Sunday August 4, 2013 was The Giant Race benefiting Project Open Hand. I signed up for the half marathon, 13.1 miles. It started at 7am, the weather was nice for running. It was a cold morning and overcast the rest of the run, the sun never really came out.
The half marathon course is out and back loop that starts at AT&T Park and runs along the water towards the turnaround at the Golden Gate Bridge. I took as many photos as i could on the first half, and didnt take any at all on the return run. I wanted to run a negative split(faster second half) and didnt want to get distracted with taking pictures. That didn't go as planned. First half 1:02:50, second half 1:03:35. Still got a PR for my half marathon time. Beat my previous best(SF 1/2 marathon) by about 6 minutes. I started to pick up the pace at mile 7. This faster pace lasted for about 5 miles. Around mile 12 is when i boarded "the pain train." My legs were burning, but i knew i had to grind it out. I knew that if i stopped running i wouldn't be able to keep my pace up. The last mile my pace had dropped but i told myself "whatever you do, don't walk." I finished my last half marathon of the year with a PR(2:06:25) and got the most awesome medal so far. Next year's goal: sub 2 half!
Start line at AT&T Park
start line
Ferry Building
America's Cup Store
Ghirardelli
First place runner on his return run at Marina Green
more America's Cup stores
Crissy Field and Golden Gate Bridge
I'll never get tired of views of the Golden Gate Bridge
Heading towards the park
Running toward the finish
Awesome finisher's medal
