Message posted by: Lyn D.

this is cross-posted from my Facebook page — thanks Teri D for the reminder.

First off, a big thanks to all my friends who sponsored my run! I think you all ran at least a mile beside me today, and I know my pain is temporary compared to the trauma that people go through during a breast cancer diagnosis. We’re working together to fix that!

Secondly, a huge thanks to everyone for your comments. Cliff, that “run like you stole somethin’” had me giggling at mile 20, ‘cuz I was shufflin’ like an old lady.

If you’re not familiar with SF, here’s a map of the run: http://www.runsfm.com/maps/map_full.pdf

I and about 22,000 other nut-jobs gathered in the dark near the Ferry Building this morning, beneath the faerie lights of the Bay Bridge. The sky was overcast and a little drizzly, as usual, but it wasn’t as cold as it can be in July. Love those SF summers.

The race crossed through most of SF’s hotspots, including Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, the Aquatic Park, Chrissy Field, and then up through the Presidio and over the Golden Gate Bridge. they shut down three lanes of the bridge for us (hence the early start time). At the Marin County side of the bridge, my split was 1:00:09 for 7.6 miles (a 7:55 pace). Back over the bridge we went, through the Presidio, and down Lincoln Ave. past Baker Beach, and through the hilly Richmond District into Golden Gate Park.

At the halfway point, my time was 1:46 for 13.1 miles, an 8:07 pace through some grueling hills. I was starting to feel the blisters rub, and my legs were starting to cramp, but the spectators were lively and the weather was still cool. The route continued with a rough figure-8 through Golden Gate Park, and then on through the Haight Ashbury, where several winos cheered us on from shuttered storefronts. On through Potrero Hill we went, switching back and forth through the city in a zig-zag. At the 20-mile mark, my time was 2:50, a pace of 8:30. I’m not sure I could’ve accurately given my name at that point, but as long as I was still moving forward, it didn’t matter. Besides, my name was printed on my bib number, so it didn’t matter.

Finally we reached the waterfront, Mission Rock, South Beach, and AT&T Park, where the Giants whack baseballs into the bay. Everything hurt. The sun was starting to peek through the thinning clouds. I could hear the announcer and the crowd at the finish line, though I couldn’t see the banner yet. And then there it was, close enough that I almost cried with relief.

Finish time: 3:49:43, with an 8:46 pace — 987 overall, 164 in the women, and 20th in my age group. Out of 22,000 participants (the marathon, two half-marathons, a 5K, and a progressive marathon), I suspect I still finished in the top 3rd of the pack, which is fine. Most of all, I FINISHED!

My feet bore the brunt of the damage, with two purple toenails that will eventually drop off and one cherry-sized blood blister. My legs and hips are Cramp City. I think I’m more sore than I was after I finished a Half Ironman. I self-medicated with a well-earned beer and then fell over in a nap.

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