Starting the Nike Women's Marathon

Date: Sunday, October 23, 2005
Place: San Francisco, California
Time: 5:30 a.m. to ??


Despite the wretched early morning hour, it was quite a crowd at the Union Square starting line. I took advantage of the early 5:30 a.m start which would allow me to finish before midnight. Actual guntime was 7:00 a.m. I met my East Bay Rocks! team and Coach Al got us ready with our shout outs and his enthusiasm. None of us slept at all and I woke up before the hotel alarm went off at 3:00 a.m. Dreadful isn't it??

It was typical SF weather...cool, drizzly and foggy which made for perfect running weather...for me at least (more about this later).

Despite being a "runner", the walkers kicked butt! Many of them walked faster than I could run and were a happy crowd. The first 6 miles were great, because they were flat and along the waterfront. I felt good and enjoyed the company of Team in Training members from Wisconsin and Minnesota. My East Bay teammates blew past me early.

Mile 1: Washington St & Davis St. (financial district)
Mile 2: The Embarcadero & Bay Street (Fisherman's Wharf)
Mile 3: Aquatic Park
Mile 4: Marina Blvd. and Fillmore Street (along the Marina Green)
Mile 5: Mason St & Halleck St (along Crissy Field)
Mile 6: Mason Street & Long Drive (Fort Point)

The longest and toughest hill began just after mile 6 and kept going and going and going...