Been a while. Being busy always means something’s got to give – and it was my blog. Going to try to catch up if I can.
We (my wonderful husband and I) trained for our 5K run in San Francisco. The week before was a little chaotic. My mother-in-law came with us to San Fran. The flight wasn’t too bad, broken up by a stop in Detroit and some drugs to sleep.
We drove to our apartment; it was nice once we got rid of the smelly sticks. Grocery store was around the corner and we stayed close to GG Park and the Pacific Ocean. We were in bed early enough for our run the next morning. Up early, in the car and out to navigate the streets of San Francisco.
Marc didn’t run the race and I did it in 36 and change. I finished on Giant Stadium left field, got some photos and then headed out to see the city. We stumbled onto a popular pancake house in Hayes Valley, conveniently with an Artisan market happening right outside. It was delicious. The market had so many unique and different things. Like a wood burning pizza truck, problem with that, I was so stuffed from the coconut banana pancakes. Then there was the NFL game. OMG 49ers fans are amazing. Not like I have been to a ton of professional football games! Loved the atmosphere, just not the freezing cold wind. People openly drinking on the bus ride down and standing at the entrance gates chugging whatever they had left!
We walked a lot in San Fran, I got a run in down to the ocean (40 blocks there and back). What happened on this run, I did things people should never ever ever do. A little old lady was putting out her garbage and stopped me to ask if I could help her with something in her basement. Yes, indeed if I were reading this I would be thinking the same thing... So she takes me through her garage to the back of the house (a basement is the garage and storage area really) and asks me to help with the washer because it was unlevel. I say sure, and doesn’t all 4 feet nothing of her heave on the washer to lift it so I can slide the coasters underneath the leg. This is when it dawns on me she could have a whackadoodle partner who would bash my head in. So I slide it under, stand up and head out as quickly as possible. All the time I am wondering what the heck was I thinking, I watch too many murder mysteries! She was really a nice little old lady. And I set off down the street to finish my run to the ocean. I looked as I crossed the street and there was the tip of the bridge, next block a little more to my right and a little more of the bridge! Not a stitch of fog. It was a nice sight to see.
When I turned around to head back to the apartment, I realized I went the wrong way at the start of the run. I should have headed towards downtown. My run back to the condo meant a 20 block run uphill!
We walked 1/3 of the Golden Gate Park, down Haight and beyond Ashbury and all the way back. I must admit the number of beggars was a little overwhelming on Haight, and they would smoke pot openly and congregate in packs begging for money. I opted to ignore them, yet they were still annoying, mostly because of how young they were. Awesome shopping there.
We hit up the aquarium in Monterey; it was spectacularness at its best for me. I was in heaven in the aquarium. I was actually thinking of hiding in a closet somewhere so I could hang with the jellies and seahorses. We hit up Pebble Beach, yet another spectacular sight. The drive up the CA-1 was phenomenal, beautiful scenery, so peaceful. The only thing missing from our trip to Monterey is that we were a few years too late to hook up with our American friends.
We walked around Alcatraz, then to Pier 39, hit up Ghirardelli, enjoyed chocolate and a hot caramel sundae in the soda shoppe. Walked the malls, around Sonoma, through downtown, along Embacardo, in through Chinatown, into little Italy, up Lombard to the crookedest street in America and back down. We walked all the way around the base of Coit Tower, ½ ways across the Golden Gate Bridge and back. Yes indeed it was an action packed walking vacation. I do have to go back, only to run the bridge and take the trolley car!
So if ever you find yourself in San Fran and want a good place to stay, check out the Duck’s Nest on VRBO. It was not in the heart of downtown, so we saw a lot of the city via public transportation, we found a pub that was great to have a few bevies in.
One night we took the bus downtown and took a cab home. We jumped in the Prius and off we went, seriously the dude was driving like he was a modern day cop on the “Streets of San Francisco”! I was a little afraid the car was going to bottom out.
Now that I am back home, I took the 3 pounds I put on off and am back to focussing on the running and training.
I had my first swimming lesson earlier this week. I can swim; I have strong legs and pretty good technique. I have been swimming for as long as I can remember. I think my brother and I both were swimming before walking. Holy Freakoly, what a difference one lesson can make. Turn your feet, spread your fingers. Loved the lesson, and I am hoping to really get my timing down pat. The coach was supportive, the other students were friendly. The sad part, we don’t meet for another week and a bit – thanks to the long weekend.
That being said..... This weekend is Thanksgiving. I have so much to be grateful for. Today my Mom made her lifetime goal at WW. This is a huge feat for my mom. She won’t have to pay any more. I am grateful for being able to be there to share this with her. I am thankful for my family for all the support they give to me through my training, whining, and ups and downs. I give thanks for all of my friends who understand that sometimes I am so wrapped up inside of myself that I forget to be as good of a friend as they are to me. I am grateful that I have a job, a roof over my head, pets who love me unconditionally, my health and that my family is healthy and we are all happy together.
The next few weeks are promising for me as I gear up to run my ½ marathon with a friend from WW. We will be running in the 9-run-run. Check it out at 9runrun.ca.
Today I did 10K. Slightly behind where I should be for the run, however, I will complete the ½ and that is what I am a completer not a competer. I will get some runs in this week – 3 times a day if I have to.
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