261 of 311/365:version 3

today i ran my first half marathon. i awoke at five a.m. to a downpour outside. my actual words when climbing out of bed: "this is going to be fun." i said that sarcastically. i showered because i like to feel fresh and clean even before i get drenched and sweaty. i ate a banana and a slice of bread before stretching and calling for a taxi. i contemplated running to the start line, nearly four miles away, but thought better of using so much energy just to start the race. i learned from past mistakes at the 2009 bay to breakers. waiting 25 minutes outside for the cab could have been a better experience without the rain. when it appeared my request wasn't going to be fulfilled i started to jog from masonic to divisidero for better hopes of hailing a stray. about halfway there i flagged a yellow cab, the same company i called. it never became clear if this was my cab or not, mostly because i didn't care.

15 minutes later and $15 lighter i arrived at the start of the race near ghirardelli square. i had five minutes until the start. i did some light stretching and whizzed against a wall like all the other men who were lucky enough not to stand in the long port-o-potty lines like the ladies. when trying to prepare my ipod with nike+ i accidentally ripped my bib off my chest. i forced new holes and frantically re-attached the bib as the race began.

rain steady, the first few miles were mostly flat as we ran through the marina and crissy field. the first hill came close to fort mason, though we ran away from the fort and golden gate bridge. up and down some moderate 'clines, we eventually ascended to the golden gate bridge. i've lived in the bay area the majority of my life and i never traveled the golden gate by foot. passing mile 8 on the bridge i looked around to enjoy the scenery. it was cold, wet, and foggy. i could barely see alcatraz. i could not see the east bay. cars drove by, some honking or yelling in support of our collective run.

exiting the bridge on a decline a large puddle of standing water was impossible to avoid. already soaked from head to ankle, my shoes were now submerged for a few moments. i hoped my nike chip in my shoe would remain working.

on the marin county side of the golden gate, we ran in our first mud of the half marathon. i stuck to the cliff side as we dipped under the golden gate. i pretended that i was a football running back, jumping over small shrubs and plowing through the weak arms of bushes that stuck out into the running path. under the bridge we met with concrete again that climbed uphill. it was back onto the golden gate, this time on the ocean side. before entering the bridge i grabbed my first cup of liquid at a refresh table. i hoped for a swish of water. i was holding a cup of apple juice. i spit and kept running.

exiting the bridge, we traveled back down the hills toward fort mason. i desired to change my headphone distraction, a recent fresh air podcast with dave davies interviewing the director of a new documentary about elliot spitzer. wanted something a bit more uptempo, but i didn't want to fool with my device, which was tucked into my running jacket sleeve, inside an armband. i kept running.

near fort mason we hit mile 10. i thought about how close we were as i stuck my arms out like an airplane as i circled a u-turn to face the marina. i then thought about how 3 miles takes roughly 24 minutes at my normal pace. forcing that thought out of my head, we ran along the dirt in crissy field. large puddles laid about like a minefield. you win some battles, you lose some battles.

mile marker 12 snuck up on me. i was excited to have just over a mile left. a few parents with young children under umbrellas stood along the sides of the race. imprinted on my bid was my first name. runners were thinned out by this point so the onlookers shouted words of encouragement by name. i smiled and waved or gave the thumbs up. leveling off during a slight incline i fiddled with my ipod to play "any way you choose to give it (boy 8 bit mix)" by the black ghosts. it was the same song i started the race with and is my favorite running track for its high energy that builds. i was determined to finished the race before the song was over.

i passed through the now vacated start line and could see the finish line ahead. i felt good, wasn't tired, and looking around at the people there to cheer with signs wished i had someone waiting for me at the end of the race. or even someone i could have run with.

i crossed the finish line at 1:57:39. my only goal was to finish by running the entire course. in the back of my head i wanted to eclipse two hours. success. i heard my name called after i crossed. my first non-running step looked like a baby giraffe attempting to walk for the first time. it was wobbly. catching myself, i was handed a keepsake medal and a reusable stainless steel bottle filled with water. as i sipped i spilled a little on my jacket. still a light drizzle above, and completely soaked, i smiled as it clearly wouldn't matter if i poured the whole bottle over my head.

i took part in the free food and drink before hailing a cab home. now freezing i was excited to get into a hot shower. peeling off my wet clothes and climbing in was a huge relief until the hot water hit every chaffed part of my body - areas i never experienced chaffing on a run before. it was like i'd been dry humping for two hours straight. sucking it up - figuratively - i washed away my longest run ever. and at the end i felt accomplished.

us half marathon - san francisco. 13.1 miles
time: 1:57:39
pace: 8:59
overall: 662 of 2,970
men: 473 of 1,352
age: 33 of all 32-year-olds

ipod: the playlist...
the black ghosts "any way you choose to give it (boy 8 bit mix)"
meanest man contest "partially smart"
seamonster "bearsuit (meanest man contest remix)"
deerhunter "Helicopter (diplo & lunice mix)"
thundering herd (end of podcast; from thursday, 11/4)
pardon the interruption (from friday, 11/5)
thundering herd (from friday, 11/5)
fresh air (documentary director about elliot spitzer; from thursday, 11/4)
the black ghosts "any way you choose to give it (boy 8 bit mix)"
goal status: 667.1/750 (miles logged/miles goal)
weight: 149
feeling... full marathon?