Picking up from yesterday –
And back into comparing the race to the first time I’d done it –
There’d been a group passing out cupcakes around a door that said “Do not park here.” That garage door stayed in my memory because it was so funny, in its insistence that people absolutely not park there.
Well, this year, that door was open! And there was a random coffee shop inside that garage? I would’ve never expected that! Though, in more bummer of news, the cupcake people were not there. So, you win some, you lose some, I suppose.
The race was far harder than I remembered it being in 2012!
I don’t know if that’s because I wasn’t doing the distance every weekend, or if I just blocked out the difficult parts, or if it’s because I didn’t fuel properly. But whatever the reason, I found it much more difficult this time.
I also forgot how hilly San Francisco is. When people talk about doing the 2nd half marathon as opposed to the first, they say, “oh, you’re doing the one that’s not hilly.” Well, even the less hilly of two choices in San Francisco is still hillier than I expected. (It’s San Francisco!)
Inclines, inclines, inclines. Oh so important to really, actually hit those in my training.
Jaime and her little girl were waiting for me at the finish. We then met up with other friends. Our friend Michael and I went to the yoga class Jaime teaches. It was awesome and challenging and felt so good to do yoga after the race. (And Jaime is a lovely teacher.)
Then, Jaime joined a pact with some of the other students to do the race next year. (That’s right. I’m calling you out on the blog, girl! Next year is happening.)
We had a delicious and filling dinner of Mexican food. And that concluded the race. I was glad I got to do it, and I really need to get my butt in gear for next year! If I did the “non-hilly” half, I can only imagine what that first half is going to be like.
The only other thing I have to add – and I don’t want to dwell on this too much – but when the pictures came out from the race, I could hardly even believe the photos were of me. I’m still getting used to seeing a smaller body in photos. It’s always smaller than I expect.
(Don’t get me wrong, I hope someday to get it smaller still. But it’s always smaller than I think it is, which is a nice and jarring and interesting surprise.)