quarter mile. Um...did the entire SF population come out or what? This place is more packed than downtown Hong Kong or Tokyo! We weave around all those people walking in the middle. Friends, next time you run this race, take the flanks on either side to get yourself ahead of the herd.
8:13am: Just as we passed the mile 1 marker (11 min for the first mile, kinda slow), and myth becomes reality. There they are, the infamous naked men running right in the middle of the road and fellas, it's not a pretty sight. I don't see their number bibs since they didn't safety pinned them to their flesh :P, but man, if you're behind them, you pretty much can't see anything anyway. All of a sudden, there's more motivation to pick up pace and avoid these moonies. As I weave around the people on the left hand curb, the runner in front of me changed direction and a parking meter almost took me out.
8:30am: We're on Hayes, just passed one of my favorite places, Fritz, when the incline begins. The music blarring out of the apartments sure helps though. Techno, Brazilian jazz, Mariachi, Funk, Rock, Hip Hop, Gospel. A pretty good sampling. Maybe I wasn't paying attention, but I lost the other three. Great.
8:35am: Running, looking for the other three. It's hopeless. We're at mile 4, down the panhandle on Fell. Halfway through!
8:45ish: I found JD and Ernest! Cool. Entering Golden Gate park. At the mile 5 marker, beginning to get tired. Hmm... maybe I shouldn't have eaten that pork bun (Cha Siu Bao) in the morn huh? Where's the water station???
9:00am: Esther must be way ahead. I'm lagging behind. My brain telling me that I've actually never ran more than 4.5 miles at a time, ever. But why is that 13 year old kid passing me? That punk! :) Both JD and Ernest get second wind and I try to keep up.
9:15am: Mile 7! The last half mile must be the hardest. I can see the windmill so the ocean is near, and before long, yes, the view of pacific ocean and Beach Chalet on the left.
9:25am: Thank goodness I see the finish line. I finish the race in 1:20:32. A couple minutes behind Esther and 1 minute behind the others. I'm just glad I made it without walking that much. I pulled out the Clif Bar and it never tasted so good. I look at the ocean and the clear blue sky. Yeah, I feel pretty good right about now. Glad I did it.
We went to footstock afterwards to get a t-shirt but didn't stay for Bonnie Raitt. I kinda wanted to hear Bonnie Raitt. :) Just kidding. We then went to Fritz for some good salad and fries and ate it in the sun. Pretty good day I'd say. :)
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