I've been such a lazy blogger... Here it is the beginning of November and I am just now writing about Nike! I guess after three half marathons in a row I just wanted to forget about running for a few weeks. Thankfully I only have one more to go!!!
Wow, Nike is one of the most beautiful courses but it kicks my butt every year! I get so used to what San Francisco looks like that I forget what an amazing city it is. Running through the streets of SF with people from all over the US made me look at the city through their eyes and realize how lucky we are to be able to run in the Bay Area on a regular basis! Nike takes you through so many picturesque areas: Union Square, the Embarcadero, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, Fort Mason, Marina Green and Chrissy Field with gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge smothered in fog. Then we leave the flat part of the course behind and we climb into the foggy hills of the Presidio, run above Baker Beach where I can hear the ocean but not see it, by the palatial homes of Sea Cliff (Robin Williams' included), down by the Cliff House and along Ocean Beach, up into Golden Gate Park with the Bison, "Chocolate Mile" and then finally to the finish line along the Ocean.
I started out running with Phil although he ditched me around mile 1 to pursue his PR. :( I felt really good until we got into the Presidio and the second, hilly section of the course. I ran up the short first hill but walked all the rest, which really feels more like a series of long, drawn out inclines. Karen and Rocky were out there providing support so seeing them gave me something to look forward to. I knew that Brenda was suppossed to be in Golden Gate Park somewhere so I spent those last miles looking for her and reminding myself that when I did see her, NOT to run up and give her a hug. :D Her Dr. gave her the okay to come out and cheer us on but since she recently had her stem cell transplant, hugs and other close contact was a no no. I never did see Brenda but I did run into a family friend, Deni, who was out there cheering on her daughter who was doing the marathon.
The last part of the course is slightly downhill and that gave me just enough of a boost to sprint into the finish line. Final time: 2:45:50. Not my personal best for a half but it was my personal best for the Nike course. After I crossed the finish line I look to my left and who do I see? Phil! It took me 12.1 miles but I caught back up to him! We picked up our "Ran Like a Girl" shirts (the boy's shirts say that too) and Tiffany necklaces and headed to the TNT tent where they had mounds of food waiting. The food looked good but my tummy was not feeling it-- I think I drank too much water and not enough electrolyte on the course. Same thing happened after Disney and San Jose but this time I felt much worse. For Arizona I really need to work on my hydration so I don't end up feeling so nauseous at the end :(
Wow, Nike is one of the most beautiful courses but it kicks my butt every year! I get so used to what San Francisco looks like that I forget what an amazing city it is. Running through the streets of SF with people from all over the US made me look at the city through their eyes and realize how lucky we are to be able to run in the Bay Area on a regular basis! Nike takes you through so many picturesque areas: Union Square, the Embarcadero, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, Fort Mason, Marina Green and Chrissy Field with gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge smothered in fog. Then we leave the flat part of the course behind and we climb into the foggy hills of the Presidio, run above Baker Beach where I can hear the ocean but not see it, by the palatial homes of Sea Cliff (Robin Williams' included), down by the Cliff House and along Ocean Beach, up into Golden Gate Park with the Bison, "Chocolate Mile" and then finally to the finish line along the Ocean.
I started out running with Phil although he ditched me around mile 1 to pursue his PR. :( I felt really good until we got into the Presidio and the second, hilly section of the course. I ran up the short first hill but walked all the rest, which really feels more like a series of long, drawn out inclines. Karen and Rocky were out there providing support so seeing them gave me something to look forward to. I knew that Brenda was suppossed to be in Golden Gate Park somewhere so I spent those last miles looking for her and reminding myself that when I did see her, NOT to run up and give her a hug. :D Her Dr. gave her the okay to come out and cheer us on but since she recently had her stem cell transplant, hugs and other close contact was a no no. I never did see Brenda but I did run into a family friend, Deni, who was out there cheering on her daughter who was doing the marathon.
The last part of the course is slightly downhill and that gave me just enough of a boost to sprint into the finish line. Final time: 2:45:50. Not my personal best for a half but it was my personal best for the Nike course. After I crossed the finish line I look to my left and who do I see? Phil! It took me 12.1 miles but I caught back up to him! We picked up our "Ran Like a Girl" shirts (the boy's shirts say that too) and Tiffany necklaces and headed to the TNT tent where they had mounds of food waiting. The food looked good but my tummy was not feeling it-- I think I drank too much water and not enough electrolyte on the course. Same thing happened after Disney and San Jose but this time I felt much worse. For Arizona I really need to work on my hydration so I don't end up feeling so nauseous at the end :(
The sign outside Niketown, where we picked up our packets on Saturday afternoon.
They had the names of all the runners up on the windows outside Niketown.
Caroline (Lindsay's mom), Linds, Claudia, BK, me and Jeanette at the start.
View from the course of the runners and Golden Gate Bridge.
Water stop help from Karen, Rocky and Patch around mile 9.
I ran into Deni in Golden Gate Park around mile 12.5... that's the only reason I'm smiling!
TNT finisher's tent with Lael, Claudia and Lael's sister. 
Walking back to the car with our space blankets and Tiffany's bags :D
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