Bay to Breakers 2008
Hello from San Francisco :)
I am sitting in my hotel room, fluffy pillows propping up every inch of my body, and a floor to ceiling view with a slight turn of my head. I am in this moment a really happy person,and honestly this inner happiness is not something I am in the habit of experiencing.
My body woke me up at 5 (this is becoming an annoying habit) and I went to get some fruit and granola at 6:30 and have just been chilling out, till I can head out and commune with one of my favorite cities, that I have neglected for far too long. I have also been trying to put into actual words how I feel about my accomplishment yesterday. There were very emotional times, and I felt like I was really crossing a threshold about who I was 10-15 years ago and all the work and effort I have put into becoming who I am today.
The best part was not getting to the top of Hayes Hill,it was not being sourrounded with 60,000 overly enthustic people in all sorts of costumes, or even crossing the finish line strong at the end of the 12K, it was taking this journey with a friend. So many journies are taken alone, it was nice have someone to share it with.
What is the Bay to Breakers: From WIKI The Bay to Breakers is an annual footrace which takes place in San Francisco, California. The name reflects the fact that the race starts at the northeast end of the downtown area a few blocks from The Embarcadero (adjacent to the bay) and runs west through the city to finish at the Great Highway (adjacent to the Pacific coast, where breakers crash onto Ocean Beach). The race is 7.46 miles (12 kilometers) long, and is run on the third Sunday in May. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_to_Breakers
The Bay to Breakers is a 12K, but it is more like a party that a race broke out in the middle of. Tortillas are tossed, people walk naked (we counted 28 (27 men and 1 woman) There are floats that people pack with beer and other drinks, and some people walk, some people run, but everyone including the spectators that line the route and cheer us all on seem to have a great time. It is like being enveloped in a big warm hug.
The weather was (IMHO ) perfect. It was cool and overcast, the breakers (ocean) was shrouded in fog. I finished the race in 2:13:30. Not the best time, but accomplishing it and crossing the finish line was the goal (if you don't get to a Spreckles in 2.5 hours you do not finish the race.
We started by getting up and heading out at 7 am. A little psyched and ready to go. A quick trip from BART and a walk to the ferry terminal (for the last chance to use a real toilet) and we headed to the start line. Of course that proved a little difficult. They tried to cram a few thousand of us at one time through a tiny tiny fence opening, we felt like giant grains of sand going through a teeney tiny hourglass. Once we can out the other side, people started to run to the start, I think it was because the had their freedom. Of course at this point the tortillas start flying. (Apparently it has been around since the early 90's, before that people tossed clothes.
The elite runners started the race and the rest of the mob were 4 minutes behind them. There was a rush as the gun went off and we took off, still distracted by all the people and the costumes, pointing out interesting and strange costumes would countiune untilwe got the to the top of Hayes Hill, then we strapped on our iPods and let out own choice of music drive us forward.
It was an awesome site as we passed the first mile marker and then rounded a corner and laid out before us was the biggest challenge, the one that has haunted me for months (Miriam and I planned this trip back in December) It was HUGE, I doubt my pictures do it justice, Hayes Hill is an 11% grade hill, the just keep going, when you think you have reached the top, suddenly you have another section to climb up. We maintained our pace, cheered on by the crowd and motored our way up the hill and when we reached the top a quick picture of the mob of pople behind us and then it was time to head downhill. The downhill actually was a little harder, I really felt it in my knees, but we were off and heading down 5 miles or so, to reach the ocean.
I have only competed in 5K races thus far and I did walk 10K one weekend to just make sure I could go a long distance. This 12K was going to be a challenge (and with a icky blister that popped on my heel and the last vestiages of my cold hanging on, I was still a little worried) Miriam then snapped a pic of me hugging the 5 mile marker, really a good accomplishment for me and a good spot for a short celebration.
We wound our way through Golden Gate park, and finally to the last stretch, did not run as much as I would have liked through the last couple hundred meters, but I did run across the finish line, grabbed a bottle of water and drank it all down.
We had to walk to the Muni (It is like a train- it runs on tracks and has 6 cars to it. A large mob of people were waiting,the bus had to go past us and turn around. The bus stopped and there was this moment, when everything stood still and then WOOSH.We all took off running to get on the Muni, getting a seat was a bonus. We sat as everyone crowded around us, crammed shoulder to shoulder. The Muni crept up the hill and stopped to let people on and off and that is when the fun started. The backdoor would not stay shut, and it emitted a LOUD beeping each time it opened. And it opened and closed many times. The driver had to come and get it closed, we sat there about 30 minutes, but we were warm for the most part, just tired and sitting for so long was getting hard, I really wanted to move.
Finally, we arrived at our stop, NO ONE would move to let us slide out, so Miriam push the way clear and I followed closely beind, it was such freedom to finally be free of the Muni. We headed down a few blocks for breakfast. I had yummy pancakes with a side of fruit. I earned them I think,and I did not finish (they were huge) but I really enjoyed them and my body was crying for carbs. Miriam's husband joined us, and after we got some food in, we walked back to their apt.
It was time for me to check into the hotel, I felt a little restless, so I swan for 10 minutes, sat in the jaccuzi and then the sauna. Finally up stairs for a nice shower and I headed out to walk around a bit and see the area around the hotel.
The pictures below are in order ... The mile markers will let you know where we are. There was no 7 mile mark and I did not get a pic of mile 1.
