For me personally, this race had a little bit of additional significance to me because I ran the 7K last year when I was not very fit (I weighed in 150s at that time and was in the mid 160s earlier in the year last year and am 136 now) when my running had lapsed and it was a coworker (who did light run workouts on his treadmill) who asked me to do the run last year since he thought of me as the runner in the department. I did the 7K in 40:37 (9:20 pace) and I knew I could shatter that pace in the 12K, esp. since I already did a 8:12 pace at the Angel Island 12K trail race a month ago. This race was a chance to validate the training I had done this year.

I was just a bit nervous waiting at the start as I let a few self doubts creep in. Was I recovered enough from the workouts I had done earlier in the week? Was I be able to live up to my own expectations? In the end, I could only run my own race and rely on my training.

This is the first year that they have used timing chips for the race, so there was no need to crowd toward the front of the group and I placed myself right in the middle of the pack. The race started without incident and it wasn’t too crowded. It always takes me about a mile or so to warm up, but I didn’t feel like I started too slowly. I pass some people and am passed by people as the pack sorts itself out in it’s almost Darwinistic way. I’m very familiar with the route having run this race and others and training runs on so many occasions.

We pass all the piers and aquatic park and it’s time to do the hill up to Ft. Mason. I love hills because I run them fairly often (hard to avoid in many parts of the bay area), I’m small and light, and I usually gain time on others on the uphill and the downhill. Most keep pace 1/2 way up the hill and then I’m able to start picking off runners here and there. Then it’s down along the Marina and Crissy Field and down to Ft. Point at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. On the stretch going down to Ft. Point, I note the location of the photographer on the return leg so I can be sure to position myself for a good race photo (yes, a touch of vanity…).

With less than a mile to go, I start to pick up the pace just a bit and started slowly passing a couple of runners. When we make the turn up to the parade grounds, I know that it’s uphill, make a turn and then more uphill to the finish. Here’s where I really turn it on and I start passing a lot of people. There are a lot of walkers spread out and in the way so I have to navigate around them. I make the last turn and sprint towards the finish.

I was really happy with these results. The accomplishment of the run felt great as well as the larger accomplishment of how I’ve become the fittest I’ve been in my life.

After the finish line, they herded the runners through this gauntlet to get bananas, water, and our finisher’s t-shirts. This was a mess. It took 15 minutes to get through this where we’re all packed like sardines. We don’t have any other access to water or food nor can we stretch while waiting in line. Booths afterward had almost no giveaways for food (e.g. there were no energy food or bar sponsors this time around). The only food I was able to score was a bag of Corazones chips. This was the worst post-race support I’ve experienced.

I stretched. I waited for DW to finish. Saw her way back in the line and convinced her cut out of the line. I had grabbed extra water and knew we could bypass the line and get her t-shirt at the very end. We stretched. Took the shuttle back to the embarcadero (line was long, but moved quickly). Back at the car, we had energy bars and energy drinks which we consumed. Then went off for lunch at Fuzio in Embarcadero 4 where I had a Japanese noodle bowl with chicken and DW had the Firecracker Pork Rotelli. Back home, took a steam shower and then a nap.



Course is wonderful, as always.

After the finish line, they herded the runners through this gauntlet to get bananas, water, and our finisher’s t-shirts. This was a mess. It took 15 minutes to get through this where we’re all packed like sardines. We don’t have any other access to water or food nor can we stretch while waiting in line. Booths afterward had almost no giveaways for food (e.g. there were no energy food or bar sponsors this time around). The only food I was able to score was a bag of Corazones chips. This was the worst post-race support I’ve experienced, which was quite surprising since it's always been fine in the past.