From Bay to Breakers and San Francisco to San Diego

Race Day!  Since the race didn't start until 8am and was about a block away from our hotel, Molly and I managed to sleep in.  Even though we were probably asleep by 9pm last night.  Anyhow, we got up and were soon out the door and waiting in our corral.  Rather than attempt to write a dissertation on the race, I'll just list the bullet points:

• The race started 30 minutes late.  We found out later it was because the race people were trying to erect a banner at the top of Hayes Street Hill and didn't get it done before the start of the race.  Waiting around for 30 minutes is no fun, even with the flying tacos.  Which brings me to ...
• The Flying Tacos.  Basically, at the beginning of the race in the corrals, people get soft tacos and sling them around like Frisbees.  It's as fun as it sounds.
• There are 4 (or maybe 5) corrals.  For 45,000 people.  In comparison, Nashville's Country Music Marathon had 35 corrals for 35,000 people.  I'm not sure who's math is correct.
• This is a party race, and I mean party.  There are drunk people running and drunk people lining the streets.  Speaking of people lining the streets ...
• This is probably the most crowd-friendly race I've ever done.  From the start until you get into the park for the last two miles, there are crowds lining the streets.  A great majority of these people are dressed in some sort of costume.  And consuming liquid from juice bottles (like Sunny Delight) although I think it may be more of a juice "mix".  And they are cheering and partying.  I had one random stranger shake my hand and another one tell me he was proud of me.  The party runner people and the party crowd people would often join together for one big party.  Speaking of which ...
• Runners and their groups (the majority of which who were in costume) would stop right in the middle of the street.  Sometimes to chat, sometimes to drink, sometimes to chant.  Which would have been adorable if you didn't have to swerve to avoid them.  Because you never knew when the group might stop.  And speaking of groups ...
• There would also be large groups of people on the sidelines.  Sometimes blocking another part of the course.  There was also the cheering group that was throwing out beads like Mardi Gras.  Which was great fun unless you were trying to get through that group.  Because it was nearly impossible because people were trying to get these beads like they were straight from Tiffany's.
• There were nekkid people, but not as many as I was expecting.  There were far more men in snug body suits showcasing their business.  And I didn't see any nekkid women.
• Hayes Street Hill, if you've never been up it, is basically a mountain disguised as a street.  There was a contest for the fastest person to run up the hill.  I won the prize for getting up the hill and not having a heart attack.
• At the finish, the water choice was Propel, which was a welcome change from the usual plain water.  And the bus to take us back to the hotel was a party bus - complete with tables!
• Due to the late start and the long bus ride, Molly and I got back to the hotel with around 15 minutes to pack our bags and get out before check-out time of noon.  Which we accomplished, meeting the housekeeping lady at our door.  We also managed to get on Bart and to our gates for our separate flights to out new locations (Molly was headed home while I was headed to San Diego).  Unfortunately, both flights were delayed for a variety of reasons.  I got to San Diego only an hour late.  Molly got to Nashville around 2 hours late - like around 2am.

Anyhow, it was a fun race.  It's certainly not a race one would necessarily do for a PR (like I do any race for that), but it's definitely a race if you want to party with your friends. 

And who is today's race for?  It's for my Udderly Pink teammate and bud, Sharon.  For one thing, she's from California.  And for another thing, she was part of our San Francisco Udderly Pink team.  It was her first 3-Day, and the last day she had just about had it (along with the rest of us) and we nearly had to keep her from walking out in traffic toward the end.  And as for the other reason - let's just say it has to do with Columbo and a story she told us during that walk.  Sharon did the DC walk with us, and signed up for Philly, too.  She's done a couple of 5Ks, and is usually willing to do whatever we talk her into doing.  She's also funny and kind and just a nice person to hang with.  For at least 60 miles!!  So Sharon - this one's for you!

And with that, I'll leave you with some pictures...

The back side - I'll leave the front side open to your imagination ...

My two besties ...

I wonder if they were running for breast cancer ...

8 miles with this on?

A flying taco.  Landed on my back.



Flying tacos in action

Salmon swimming upstream - they start at the finish and head to the start.

Molly.  Headed up Hayes Street Hill.  With determination.



The bottom of Hayes Street Hill

A man and his dog.  For 8 miles.

 

A man and his dots ...

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Today was a great day because:  finishing the Bay to Breakers; sights along the race route and nice people; checking out on time; Bart and lunch and late planes; getting to San Diego and van driver; meeting up with Everley and Maribeth; Molly finally getting home