So the race was good - well organized and plenty of water. Sadly, an anomaly for an inaugural event. But, this one had it pretty much together. The course was flat, net downhill, with a short, steep hill at the end. The start and sweat check were well organized, and there's always good people watching. What people choose to wear for these things is always entertaining to see....costumes, glitter skirts, back packs full of water and food, people wearing the race shirt at the race....and me....in whatever happened to be the first running clothes I found. At least I didn't have brand new shoes for this one...or drink a bunch of saki the night before. Haha. I also tried running gloves.....bright blue ones. Went great with the light/off blue shirt I had on. Classy.... But anyway, I digress....the start line was the start line....20 minutes after the official start (yeah wave four), I was off....
The first four miles were pretty cool - wound through Berkeley, somewhere I haven't spent much time, so it was cool to see. Mostly downhill, with a little flat. On our way out of town, mile four or so, my left calf or Achilles tightened.....it's still sore now. Hopefully this is not an issue for north face in a few weeks.
Miles four through thirteen were ok, flat and everything, but pretty boring.
Ran along side the highway to emeryville, looped around, ran back.....looped around again...and again. Ended up on so e gravel path that I don't think was meant to be a path....looped around again.
Final three miles...at this point, my Achilles was really tight, despite stretching multiple times and my hip flexors started to tighten too. This is not goi g to bode well for north face. But, I was on the path to the finish....or not...loop around again...and finally, we were on our way. There was some guy yelling that we were almost there and that we had this....the hill at the end had nothing on us....there's a hill AT&T he end?? This is supposed to be flat.....but, we were on the final straight. Or so we thought. First, we had to wind through a parking lot - think Disney world lines. Couldn't we have done an extra block or two in Berkeley? After we made our way through the Disney line, we were finally on our way. Just, up the now giant looking hill, and down the other side of it to the quietest finish line ever. Funny that we could hear it across the water, but not over the hill.
So, 2:27 overall. Not my best time, but also not my worst. Not bad for having about half as much time to train as I wanted. Someday I will have more time...someday. Crossed the line, got my medal, and then a special medal because I did the SF half in June. Then, into so e warm clothes and off to lunch and an amazing post race nap.
We have the football game on, and they keep showing random boston scenes. It makes me smile...and reflect on my time there. Looking back at, I realize how young I really was and how crazy most of what I did was. They showed Quincy market....oh Quincy market....I think I spent my birthday there one year. I know we spent Fourth of July there....and many a mapping session for gap. And the random times I worked in the store there....and how they were the only ones to call and check if I was ok after the protest. And dunkin donuts, how I miss dunkin donuts. I'm pretty sure I ate a lot of it outside the t stop there hahaha....
So, for now I will relax, watch the football game, and enjoy the random boston scenes they're showing. Happy thanksgiving week. Over and out.....
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