Race Report: San Francisco Marathon - 2nd Half

Back-to-back weeks of Race Reports, aren't you lucky!  Last week was the Windmill 10K - and since it's already August (I know, can you believe it?) today was the San Francisco Marathon.  Racers may register to run the full marathon, the first half or the second half.  For the second year running, I chose the second half for several reasons:

a) later start time

b) the course has a better elevation profile than the first half -- more flat-to-downhill than the first half

c) the main feature of the first half is to cross the Golden Gate Bridge, which is lovely, but not a lot of fun for a race.  Click here and JoJo will tell you why.

d) this bod ain't doing the full megillah any more.  I can do a half with no more training than my regular workout schedule.  A full would be too much meshugaas.

Saturday - The Expo

So, second half it is.  I showed up at the Expo yesterday for the usual routine:  pick up bib, get timing chip, and shop.  Upon arrival, I was pleased to get a photo opp with Cardboard Barack, who was getting out the vote with his nice but large-thumbed volunteer.

Once inside, I learned that the race organizers had decided to use the new disposable tags to time the race instead of ChampionChips.  Kind of a bummer, since I own my own ChampionChip in order to track all my races together on their web site.  However, I recently discovered Athlinks, which lets me do the same for most races so it should all work out in the end. 

Besides, I'm certainly not one to pooh-pooh progress, and as I meandered around the show, I discovered two other exciting race innovations.  

First was BazuMedia -- who for $5 will text your split times to up to five friends' cell phones real-time on race day.  

Second was WearYourNumber.com.  Sanctioned by race organizers, they'll silkscreen your number bib with a personalized phrase onto your race apparel, so no more dealing with pesky safety pins, unflattering number belts or rustling paper bibs, period.  And they do it right there at the Expo while you wait.  How cool is that!   They have a few moisture-wicking microfiber styles to choose from, or they'll put it on a shirt you provide.  I chose the Women's Sleeveless for $29.95.

Another thing I noticed at the Expo was that the running skirt trend is definitely picking up.  I used to secretly mock the skirt when I saw women wearing them at races.  Then I tried one.  I'm a believer! They're comfortable, and I must say I have even more of a spring in my step when I'm feeling cute and feminine.  You know what I'm saying, ladies?  Both RunningSkirts.com and  atalanta athleticwear were there with some really cute apparel, but since I already had my Nike skirt picked out for today. I restrained myself.  This time. 

One More Mile was also there with their myriad of mantra t-shirts.  My favorite said:  "Running is my Happy Hour."

I took that as my cue, and headed out to do some pre-race prep -- in the form of a salad and pasta dinner from Polk Street prepared foods proprietor Andrew & Company.

That evening, I realized I hadn't really been paying attention when the volunteer was telling me how to affix the disposable number tag to my sneaker.  (Perhaps I was still having separation anxiety from my cheerful yellow ChampionChip.)  As luck would have it, there's this amazing thing called the Internet -- and I was able to find an instructional video on the ChronoTrack manufacturer's web site -- along with all kinds of other useful information about the contraption.  Maybe this thing isn't so bad after all.  

   

Sunday - The Race

Although my wave wouldn't start until 8:25, I woke up at 5:45 in order to drive to the Embarcadero Center and catch the race shuttle to the start in Golden Gate Park.  This would allow me to have my car close at hand when I finished at AT&T Park.  However, what it also meant was I spent the better part of an hour and a half shivering (serves me right for not doing the sweats check again) and nauseated from the smell of port-o-potties.  Why am I doing this again?  I banished the question from my head, stretched and munched on my CLIF Builder's Bar.  

We were called to the starting line and the gun went off at 8:27 on my watch.  I started running and although I'd stretched, it was just so cold that I wasn't warmed up.  My IT band decided it wanted to be difficult and my right leg cramped right up.  Scary.  For a minute I thought I wouldn't be able to do the race, but it turned out it was nothing a little extra stretching couldn't cure, and soon I was trotting along normally.  Whew.  

As we wound our way through Golden Gate Park, we saw the First Half runners finishing.  Isn't it nice that they're already done!

Throughout the entire course, there were signs designed to entertain and educate everyone with a little trivia about running and/or the Bay Area.  One sign would ask a question, then several yards later another sign would provide the answer.   For example, Question: What is the state bird of California?  There were also several inspirational quotes.  Here are two of my favorites:

"How you respond to the challenge in the second half will determine what you become after the game, whether you are a winner or a loser." -- Lou Holtz

"If you feel like eating, eat.  Let your body tell you what it wants." -- Joan Benoit Samuelson

There were lots of photographers along the way, so hopefully there's a decent shot of me in my cute running skirt and paper-and pin-less t-shirt.  If there is, I'll post an update. (UPDATE: Posted at the end of this entry.)

You may also be wondering how those Bazu real-time-texts worked out.  Unfortunately, they had network errors, but luckily I was able to get the most important text of all -- my finish time of 2:13:50, which was a minute and 10 seconds faster than my 2:15 goal!  

So, another one down.  Next up:  See Jane Tri in Pleasanton 9/27.  In the meantime, watch this space for updates on my "training regimen" of great food and other fun stuff.  (Latest discoveries are the Italian fare at Ducca in SOMA and the burger with fried onions and chipotle aioli at Long Bar and Bistro on Fillmore.)

 

Answer: California Valley Quail.

Comments

[Greg]

Fro Fro...demand your money back. Never got your splits...just your finishing time (awesome btw!).