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A few weeks ago I ran the 2nd Half of the San Francisco Marathon. This was my 5th time running in this event but the first time running just the 2nd half. In this race you can either run the full marathon, the 1st half of the marathon, or the 2nd half of the marathon. I ran the full in 2006, 2011, and 2012 and ran the first half in 2010. About a month before the race as a lot of my running friends were facebooking and tweeting about running the full it crossed my mind to switch over. Luckily sanity struck me and I stayed with the half. The course is really hilly and probably the hardest marathon I've ever run and at this point I think a small challenge is enough for me, I don't need the biggest challenge out there.
Friday Vet Visit With Kona
David and I flew up to San Francisco and left the dogs behind for the weekend for a change. Of course the day that we were supposed to leave Kona's incessant paw licking turned into paw licking and limping, and luckily I was able to get her a last minute appointment at the vet. It turned out she had a fox tail completely under her skin in her front paw! She had been licking her paw for a couple days meaning it had probably been in there for that long. Poor baby! A quick little surgery later and she was as good as new, minus her little peg leg. I am so glad I didn't wait until Monday to take her in!
Peg Leg Kona
We got into San Francisco pretty late that night and chit chatted with Christina for a bit before going to bed. The next morning I had high aspirations of getting up early to hit the San Francisco Marathon Shakeout Run. Unfortunately (or fortunately) my body had other plans and I ended up sleeping for almost 10 hours! I normally sleep for 6 and can rarely stay asleep for even 8. I was a bit sad to miss the run because I knew a lot of people who were going to be there and I wanted to catch up with them but I figured I'd see a lot of them at the expo.
The Race Even Marathoners Fear
We headed downtown before lunch to hit the expo to pick up my bib and to say Hi to the Ambassador crew. I was an Ambassador for the SF Marathon the past two years and was a bit sad not to be in the group this year, but I didn't apply because I thought 2013 would be the year that I'd step back from marathons and try to see if I could complete a Half-Ironman. Well, enter the brain tumor and that plan went out the window. Due to the chemo and my immunocompromised state for part of each month there is no way I'm getting into the nasty, dirty water in the San Diego Bay to swim. I also had issues turning my head quickly to look over my shoulder for a few months so biking was out of the picture. My head and everything seems just about back to normal these days so I'll probably get back on the bike soon. I've crossed a Half-Ironman off my wish list though, and maybe if anything I'll do a sprint or super-sprint at some point in the future.
SFM Ambassador Love at the Expo
Most Awesome Singlet EVER!!
Charlie Ran the Humboldt Redwoods Marathon
in this Miles for Mokie Singlet
Charlie Ran the Humboldt Redwoods Marathon
in this Miles for Mokie Singlet
After we left the expo we headed off to meet my BFF Garley and her boys at Park Chow for a late lunch. She has two boys and a third on the way which arrived a week ago! Congratulations Garley!
Garley and the Boys
That night we had dinner with Christina at Unicorn which is now a 4 year long pre-race tradition. I was relieved for the first time in a few years to only be preparing for a half marathon. I was also happy that we wouldn't be getting up at 3am to make the 5:30am full marathon start time for a change. The 2nd Half started at 8:15am and the start line was only 2 miles from Christina's place.
Powered By Chemo
Recycling My LA Marathon Shirt
David dropped me and Ambassador Courtney off at the start with plenty of time to use the bathroom, hydrate, and mingle with our other friends who were running. As the race was about to start, most of the runners I was chatting with made their way to Wave 2 and the 1:50 pacer. Even though I was slotted for Wave 3 and had a 2:10 goal, I thought what the heck? I am usually a 1:5X half marathon runner, I'll just start with this group.
Pre-Race With Ambassador Ladies
As we started off the first mile felt fantastic! I was back to my old pace! This felt great! BUT ... Oh wait... geez... I'm getting kind of tired.. uh oh, we're not even at mile 2. I slowed down a bit and lost the pace group but managed to stay ahead of the 2:00 pacer for a while.
Running Through the Richmond
As the miles went on I got more and more tired from running too fast for my current fitness level and finally succumbed to walk breaks. For the second half of the race I ended up walking every 5-10 minutes and started to worry that I would come in slower than my original (conservative!!) 2:10 goal.
Running by AT&T Park
Gotta Love Race Photos
Air Fist Bumps & Sad, Lost Looks
In the end I crossed the finish line at 2:06:30. One of my slowest half marathons ever, BUT ... my fastest half marathon in between sessions of chemo. I'll take it!
Crossing the Finish Line
Endorphin Dude Finished Right Behind Me
His 100th Marathon in FIVE Years!
Happy To Be Done!
After the race we met up with my Dad for Father's Day and had brunch at Fresca. This race is usually at the end of July but thanks to the America's Cup happening at the same time the race was moved to June. It couldn't have happened on a better weekend. Not only was it Father's Day but it was only a week after my Dad and I celebrated our joint birthday. Over the past few years I've come home in June and July, but this year I only needed to make one trip!
Love the Hashtag!
Happy Father's Day!
Before we knew it we were back at the airport and back on a plane to San Diego. Weekends just aren't long enough! The trip was short but great. I got to run one of my favorite races, see friends old and new, and spend time with my Dad. Next up? I'll be running the Long Beach Marathon in October with Tara! Three months to go, its probably time to start training!
