The Big Run!! Friday :)

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Breakfast, 4:45 AM: Jane the Bakery chocolate-chip bread pudding and melon from the compost bin at HSM/Gus'. I did my last icing moment, stretched, and did some strength exercises to get ready.
The beginning! Viviane and I left our block at a few minutes after 5 to some loud Remi Wolf. It was downmisting so hard this morning that our faces were wet by the time we got into Golden Gate Park (1 mi). We were both on bikes because at that point I wasn't sure if I would be able to run.
Viviane and I had a smooth start to "In Return" (a really good get-in-the-zone album for me), then whatever played off the back of it. I went out faster than I thought I would, I think because the music got to me and Viv's biking motivated me. I didn't feel any pain when I started running so we just kept going.
It was a foggy morning! We cut east at the north part of Lake Merced kindof by accident (and not looking at other folks' Samsara routes closely beforehand) but when I realized I was OK with it because I wasn't sure how long my legs would last without pain, and I figured lower mileage would be OK if at least I finished.
This was the first time either of us had ever been on foot to cross from Lake Merced to the Bayview. And going by Crocker brought me back to our soccer days.
The light over these fields was so gorgeous! We stopped and Viv had some foraged melon, we drank some water, and I ate the blackberries Fuzzy and I foraged yesterday. The speaker died when we were going up the hill to this view (mid Radio by SE)...welp, we had a good couple hours of loud music up until then.
As we turned towards Third street there was a rainbow!!! It was so gorgeous. I was so happy. We made plans to meet Liam so that Viv could skibble off to an appointment.
I didn't get a picture but Naomi and Nathaniel found us and dropped off a liter of water and some snacks!! Thanks so much, it was so fun to see you both. And the water was perfect timing! While Liam and I headed up Illinois and around the back of the construction behind the Chase Center we schemed abo9ut building boats from the big blocks of foam they use as landcaping fill. So much cool construction! Here's the crews removing a wooden mold from yesterday's concrete pour.
At home I've had to label my foraged food, so this melon says "SH foraged this." We had slices of melon and protein bars by the Third Street Bridge (I foraged mine someday this week and don't remember when but it was on a run).
Gorgeous! The first of two bridges we'll go under. I think this was right before I saw my seventh grade spanish teacher out walking her dog. We had to say hello!! I really loved her class because she told very funny stories, and helped us use spanish in context. She ran with Liam and I for a minute but then had to peel off.
We stopped at the Ferry Building to use the bathrooms. I always love running through the ferry building. Then it was continuing up the Embarcadero!
We got to facetime with Paul and KDM for a moment! They were facing 60km/h winds out in Iceland where they are for a few days. It was so nice to see them!! Plus, look how gorgeous Iceland is.
We said hello to Bitey and his two friends. After the loss of Bitey's mom he hasn't quite been as nice to the swimmers...but it looks like he's making new friends which is good.
We made it to BWX in the Presidio! This crazy guy hopped off his motorcycle and sprinted down the hill. Said hello to Gever, Naomi, and Charlie! And then Aidan and I headed out to the beach for the final few miles! I'm so grateful to have this crew in my life, and so glad I could see them today!
Okay this was weird. The folks in the Presidio were doing a fall arrest training/practice, but when we turned the corner all I saw was a limp body hanging from a utility pole. It had a kind of zombie complexion....strange! I think they were going to lower it in to the trunk of somebody's car, because they started moving it over and the trunk was open. Very weird sight.
We made it under bridge 2/2 of the run! At this point I was 23 or so miles in. Aidan hasn't run, ever! So our combined exhaustion meant we walked up some of the hills.
FOOOOOGGGGGG
Sutro baths was full of water! And I got to show Aidan the squishy bushes (shoutout to the Kids Outdoor Club).
When I was younger I honestly thought the white stuff on these offshore islands was snow.
Mom, Roxane, and Viv brought birthday cake and champagne for the finish! But first I had to finish my 30 miles and did a victory lap around Beach Chalet (also where it all started), and I got to talk to Owen for the last mile. So awesome!
This was my whole route!
After a long nap, icing my legs, and barely being able to take a short walk, it was time for dinner at Ragazza. I had the baby kale salad (which is the most delicious salad ever - perfectly lemony and kale-y and has wheat berries in it which are wonderfully chewy. I could go on about this salad it's amazing.) Then we had a margharita pizza (sp?) and an amatriciani (with two eggs instead of one! yum). And the nutella pizza (more of a flatbread tbh)! Dad also gave me the 20$ from eating the beans so I'm officially net positive money in the last week of not paying for any food.

Overall, I'm feeling incredibly grateful for this run, friends, the weather, and this route! My shin splints didn't give me any trouble on the run, which was so awesome, I was feeling not so great yesterday in anticipation of having to bail. I'm stoked to say that with two social exceptions I only ate food thst was previously discarded or from nature (and even the exceptions were a spoonful of pot de creme and some pizza from backstage which was destined for the trash. I'm so grateful that I live in a city of such abundance!! Thanks for all the encouragement and birthday wishes!

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