Run the Road to Super Bowl 50!

What an absolutely insane day! We can go ahead and call it Seahawk Sunday (even though I spent most of it in 49er enemy territory!) 

Today marked the first running event of 2016 with the Run the Road to Superbowl 10k. This was put on by the same organization that did the Seahawk 5K last year, so I knew it would be pretty fun. I'm also trying to soak in all the Superbowl events that I can. (Who knows when I'll be in a Super Bowl City again anytime soon.)

Being the good 12 that I am, I decked out in Seahawks gear, tweeted my devotion to the Hawks (and they tweeted back!) 

 

First off, I had the task of finding my way down to Santa Clara (which FYI, for all you Bay Area peeps...is not on the other side of a bridge. It's just South of Oakland. Who knew?). Since it was 0 dark 30, there was no traffic and I made it to the Stadium just in time for a glorious sunrise. 

(Yes, that early)

My race didn't start until 8:45, but I had to pick up the bib and parking shut down at 7:30. I did end up having a lot of time to take photos and dink around until it was time to line up. Being the avid Hawks fan that I am, I of course, brought my infamous Pete Carroll signed poster to show off. 

    I may have gotten some jeers from those around me...however, all I had to say to them was, "Well, at least we're playing today..." And they, of course, couldn't deny it.

When it was finally time for the race to start, the whiny voice inside my head began its usually banter: "Why are you doing this? You should have just run the 5k? Don't you know the game is starting soon. RUN FASTER"

I will admit, knowing there was a game on in an hour motivated me quite a bit. I was able to quickly shake off the negativity and get into my groove. The nice thing about this course was that it was flat and pretty darn open, so there was not a lot of squashed runners. My pace was pretty good the entire time even though I was a little sore from the 8.5 mile training run I did the day before. I wanted to push myself and see what my base pace time was for the start of the year.

Just like the Seahawks run, this one ended at Levi Stadium, which will soon be host to Superbowl 50. It was cool to run out onto the field (even though there was very little field left) and see the inside of the stadium.

I really enjoyed this race. I also really enjoyed the free photos that they took. I wish more races did that. We pay so much in entry fees that it would be nice to get a little memento without having to shell out more money! And for once, I actually got some decent "in motion" shots.

One day closer to NYC...

13.1 miles
69,168 feet
23,056 yards
21.08 Kilometers
Half Marathon

Today I officially started my training season for the NYC Half Marathon! I know, I know. This is going to be a very long few months if all I can scream from the rooftops is "I'm running the NYC half!"

But I'm just so excited! (And yes, constantly worried about potential injuries that could take me out of the race)

As I was looking into running plans and schedules for my spring training, I found a group here in the East Bay called the Lake Merritt Joggers and Striders. It's a local running group and it is massive with over 1000 members! I've always wanted to join one of these groups, but a lot of times, they are just so expensive! However, this group is only $20 a year and for another $80, you can join the spring marathon training group.

That is ridiculously cheap! Most of the other training groups I was looking at were at least double that. I was a little hesitant to sign up. Mostly insecurities about running and whether or not I'd like to do it socially...but as soon as I got to the group this morning, all my fears became unfounded.

Everyone was really nice and we all were able to join various pacing groups. Today we met in Emeryville and ran the Bay Bridge trail. I met some really nice women and had a great time. A lot of people were running their first Half, some their first marathon. One girl was on her 27th Half!

The six miles we ran went by so quickly. For the first time I've run since mid December, I was really happy with my performance and I didn't have to stop running the entire time. I think this is where the social aspect of the group is going to really help me. When I run by myself, I have no problem stopping and taking it easy. When you're with a group, you don't want to get left behind! We increase mileage each week and they have given us a pretty easy schedule to follow. I've tailored it to my other workouts and my travel weeks. Hopefully I'll be able to stick with it!

I can't wait till next week!

The year to do: Goals for sucking the life out of San Francisco

Yes, folks, it is that time again. The first of the new year. I know we all get a little bit crazy when it comes to new beginnings and fresh starts and clean slates. I've never been that good at Resolutions. I'm much more from the "why wait till Jan. 1st to start things?" 

However, I am one for making lists. Lots and lots of lists....and when it comes to the start of a new year, I do like to write down some of the things I want to do and accomplish throughout the year. Not really a "work on me list," but one that reminds me to "suck the life" out of the days we're given. 

I've lived in the bay area for almost 8 years (holy cow) and sometimes, I feel like I haven't really taken advantage of being in the midst of this amazing city. With the Superbowl coming in February, there are all these "must do" lists for our incoming football fan tourists. I figured, I would take a look at those, and create my own list of 2016 musts for Bay Area living. I realized that there is so much to do here that I've been missing out on. I was hoping for one new thing a month....however, the list just grew and grew. If I can get half of it accomplished, I'll be a happy camper (and almost native) by 2017! 

Visit Grizzley Peak and Bolinas Ridge (Marin) at Sunset: Grizzley Peak 50 Whitaker Avenue between Miller and Sterling Avenues in Northeast Berkeley

See concerts at: The Fillmore, The Warfield, The Independent 

Go to a Sing-A-Long at the Castro Theater

Take a Street Art Tour, make sure to  Walk through Clarion Alley and eat at The Sycamore. Between Mission and Valencia Streets and 17th and 18th Streets, San Francisco
Balmy Alley Murals | Balmy Alley, between 24th & 25th Streets, 
***On this day, have "America's best burrito" at La Taqueria

Attend Audium: On Friday Nights-http://www.audium.org/


Walk around Albany Bulb: 1 Buchanan Street, Albany

Church of 8 Wheels, Roller Skate in an old Church: http://churchof8wheels.com/

Go to Levi Stadium 

Eat at Tadich Grill: The oldest restaurant in the city. 

Climb SF's secret staircases:
*Macondray Lane (off Leavenworth St between Union and Green Sts) was the inspiration for Armistead Maupin’s Barbary Lane in his Tales of the City series.
*The grand Lyon Street stairway (between Green St and Broadway), built in 1916 to connect Cow Hollow to the lofty climes of Pacific Heights, features some 290 steps that take you past flower gardens, hedgerows and palatial mansions to the entrance of the Presidio, where you’re rewarded with views of Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge.
*Tank Hill, the often-ignored stepsister of Twin Peaks, is accessed via the delightful garden-dotted Pemberton Steps that start at the bottom of Corbett and Clay streets.

*Climb the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps

Visit Coit Tower via: The Filbert Street Steps, arguably the most spectacular of the city’s stairways, starts at the bottom of Sansome Street and climbs all the way to Coit Tower, passing through lush tropical gardens and flocks of wild parrots along the way.

Drink Irish Coffee at Buena Vista

Go to the Walt Disney Museum/Lucasfilms in the Presidio

Take an Emperor Norton’s Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine Tour

Go Hiking on Angel Island and make it to the top 5 peaks in the region: Tamalpais in Marin County, Mt. Diablo in the East Bay, Mission Peak in Fremont, Mt. Hamilton in San Jose, and Sugarloaf Hike in Sonoma.

Go to Oakland's Morcom Rose Garden

Get to the top of Twin Peaks

Hang out at Alameda Antique Fair (Done: 1/3/16)

Tour the Jelly Belly Factory 

Eat an Egg Tart at The Golden Gate Bakery | 1029 Grant Ave., San Francisco