Today I felt like a runner.
I start off walking the few blocks from my apartment to Polk street, getting myself excited and anxious for the run ahead. I'm surprised to find that--once I start running up Polk--I have to stop at relatively few red lights. The one thing I like about running in busier parts of the city is dodging people like little obstacles.
I make it to Aquatic Park and run around it to ascend the hill at Fort Mason--killer steep hill. As I make it to the top, I stop to stretch and catch my breath. I've read that you don't need to stretch before a run, and that you should actually warm up your muscles before stretching. I commence running and am met by very strong winds. I'm used to the wind, but this is a little much. I'm comforted by thinking of how much more of a workout I'm getting with this strong wind blowing against me.
This part of the run--past the Marina and on to the beach--is nice and flat. It gives me a chance to hit my stride. I make it to the Warming Hut and stop to blow my nose (ew) and duck into the bathroom away from the wind.
I leave and ascend the stairs to the Golden Gate Bridge, really pumped about running across it for the first time. I start across, dodging meandering tourists and cyclists and noting the temperature change. Once I get across, I take a few minutes to jog around the lookout staring back at my city across the Bay. Beautiful.
I start running away from the bridge, but soon realize that I don't know where I should run. What I had mapped out on mapmyrun.com isn't helpful, so I soon turn around instead of risking running on a small shoulder with cars passing by at 45mph.
My trek back across the bridge is once again cold, and even more windy. I'm relieved to make it across and carefully descend the stairs (taking care with my knee). From there I run to Fort Point--of course--to touch Hopper's Hands before heading back.
The run back proves easier: I've gotten into a groove and the wind is at my back. I only later find out that the sun was also at my back... and burning my skin. (Note to self: use sunscreen.) I do slow down to a fast walk a couple of times, but I never stop. And this is what I'm proud of.
All in all, because of the confusion on the other side of the bridge, I'd say I finished somewhere between 13 and 14 miles, which is a great accomplishment for me. Next week, I'll be at it again.
Today was another long run. I set out with a 16-mile plan and took a copy of the map along with me, but got a little off track--found a mistake in the map, got lost on a golf course--I ended up running I think about 15 miles. Toward the end I was feeling extremely weak--I made the mistake of running through lunchtime--so I had to switch to a walk/run plan. All in all, it was a good run.