I am sitting in my hotel room, fluffy pillows propping up every inch of my body, and a floor to ceiling view with a slight turn of my head. I am in this moment a really happy person,and honestly this inner happiness is not something I am in the habit of experiencing.
My body woke me up at 5 (this is becoming an annoying habit) and I went to get some fruit and granola at 6:30 and have just been chilling out, till I can head out and commune with one of my favorite cities, that I have neglected for far too long. I have also been trying to put into actual words how I feel about my accomplishment yesterday. There were very emotional times, and I felt like I was really crossing a threshold about who I was 10-15 years ago and all the work and effort I have put into becoming who I am today.
The best part was not getting to the top of Hayes Hill,it was not being sourrounded with 60,000 overly enthustic people in all sorts of costumes, or even crossing the finish line strong at the end of the 12K, it was taking this journey with a friend. So many journies are taken alone, it was nice have someone to share it with.
What is the Bay to Breakers: From WIKI The Bay to Breakers is an annual footrace which takes place in San Francisco, California. The name reflects the fact that the race starts at the northeast end of the downtown area a few blocks from The Embarcadero (adjacent to the bay) and runs west through the city to finish at the Great Highway (adjacent to the Pacific coast, where breakers crash onto Ocean Beach). The race is 7.46 miles (12 kilometers) long, and is run on the third Sunday in May. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_to_Breakers
The Bay to Breakers is a 12K, but it is more like a party that a race broke out in the middle of. Tortillas are tossed, people walk naked (we counted 28 (27 men and 1 woman) There are floats that people pack with beer and other drinks, and some people walk, some people run, but everyone including the spectators that line the route and cheer us all on seem to have a great time. It is like being enveloped in a big warm hug.
The weather was (IMHO ) perfect. It was cool and overcast, the breakers (ocean) was shrouded in fog. I finished the race in 2:13:30. Not the best time, but accomplishing it and crossing the finish line was the goal (if you don't get to a Spreckles in 2.5 hours you do not finish the race.
We started by getting up and heading out at 7 am. A little psyched and ready to go. A quick trip from BART and a walk to the ferry terminal (for the last chance to use a real toilet) and we headed to the start line. Of course that proved a little difficult. They tried to cram a few thousand of us at one time through a tiny tiny fence opening, we felt like giant grains of sand going through a teeney tiny hourglass. Once we can out the other side, people started to run to the start, I think it was because the had their freedom. Of course at this point the tortillas start flying. (Apparently it has been around since the early 90's, before that people tossed clothes.
The elite runners started the race and the rest of the mob were 4 minutes behind them. There was a rush as the gun went off and we took off, still distracted by all the people and the costumes, pointing out interesting and strange costumes would countiune untilwe got the to the top of Hayes Hill, then we strapped on our iPods and let out own choice of music drive us forward.
It was an awesome site as we passed the first mile marker and then rounded a corner and laid out before us was the biggest challenge, the one that has haunted me for months (Miriam and I planned this trip back in December) It was HUGE, I doubt my pictures do it justice, Hayes Hill is an 11% grade hill, the just keep going, when you think you have reached the top, suddenly you have another section to climb up. We maintained our pace, cheered on by the crowd and motored our way up the hill and when we reached the top a quick picture of the mob of pople behind us and then it was time to head downhill. The downhill actually was a little harder, I really felt it in my knees, but we were off and heading down 5 miles or so, to reach the ocean.
I have only competed in 5K races thus far and I did walk 10K one weekend to just make sure I could go a long distance. This 12K was going to be a challenge (and with a icky blister that popped on my heel and the last vestiages of my cold hanging on, I was still a little worried) Miriam then snapped a pic of me hugging the 5 mile marker, really a good accomplishment for me and a good spot for a short celebration.
We wound our way through Golden Gate park, and finally to the last stretch, did not run as much as I would have liked through the last couple hundred meters, but I did run across the finish line, grabbed a bottle of water and drank it all down.
We had to walk to the Muni (It is like a train- it runs on tracks and has 6 cars to it. A large mob of people were waiting,the bus had to go past us and turn around. The bus stopped and there was this moment, when everything stood still and then WOOSH.We all took off running to get on the Muni, getting a seat was a bonus. We sat as everyone crowded around us, crammed shoulder to shoulder. The Muni crept up the hill and stopped to let people on and off and that is when the fun started. The backdoor would not stay shut, and it emitted a LOUD beeping each time it opened. And it opened and closed many times. The driver had to come and get it closed, we sat there about 30 minutes, but we were warm for the most part, just tired and sitting for so long was getting hard, I really wanted to move.
Finally, we arrived at our stop, NO ONE would move to let us slide out, so Miriam push the way clear and I followed closely beind, it was such freedom to finally be free of the Muni. We headed down a few blocks for breakfast. I had yummy pancakes with a side of fruit. I earned them I think,and I did not finish (they were huge) but I really enjoyed them and my body was crying for carbs. Miriam's husband joined us, and after we got some food in, we walked back to their apt.
It was time for me to check into the hotel, I felt a little restless, so I swan for 10 minutes, sat in the jaccuzi and then the sauna. Finally up stairs for a nice shower and I headed out to walk around a bit and see the area around the hotel.
The pictures below are in order ... The mile markers will let you know where we are. There was no 7 mile mark and I did not get a pic of mile 1.
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