Fast forward to race day, I was planning to run the half, but I wasn't really quite sure how fast to run it. I was running only once a week for the past several weeks, but I was doing at least five bootcamp style workouts as well at a gym called the P2P Transformation Center in Brentwood. I had lost over 30 pounds as of this time, and the weight loss has made my long runs very easy compared to years past, as I was pacing 12-13 minute miles but no longer having to catch my breath, and for good or bad, made me a very chatty pacer to my trainees at Run 365, The San Francisco Marathon training program for the full marathon distance.
I arrived super duper early for the race, as I opted to park using the Parking Panda iPhone app and not the parking recommended by the race. While the parking recommended by the race was convenient, as it was a garage just next to the start line, it was also $30. I figured that I didn't want to negate the freebie I got, so I opted for the cheaper but farther parking for a measly $10 instead. The downside to this was since I was super early, I was outside and it was quite chilly at the start line. I quickly looked for the nearest Starbucks and it was about a half mile from the start line and there was still about 10 minutes or so before it would open. I bemoaned the fact that if I parked at the $30 garage, I could just have stayed at my car until it was closer to the start time, but I was still okay with my decision.
The start line had the waves, but it seemed they were not strictly enforced. I looked for a pace group that I wished to run with, debating between 2:10 and 2:20. My personal best for a half was 2:23 at the Rock and Roll San Jose a few years back, but that was a less hilly course. I found the 2:10 pacer with his sign, but not the 2:20. I just made a mental note to keep a decent distance from the 2:10 pacer so that I would hit somewhere around 2:15, which suddenly became my goal finish time for the race.
A 2:15 finish would be an average of about a 10 minutes and 20 seconds per mile, for 13.1 miles. I can run a 10 minute mile, but at the time I was only confident of doing that for a 5K, maybe a 10K. Having done all my long runs at a 12-13 minute mile pace would be a sudden shift for me. I'm not sure how my body would feel throughout the race, but I just decided to go for it. If I crash and burn somewhere in the middle or in the end, so be it. I haven't chased a PR for so long (I usually just go for a finish), I began to want a PR for this half, even if it was just by a measly minute or second.
The start for the wave I was at seemed later than usual. For this year, the race had us running on the pedestrian path and not the roadside. I believe this was due to the possibility that a truck or vehicle in the wrong hands can maliciously mow down runners for this race, and given how vehicles have been unfortunately used in this manner in other countries, the Golden Gate Bridge board had decided not to allow the runners to run on the road (Note: This is unconfirmed, from my end, and merely hearsay from other sources. I apologize if this is incorrect). At any rate, due to running on the pedestrian path, the waves have been given more ample space between each other to avoid crowding on the bridge. While the start was delayed, in my opinion, it seemed like the crowd spacing of runners was just perfect (but more on that later).
When our wave started, we started running from Fisherman's Wharf or Pier 39. It was pretty flat for the first mile or two until we hit Bay Street, where we promptly encountered some hills. Looking back at my Strava data, it did seem that I slowed down on some of the hills, but not so much. I did a 10:45 for a 151 foot climb and a 10:09 for a 78 foot climb, each one a mile in distance. Not too shabby!
I was actually surprised at how fast my pace was. I was letting my body guide me. I went with what seemed to me like a 7 or 8 in effort. Something that I have to work on. I can't be chatty and I have to swing my arms to push myself further in distance, and I use my feet to propel myself further. Usually I don't do this type of running on my pacing runs as I run more leisurely during those times. I was happy that I had this ability in my back pocket, that I could use for some of my future runs, and maybe aim for a 5K and 10K PR for my next races.
Running up to the bridge was as hilly as one would expect, but once we got to the bridge, the uphill climb wasn't too bad. Most who haven't visited the Golden Gate Bridge thinks it is flat, but it is actually not. There's a climb up and down from one end to another. Once on the pedestrian path, I started overtaking runners. I would do a surge of speed here or there on the left or on the right, depending on where the opening was. I felt good overtaking other runners. At this point in the race, we were almost at the half point, and it gave me more confidence to know I still have a lot of gas in the tank. I didn't want to overtake too many of the runners to the point that I was going at an uncomfortable pace, so I only overtook enough to get me to where I think I'm still running at a good clip.
Once we reached the other end of the bridge, we reached an area that was conducive for picture taking. I could totally understand why runners from out of town would stop for a selfie or a photo, after all, this was their run-cation, but I had other goals in mind. What was more amazing for me than not taking photos is I haven't yet visited any porta potties. I figured it would add a few minutes to my time and as of the halfway point, I wanted to save all my time for the last few miles.
We were taken down an unfamiliar route to me after that. It was a bike route to go to the other side of the bridge. It seemed more like a trail run at that point as it was definitely not a smooth fire road and it was even more narrow than the pedestrian path. I was still able to bob and weave my way through the crowd of runners, but I was more careful this time and slowed down a little. I also slowed down a little bit more once we reached the point where we had to go back UP the bridge on the other side! I was just glad that all this time, I am still running. I could just have easily started walking, but that would kill my PR dreams right then and there. I put all my hill training from past Run 365 runs into action, with more oomph and speed as this was no long slow distance run! We ended up on the other side of the bridge and I did a rinse and repeat of the surges in overtaking runners.
As we got to the other side of the bridge and head back to the finish, I thought that was the end of the hills. We ran downhill towards Crissy Field and then towards Ghirardelli Square, where the finish line was. Little did I remember that were going back through Bay Street and a hill surprised me at the end!
I was starting to cramp at the very last mile. My right calf was cramping. I would stop for a second when it would twitch and keep going again. Looking back at Strava, my last mile was 11:35, but I wasn't too disappointed with that given that I was still clocking 10:10 and 9:49 on the miles previous to that. At the 12 mile mark, with under trained legs, I was happy that I was on track for my 2:15 finish!
I crossed the finish line with even a few more minutes to spare. My unofficial time is 2:12:25. A PR by over 11 minutes from my fastest time, which seemed like decades ago. I was elated at the finish line as it is mind blowing to me to be faster when I am much older than I was when I did my fastest half marathon. This is hopefully a good omen of things to come, and that 40 is most probably the new 30! Thanks again to WeRunSF and Rock and Roll San Francisco Half!
See you next year?
Wow - this is really impressive! Congrats on getting your goal and surviving the pedestrian walkway (I was really curious how that would work out).
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