san francisco marathon

I finished. That's the good part. The other good part is that I had a great 15 miles. Then I got sick. I threw up every mile (or more) for the rest of the race. Ugh. Not so good. I finished in 4:32, which means that at least I finished faster than the ING Ga or Vermont times that I posted. I know that getting sick is reason enough not to get down about it, but I was really disappointed in my time. I could have broken 4 hours. My 1/2 time was 2:02 minutes, and my pace picked up and the course was more downhill/flat after the half.

The course is a great one - the fan support isn't so great. The race begins at the Embarcadero and winds along the coast past Pier 39 and the Ghirdelli Plaza thing up to and across the Golden Gate bridge. As many times as I've been to San Francisco, I've never been on the Golden Gate, so I was appropriately awed. The marathon planners were kind enough to put some kind of hard thing across the grates and seams (based on my Chicago experience, those aren't fun in wet-ish conditions), and I really appreciate that kind of attention to detail... After that, it gets pretty hilly for the next 8 or 9 miles... I think that we were in Golden Gate Park at the 1/2, and we stayed in there for what seemed to be a long time. Really pretty, though - and there was a trail along the paved course that people who wanted to be kinder to their knees used. That kind of option is a nice thing... I really can't speak about most of the rest of the course. It was a bit of a blur. Many port-a-potties. I can say that. But after throwing up in one of them, I decided the side of the course made a much more pleasant option... Great volunteers, too - both in the Medical tents, at the water stops, and just along the course. Many of those along the course were members of Hell's Angels - they were fired up, and they didn't mind sharing that. Also much appreciated. I started crying about mile 23 - when you are sick, everything sucks - and one of these very large guys said that he would carry me to the finish line if he could... Thanks, friend. I made it there by myself, though, and all I felt was relief that it was over.

For the 1st time in my life (at least since I started running), I thought to myself, "I am NEVER doing this again." Now I'm thinking I'm never going to do it if I'm sick again. Such is the runners' way, I suppose. :)