San Francisco Marathon

Destination races are difficult to conserve energy before a race when the surrounding world screams for you to be a tourist and explore. Luckily and fortunate for us, our swag bag didn't contain information or tickets about the pasta feed or the bus ride back for the wife's half marathon. Therefore, after breakfast we decided to return to the Expo. I mentioned "luckily and fortunate" on purpose because after a walking about seeking a suitable breakfast, exhausted and still hungry without finding a reasonably priced place to eat, we returned to the hotel where we recalled a long line outside a restaurant called Sears ... Read Full Story

The stereotypical California attitude is "laid back". Perhaps when we registered for the race back in January, the "laid back" attitude became pervasive through our training and the race? We have never been so relaxed, nonchalant before the starter's pistol and finish. Was this a good thing? Typically, I begin packing clothes a day before which, I kid you not, escalates to a four hour activity of packing, over-packing and eliminating clothing combinations. In record time, I threw my clothes in the suit case deciding to purchase a running jersey at the Marathon Expo. The work week must have drained me of all decision-making ... Read Full Story

"Do you think anyone will show? God, it would be pretty embarrassing if no one did." As we finished cleaning the house Friday night, we both had the same thoughts but the wife spoke first. I replied, "Well, a few of the people are on vacation or out of town. I'm not sure there will be many people coming for breakfast." Turning into the parking lot Saturday morning, only two cars were parked at Ft. Tuthill where this week's group run was scheduled on Soldier's Run -- one of my favorite 10k courses. Arriving twenty minutes early, both of us were nervous that our ... Read Full Story

Three weeks into the new running program and the calendar posted upon our refrigerator is getting marked-up with more X's rather than frowny-faces. When a complete row of X's occur, we get to treat ourselves but after this past, full week-end of events, I don't know how we could treat ourselves. What could be possibly left to do? Thai food, movies, group run, long run, Ethnic festival, more movies, barbecue, drinks, shopping, gym, etc. In short, I've been sticking to the running program and am seeing results. The 16 mile long-run on Sunday didn't phase me and I no longer view this distance as ... Read Full Story

The alarm sounded at 3:30 a.m. and I shot out of bed to take a shower then stretch and eat a Nature bar. The wife followed suit. Surprisingly, cabs aren't readily available in San Francisco at 4:40 a.m. Challenging is hailing a cab when you can't whistle and especially difficult when the Valet is not present but found sleeping in an office. Nonetheless, we found a cab to share with another couple and arrived at the start line by 5:10 or 5:15 a.m. Perhaps we were too tired to be nervous or care, but after dropping-off our gear bags we lined-up corral 3 and ... Read Full Story