Today's race marks my 28th consecutive month of doing a race every month -- typically half marathons or sprint triathlons. Last year's December race was the Las Vegas Half Marathon, but this year that race conflicted with the Jets' visit to San Francisco. My priorities firmly in order, I chose the Stick over the Strip. Unfortunately the Jets didn't reward me.
So with 2008 quickly expiring, I made my way over to Golden Gate Park this morning for the DSE Conservatory 5K. When we started at 9:00 am it was chilly, but the sun was peeking through the ominous clouds. Unfortunately, we'd only run a few hundred yards before those clouds started dumping torrential rains. It was in that moment I realized why many of my friends think I'm a little bit nuts for doing this race-a-month thing. But I stick to it, because when you love the sweets, you gotta move your feets. I'm here all week, folks!
The course ran past some of the major Golden Gate Park landmarks, including the Conservatory of Flowers, the Rose Garden, and the de Young Museum. As we made our way past the Japanese Tea Garden, I was thinking a cup of tea would actually be quite lovely right about then. No? OK. Keep going.
Around Stow Lake. Kept telling myself that I wasn't that cold. Volunteers commended us for coming out in the rain, and one even complimented me on how stylish I looked in my pink Atalanta running skirt. Of course Billy Crystal's Fernando Lamas springs to mind: "Eets not how you feel, dahling, eets how you looook....and yooou looook maaahvelous!"
So I persevered, and while my time wasn't stellar, I shaved my usual 10-minute mile by a few hairs.
The Dolphin South End-ers stuck around to chat and snack, but I had to keep running. My Jets were at it again at 10, thankfully this time with a better result. I'm back home now, in from the cold and rain --and it's finally time for that tea.
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