Milestone Run: My 1st Half Marathon

In spite of their evils, I gotta give it to the corporate (wo)man: Nike.

• They may not have the best product, but they usually look good.
• Their marathon website sucked, but the race logistics were flawless (at least to a 1st time novice).
• Yes, they take advantage of global workers, but they also do some major philanthropy (I know, still in the name of marketing).
• And regrettably their hype was totally cheesy, but I ate...it...up. Dammit.

Sunday was supposedly just another training run. At least that is what I told myself. And for the most part it worked. I didn't really feel nervous or worry about my time. I was there to run and practice running in a race setting. What I didn't expect was to be...in awe.

20,000 runners is quite a spectacle, especially when the crowd envelopes all 4 sides of union square. Pre-race on Thursday and Friday, the square itself was transformed into an 'expotique' with mani/pedi station, sponsor booths, volunteers, and packet pickup stations for the runners. You were required to pick up your bib BEFORE race day.

As we stood on Geary, the buildings were still shrouded in darkness except for the lights brought in just for this event. They illuminated a sea of runners in every direction.

This event drew runners from across the nation. People flew here. So what, right? Well for a novice runner, the concept of flying anywhere for a race, a race, is still crazy. Now, it seems a little less crazy but still.... Groups from NY, from Oregon, from Florida, Georgia, ...everywhere. To put it in monetary terms, this event helped raise over $18 million to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. E-i-g-h-t-e-e-n-M-I-L-L-I-O-N-$-$-$-$.

Mabel and I had parked at AT&T Park, Lot A and taken a very shmancy leather seat Bauer Limo bus to the square. Runners were lined up in sections by time. We anticipated running an 11-12:59/minute mile. 'Elite Runners' went first, followed by the Nike Run Club, followed by the 8+/min, 9+/min, etc.

Each runner was given a timing chip to attach to their shoelaces. Your official time did not 'start' until you physically crossed the start line. For the half, there were timing check points at the 5K, 10K, half marathon (13.1 miles) finish.

Running beside the Transamerica building as the sun is rising is a tad surreal. Speaker blasted music as you ran through the financial district towards the Embarcadero.

We passed water stations, coat checks, porto-potties, people passing out Luna Moons, sliced oranges, free socks, gatorade, bananas, water, water and more water.

The course was awesome and challenging with two major inclines and a few other minor ups and downs.

Most memorable was the mom carrying her baby in a carrier on her back, RUNNING; the group of women who's shirts screamed 'Run Like a Girl' and 'I may be slow, but I beat Breast Cancer'; and the brave woman standing on the great highway holding a handmade sign like John Cusack in Say Anything that reads "Thank You From a Leukemia Survivor."

All things that make go, d-a-m-n.
All in all, I'm a proud finisher of my first half marathon and can say that is was quite an experience. I hear there are those that want to win the lottery to register for this race, just to win the goodies, namely the Tiffany necklace for the finishers. And sure, the necklace is great, but I could live with just the image alone -- handsome men, dressed in tuxedos holding silver platters of boxed jewelry. Even if that's not your fantasy, it sure is a sight to relish. So, amidst the cheers by spectators, giveaways by sponsor, honest-to-god Leukemia survivors beside you and thousands and thousands of other participants, I was the sucker and loved every minute of it.

Update: Race results: 2:37:35