Bay to Breakers

I don't even know what to say about yesterday. How to begin. How about this: it was perfect. Everything I hoped it would be, and more. I couldn't have asked for a better experience in my longest race ever, the 12k Bay to Breakers. I had a feeling that this day would be special for a variety of reason that kept piling up, and for once, I was not disappointed. Everything was perfect and magical.

I'm not a seasoned runner, and I would scoff if you called me an athlete. I grew up failing at every sport I attempted, eventually turning to creative arts instead. As an adult I've turned to exercise as a mental and physical form of therapy, as well as a way to stay healthy, but I would never call myself talented. Yet there is something undeniable about this fact: yesterday I ran from the bay to the ocean in San Francisco. On my own two feet, and legs stronger than I imagined--a mind stronger than I thought, too.

Of all the moments I experienced yesterday, and the strength I found within myself, the one I keep coming back to is of the moment I first saw the ocean opening up in front of me in the last half mile of the race. I think that's when it started to sink in, the truth of what I had just done. Holy shit, I just ran all the way to the ocean, I thought. I can't even describe how I felt, not really, but it was incredible. Enough to get me through that last brutal half mile and running (hobbling?) across the finish line in 1 hour, 32/33 minutes (depending on the timing source). 7.7 miles. Holy shit.

The weather couldn't have been more beautiful. I can't believe what a great race day I had. It seemed charmed. I ran the first mile in 10 minutes, 11 seconds and finished with an average 11:58 pace -- this is on the very good end of what I can do right now. It was incredible to hit 7 miles and know I had less than a mile to go. I am just still in a certain amount of disbelief that I actually did this!

After I finished, I received the finishers medal (above), met up with my friends Susie & Jeff, and walked 3+ miles back to Haight Street to have lunch at Citrus Club. There I had an enormous beer and the most incredible buckwheat noodle salad of my entire life. I cannot stop talking about this salad. In fact, I think I have A Problem. I'm obsessed. I'm stalking this salad. I want it all the time forever. It's a very good thing I live a few miles away from this restaurant, because if I didn't? Ohmygod. The carnage! And I do mean carnage to my bank account.

To sum up my experience yesterday: the best day of 2012 for me so far. I know my dad was looking over me. I know the solar eclipse at 0 degrees Gemini was also looking over me. I felt like the entire day was charmed. Not a single thing went wrong. How often can you say that? Thank you, universe. ♥

Ocean Beach // the finish line