SF Marathon
The San Francisco Marathon has gradually morphed from a single day of racing into a full weekend of racing. The Saturday morning 5K fun run was a bit too casual- not even timed, not even 5K, but it let them sell a "Double Up Challenge" to 1,000 runners.
Had an excellent kougin amann and chocolate croissant for breakfast at B Patisserie. They had chocolate and strawberry kougin amanns as well, but I was out of stomach space! A long walk back to the hotel did make some additional stomach space, which was filled by delicious take-out from (name??) in Chinatown. Did a final stop at >Triple Aught Design, checking out some of their new jacket releases. Not sure the direction they've gone the past couple of years (since the founder cashed out), but they remain a solid high-end competitor in outdoor gear, even if they are leaning too far towards "tacticool" these days versus actual practical gear.
BART down to the Lai-Lu family household for the afternoon. Debated going to night market, but heat deterred us, and we elected to stay in air conditioned spaces with xiao long bao and ice cream instead. *grins* Then back to the hotel to get a few hours' sleep before the race.
The first half marathon (the SF Marathon has two half marathon races, a first half and a second half) goes up the Embaradero, climbs the Golden Gate Bridge approach, and the down to Golden Gate Park. New for this year, the First Half Marathon no longer crosses the Golden Gate Bridge - only the full marathon does. ;_;
Still ended up being a great race, just the right mix of clouds and sun and perfect temperatures, while the newly extended path through Golden Gate Park added in a little more downhill and then a final, racer-un-friendly uphill the final mile. Managed a slow but improving time of 1:52:24, which means... slowly getting back in to shape?
The return to the start line meant it was time to appreciate just how much the SF Marathon had changed. Previous multiple-race challenges have been taken to a new level this year by the SF Marathon, with a plethora of challenges available to participants. Ended up collecting six (!) medals for running two races this weekend. Race medal for today's half marathon, yesterday's 5K, the previously-mentioned Double Up Challenge for running both, challenge medal for running the OC Half Marathon earlier this year, challenge medal for running the Surf City Half Marathon earlier this year, and just for good measure, a loyalty medal for being a repeat runner of the SF Marathon. *whew*