A Golden Run

Last month I did one of the coolest, most scenic runs of my racing career.  The 12K Across the Bay.

So according to the race sponsors - my neighbor Julie and I were 2 of 2,500 other racers who ran the 12K (nearly 7 1/2 miles) from Sausalito to Aquatic Park in San Francisco (where you catch the Cable Cars near Ghiradelli Square).

Julie and I waiting for the shuttle to take us from SF to Sausalito.

Our view from the starting line... Looking out near Sausalito.

Then we were off - about a mile in we had spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge - which was socked with fog.

Our selfie attempt near the base of the bridge... before the brutal hill.

The bridge from atop the brutal hill.

A foggy look at the bridge...

What you see when you look over the ledge... (you could hear a barge horn blaring underneath me... you just can't see it - or the water).

Coming down the hill after the bridge - through the Presidio.

From the Presidio looking out toward SF.  There is a dome in the center left - that's the Palace of Fine Arts.

The Palace of Fine Arts up close.  This was about mile 6.

Alcatraz in the distance and fog.

Only 1/2 a mile left!

Looking back toward the bridge and how far we've come!

A better glimpse of Alcatraz.

We finished!  A glimpse of Ghiradelli Square.

The athletes Me - Julie.

I thought this was an amazing run - yes the hills were brutal, but with better training this run could be an annual tradition!  I love runs with a view - and this one lived up to that.

13.1 Miles of Wining and Dining

Disclaimer: I left my camera in the car at the airport in California, so all photos were taken with my cell phone or a disposable camera.  Quality isn't that great.

The weekend of November 8th, I tacked a personal challenge - to earn the Disney Coast to Coast Medal.  For those non-runners or those not familiar with my personal goal I set nearly 3 years ago now, the Disney Coast to Coast challenge is to run a 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles) at each Disney Park in one calendar year. 

I first learned about this Coast to Coast (C2C) challenge when I ran the inaugural Tinker Bell 1/2 Marathon in 2011.  I thought I was going to do it last year - 2012 - but finances weren't in my favor to hit Florida - these races aren't cheap.

But 2013 was my year.  I started by running the Tinker Bell 1/2 Marathon earlier this year and then last month I did the Disney Wine and Dine in Orlando.  See I even announced it from my hotel room!

The Wine and Dine is a night time race - the first time I've ever done a long night run let alone a race through Disney World!  We had to catch the shuttle at 8pm for the 10:00pm start (I was corral H and we started about 20 minutes after the official start).

The fun started at ESPN Wide World of Sports and finished at Epcot - but we ran through Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.  I started out very well - despite half-assing my training.  Here I am just shy of the 5K mark... 3 miles in.

After running through the streets of Orlando a bit, we made our way into the Animal Kingdom.

And we were greeted by our first sign of the upcoming holiday season...

This tree was massive!

We then ran through the park to the Tree of life.  I've never been inside this park, but I hear it's the centerpiece of the Animal Kingdom.  Hard to tell by the dark picture, but it was pretty impressive.

Then we ran to Dino Rama... reminded me of the back side of California Adventure in a prehistoric way.

Upon exiting the park I was greeted by a giant lit up Tigger (there was a person inside controlling it)

Again, not great quality on my phone, but you get the idea (yes that's me in the picture with Tigger).

After leaving the Animal Kingdom we ran through the streets of Orlando again reaching the 10K mark about the halfway point. 

Shortly past this mile marker, they had a large Jumbotron in the middle of the road showing you what
was awaiting us at Epcot.  On I ran to the Hollywood Studios park where I was greeted with various movie characters and sites.

Here I am with Elastigirl from the Incredibles, but apparently the flash wasn't on on my phone.

Then I hit the 10 Mile mark... only 5K left!!!

When around the corner who should appear... but Wreck-it-Ralph!  Probably my favorite photo of the route.

I ended up ordering the professional version (this is from my phone) for my C2C frame.

I turned the corner from the line with Wreck-it-Ralph and walked into an amazing Christmas scene - The Osbourne Family Christmas.  It was amazing!  The pictures cannot do it justice.  It think I sat in the street for about five minutes taking it all in!






And here is a shot of me looking back at where I'd just come from.


Leaving the Christmas spectacle, we ran into these familar guys.  I had to snap a picture for Drew - my Star Wars nut.

As we left the park I ran into the Army guys from Toy Story.  He was making fun of me (he was wearing a mic) because I was wearing my earphones the entire time and he thought I couldn't hear.

We then wound around the Boardwalk and off to Epcot.

I snapped this picture just to send Dave - "Are we done yet"?  He was home with Drew watching my email race updates.  I signed him up (as I did on Facebook) to update my times at the various mile points (5K, 10K, 15K, Finish)

At this point I was really winding down.. ready to shut down.  It was really humid that night and I was running out of energy.  When I saw the end in sight in that glorious oversized golf ball.

We ran under the Epcot dome and finished in a nearby parking lot.

I got the C2C medal!!  My time was terrible thanks to poor preparation, 2 bathroom breaks, and waiting in line for taking pictures with characters - but I got the darned C2C medal and that's what I'm proud of!  My final time was 3:25:10.

After the race we were handed either a beer or wine - of course I chose the wine.  But the last thing I wanted to do after running 13.1 miles was consume alcohol.  All I had on the brain was water, and FOOD!.  With the race entry we were given access to an after party inside Epcot where I waddled - because I admit I was ridiculously out of shape for this run and ever muscle in my body hurt - to find food.  The lines were ridiculously long and I made it to the US/Florida side where I inhaled some sliders and then was so so tired realizing I now needed to waddle back to the entrance to catch the shuttle back to the hotel.  I was on the complete other side of the park... oy.

I made it back to my hotel room at 4am.  Here is the bling, bib and wine I was handed post race.

And here are all the medals and bibs I earned by doing the 2 races and then the C2C special medal.

With that I'm likely retiring from Disney races - but I had a blast!

Family Race to the Finish

A little over a week ago, Drew ran his first 5K race with Dave and I.  It was a local run that raises money for the schools in our District.  While Drew has joined us for races - either as a cheerleader or partial participant who was pushed in the stroller - this was the first time he's ever run the entire 3.1 miles using his own legs!

Daddy and Drew before the race.

Drew and his buddy Christopher

 Some of the participants from his school - there were a total of 160+ who signed up, but these were the folks who joined for the picture.  Dave and I are in the bottom left, and Drew is front row center (blue jacket).

And this year I guess they picked up a mascot - and had some of the kids from the school pose for the picture.  Drew is in the front row, second one in on the left.

And we were off - here's the starting line just before we crossed it.

Drew started out at a serious pace - I was sore after running 9 miles the day before and it was all I could do to keep up with him as we bobbed and weaved through people.

Drew's goal was to pass Daddy - which he did for most of the race.  You can see Drew on the right, Dave is to his left with the blue pants.

This was around mile two, and he was starting to feel it.  We tried to teach him to pace himself for the entire run, but I'm convinced that 6 year olds do not understand the concept of pacing yourself.

Coming in toward the finish.  Dave managed to run ahead of us as Drew slowed down doing a lot of walking for the final mile.  Dave wanted to wait for us to cross the finish line.  I got video of the final stretch as well.  If you get motion sickness you may not want to watch this video - I was running with the boys.




And then the family photo at the finish. 

While we signed up for the un-timed 5K, I had both an app and Heart Rate Monitor clocking our time - which is roughly 43:47.  My 6 Year old beat my first 5K time in 2006 by about 1 minute.  That's freaking awesome in my book.

Later that night after the aches and pains of running without training caught up with him, Drew told me he's not so sure he wants to run that far again.  Time will tell.