Bronchitis caused me to miss the Kaiser Half in February, and I ended up shelving the The See Jane Run Half in June because attending a memorial service for one of my oldest and best friends took priority (obviously).
So... after a very difficult year at home (four moves in less than a year) and an extremely challenging school year, I was less-than-convinced that I would manage to finish another marathon. The SFM had been moved up by six weeks due to the America's Cup being held in The City in July, so I was running it the week after school officially got out.
Despite my doubts, I dutifully got my gear together the night before the race. Now, that's what you call optimism!
I swore I was going to wear something different for this year's SFM, but since my Running Skirts "Skirt on the Run" capri is so comfortable, practical and perfectly fits the location of this race, I went with the tried and true.
The one thing that I did do differently this year was to order a personalized bib. Over the three weekends preceding the race, my dear Tante Ruth suffered a massive stroke; the next weekend, one of my oldest and dearest friends, Marsha, passed away from complications due to MS; and on the following Sunday, my Tante Ruth died. So, I decided to have my race bib printed in memory of them. I will always carry them with me.
June 16 was race day. I drove down to the start and parked at the Embarcadero Center, which has a great deal for runners of the SFM: $10.00 for the day! If you know San Francisco, you KNOW what a deal that is. It's so easy to walk from the garage to the start, and back again after the race. Plus, this way, no one has to smell my stinky, sweaty, post-race self on public transit afterward!
Once I had parked, I walked down to Perry's, where I was able to enjoy some coffee, breakfast goodies, and REAL bathrooms before the race. I had paid extra for this "VIP" ticket, and it was SO worth it. It was fun chatting with people who, like me, were in the later waves (o.k., the last wave), and watching all of the pre-dawn activity at the start!
At about 6:15, I made my way across the street for the 6:32 a.m. wave start. Let's hear it for the back of the pack! (This is not a photo of my wave, but you wouldn't have been able to identify me, anyway!)
And, then, we were off: Along the Embarcadero, through Aquatic Park, onto Marina Blvd., through Crissy Field and up into the Presidio. Then, it was time to literally "cross that bridge"! Here is a short video of what it looked like as we ran on the roadway of the Golden Gate Bridge.
As you can see, it was a gorgeous day - one advantage to the race being earlier this year. (July is usually the foggiest month around here, and last year, it was dripping wet.)
As I finished my trek back across the bridge, my Garmin died. Just great, since I rely on it for my pacing. We were only at mile 9, and I had no other choice but to use the GPS on my iPhone. I started the app, hoping desperately that the battery wouldn't die before the end of the race.
From the bridge, we went back through the Presidio, down Point Lobos, through the Richmond, and into Golden Gate Park. This is where the half marathoners split off. They headed east toward their finish line, and we turned west toward the beach to start the long loop through my backyard -- I mean, Golden Gate Park! I am happy to report that for the second year in a row, I did not get lost near Stow Lake!
I was feeling pretty good as we headed through the gate by Sharon Meadow onto Haight Street at mile 18.
This year, I decided to stop and take a photo of the (in)famous "Persian Aub Zam Zam". Many years ago, Jim and I were given the "Bruno Treatment" there, and we never forgot it. When I ordered two gin martinis, Bruno grumbled in response, "That's the only kind there is!" Come to think of it, I could have used one of his martinis at this point...
After turning off of Haight Street, I knew the final slog was upon me. So, up the 16th Street/Portrero Street hills we climbed, then back down, then back up more hills, then back down, winding our way back to the Embarcadero. Let me tell you, it's not the climbing that kills you, it's running those downhills. My quads were on fire! This photo was snapped about four miles from the finish line, in the Dogpatch area of the city. I was feeling tired, but great!
After running through South of Market and along the waterfront, I knew that the most difficult part of the race was upon me, but this time, I was prepared.
As you can see, I am looking down, and this was part of my strategy. Once the marathon route rounds AT&T Park, runners are back on the Embarcadero. We also know that the finish line is less than a mile away. The problem is, we can't SEE the finish line. In years past, this has put me into a foul mood, because I knew the end was tantalizingly near, but didn't know WHERE it was. So, this time around, I stayed focused on the ground in front of me, until I became aware of some blue balloons up ahead. That's when I knew I was almost there, and I "kicked it in"!
There is nothing that compares to the feeling of crossing the finish after 26.2 miles. Nothing! You can tell that is the case by my facial expression as I got my medal:
In this photo, you can also see the Bay Bridge in the background. The SFM takes you all the way from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge via a very circuitous route. ;-)
Early registration opened the day after the race, and I immediately signed up. The SFM is my favorite race by far, and I look forward to running it again next July, when it is back on schedule. Yes, it is difficult, but as the marathon's motto goes, it is SO "Worth the Hurt"!
Next up: The Nike Women's Marathon in October - and yes, I am running the full 26.2!
