Bay to Breakers 12K Report

 Well, it was a wild day here in California.   Hubby and I planned to take Caltrain into San Francisco to save us the driving and parking madness.  I read that we should get there early to get our tickets from the ticket machines as there would be a lot of people lining up to get tickets.  Boy, they were not kidding.  We got there at 5:00am for a 5:20am train, and there must have been 200+ people there.  It was a zoo.  I almost got tickets (2 in front of me if I shoved in right) when the conductor just told everyone to get on the train.  They let us all go on for free.  Didn't even have to pay the parking fee.  It was a party on the train.  Luckily I had been warned or in my naivety, I would have been shocked.  Ok, so I'm not as worldly as I make out to be, just an old married mom.  Anyway, we had kids from three different colleges dressed in all sort of costumes, lots of spandix, very cute, guys too, drinking beer and champagne, singing, dancing.  It was loads of fun.  I took pictures and a couple videos.  The train ride was about an hour.  

We expected it to be cold and rainy and dressed in layers.  When we got off the train, it was about a 1.5-2 mile walk to our corral.  We followed the crowds.  Hubby usually likes to be a little more organized but I took a more relaxed approach this time and left the maps at home, one less thing to carry thinking that there were going to be so many people, they would have to have directions, etc.  So we followed the crowd, found the corrals, then asked directions to get to ours.  One last stop in the port-a-potties and we went into our corral.  We were suppose to meet up with my coworker and her husband, but they started our group early and we never found them.  Almost 50,000 people were signed up.  It was HUGE!  And the costumes were just amazing.  Pacmen, Mario carts racing each other, mermaids, ....  And naked people too.  Why does it seem like only old (over 60-70+) over weight men like to do these thing pregnant.  Look down unexpectedly and boy was I hit with a site I did not want to see.  There was one older guy running naked who obviously kept himself in good shape and ate right, but overall, the rest were just, well, maybe I'm a prude, but  hubby thought they should set a standard for nakedness.  We finally saw one centipede, which was 12 people dressed up the same and running in line tied together.    Lots of tutus.  It was pretty flat until mile 2, then we had the "big" hill.  Luckily my Friday hill walks were a lot tougher so we took the hill with no problem.  Walking at this point with a little running on the flat.  Then we ran all they way down the hill.  My shoulder starting hurting a bit, so we alternated walking and running.  Eventually, the path led into Golden Gate park, which is beautiful.  Got to walk through parts I haven't seen, like the waterfall, the windmill, and there were even 4 buffalo.  We had a little sprinkle, but nothing bad.  The layers came off.  We ran down the last hill towards the ocean, then it was only a quarter mile and we crossed the finish line.  Our official time was 1:54:40.

You can see the pictures at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37115671@N00/sets/72157626606333717/with/5724709553/

I will have to put my complaint in here that I thought this was a poorly organized race.  We crossed the finish line and they gave us a bottle of water.  Then we had to follow the crowd for probably another mile to get into the line to get our medals.  They didn't even put them around our neck, just handed us a medal in a plastic bag.  You know, there's just something about crossing the finish line and having someone put a medal around your neck and congratulate you.

I wanted to stop at the first aid and get tape for my knee, but never saw a tent after the finish line.  It was another half mile or so to the free snack handouts and the line was so deep you couldn't get anything anyway.  At the Run Surf City race in February, they had so many volunteers when you crossed the finish line, first giving you medals, then giving you a sheet to keep warm, then a banana, then a goodie bag filled with treats, ... the medical tent was right there, and the after party too.  This race had very few volunteers in comparison and needed a lot more trash cans.  But all in all, it was a very fun race and very exciting.

We finally went to take the shuttle to back to the train station to go home, but our driver got lost so we probably spent an extra 45 minutes driving around the city.  Made for quite an adventure.  The train was nice an quiet and we got some rest going home.

Jan

 sounds and looks a bit crazy!  :)  Its awesome the things we get to do now in our new lifestyles!  Great report, congrats on a great race!

 Way to go Jan, sounds liike a fun day!!!

Great job Jan.

Looks like a fun and crazy time.  I'm so glad you took part in the legendary Bay to Breakers!

Sounds like fun! Way to go! The train, did you take the Bart? When we visit hubby's parents in Pacheco, I love riding the Bart to San Francisco.

I agree about the medal thing, my first half marathon, the Marine Corps half marathon, a Marine in uniform put the medal around our necks, it was cool. Every other half marathon, and in my marathon, they handed us medals in a plastic bag, it wasn't the same.

Now in all three of the halves I've done, there was someone right there on the finish line to put a medal around your neck, someone to hand you water, banana, cold wet towel (when it was hot) or a plastic sheet for warmth when it was cold, and granola and other power food/handouts right as you went through the finish line corridor.  This was the first race where we had to walk another mile or more to get to any of that.

We took Caltrain from San Jose.  It's so clean and relaxing to take.  My coworker took Bart from Fremont.

Great job Jan!

 I don't know why all the old guys want to run naked.  If it was some younger hot chics I know I would probably run the best race of my life .

So glad you had a good time doing it, after all isn't that te point of this new life?  Living and having fun!