I ran the San Francisco One Day. I actually ran only one eighth of it. The race is a 24 hour challenge. It is about time and not distance. They … MORE
I ran the San Francisco One Day. I actually ran only one eighth of it. The race is a 24 hour challenge. It is about time and not distance. They have a 6 hour, 12 hour, and 24 hour option, and you compete for how far you make it. They also offer a 100km (62 mile) alternative for the ultra-marathon crowd who prefer that specific format. But they had to cancel the overnight. The park service changed their rules. I signed up for 6 hours. I knew all along I would drop out. I just wanted to run a half marathon as I usually do, and there were no other races this weekend in the Bay Area (the pandemic put many of these operators out of business or reduced the frequency with which they organize races).
I learned about this event because they have very nice swag. They issue a fleece jacket with a patch showing their logo, for the 24 hour entrants. Someone was wearing the top at a prior race, and I inquired. Although I initially thought that was crazy, I probably will try it at some point. That is how it goes: you scoff at something, and then you realize you are attracted to it.
The route is just over a mile. The extra bit causes a discrepancy as you loop again and again. I was worried it would be boring. It was assuring. You come by the table with drinks and food. It feels as if you are running a much shorter race. You can look forward to seeing the finish line. The volunteers also are friendly and cheering. They helped me set up my personal cup with my name on it, just a Dixie they wrote on with a Sharpie. Families were there for support. The feeling was festive.
The venue is Crissy Field. That is a wonderful green park, flat, near the Marina district and within sight of Golden Gate Bridge. I have run there many times. When SF MOMA was closed, they hosted outdoor sculptures, including by a set by Mark di Suvero.
The proprietors know me. The husband is Wendell. The wife is Lin. They have kids. One of them admired my motorcycle outfit. I rode to a race. They are friendly and organized. They have multiple series, including Coastal and Zoom and Zombie.
I had not intended to be unusual. But I realized after a few miles I was running the opposite direction. I had asked Wendell. He said you can run either direction, clockwise or counterclockwise, and he had said during the briefing some people switch each time they go over the mat. I went counterclockwise. I did that for two reasons. First, we started that way. Second, it meant I had a view of the bridge for half the time. But since I passed many many many people going clockwise, and very few passed me and I passed very few counterclockwise, unless everyone in my direction was approximately my speed, that means the majority of people had picked clockwise and set a norm. I was a contrarian without meaning to do that.
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Enjoyed More Than I Expected
I ran the San Francisco One Day. I actually ran only one eighth of it. The race is a 24 hour challenge. It is about time and not distance. They … MORE
I ran the San Francisco One Day. I actually ran only one eighth of it. The race is a 24 hour challenge. It is about time and not distance. They have a 6 hour, 12 hour, and 24 hour option, and you compete for how far you make it. They also offer a 100km (62 mile) alternative for the ultra-marathon crowd who prefer that specific format. But they had to cancel the overnight. The park service changed their rules. I signed up for 6 hours. I knew all along I would drop out. I just wanted to run a half marathon as I usually do, and there were no other races this weekend in the Bay Area (the pandemic put many of these operators out of business or reduced the frequency with which they organize races).
I learned about this event because they have very nice swag. They issue a fleece jacket with a patch showing their logo, for the 24 hour entrants. Someone was wearing the top at a prior race, and I inquired. Although I initially thought that was crazy, I probably will try it at some point. That is how it goes: you scoff at something, and then you realize you are attracted to it.
The route is just over a mile. The extra bit causes a discrepancy as you loop again and again. I was worried it would be boring. It was assuring. You come by the table with drinks and food. It feels as if you are running a much shorter race. You can look forward to seeing the finish line. The volunteers also are friendly and cheering. They helped me set up my personal cup with my name on it, just a Dixie they wrote on with a Sharpie. Families were there for support. The feeling was festive.
The venue is Crissy Field. That is a wonderful green park, flat, near the Marina district and within sight of Golden Gate Bridge. I have run there many times. When SF MOMA was closed, they hosted outdoor sculptures, including by a set by Mark di Suvero.
The proprietors know me. The husband is Wendell. The wife is Lin. They have kids. One of them admired my motorcycle outfit. I rode to a race. They are friendly and organized. They have multiple series, including Coastal and Zoom and Zombie.
I had not intended to be unusual. But I realized after a few miles I was running the opposite direction. I had asked Wendell. He said you can run either direction, clockwise or counterclockwise, and he had said during the briefing some people switch each time they go over the mat. I went counterclockwise. I did that for two reasons. First, we started that way. Second, it meant I had a view of the bridge for half the time. But since I passed many many many people going clockwise, and very few passed me and I passed very few counterclockwise, unless everyone in my direction was approximately my speed, that means the majority of people had picked clockwise and set a norm. I was a contrarian without meaning to do that.
My first "ultramarathon"
My first ultra was the San Francisco One Day, a new event put on by Pacific Coast Trail Runs. It was multiple loops around a 1 mile path on the … MORE
My first ultra was the San Francisco One Day, a new event put on by Pacific Coast Trail Runs. It was multiple loops around a 1 mile path on the San Francisco shore. I entered the 12 hour option and was just looking for a 50 mile finish in less than 11 hours. That would qualify me for the Western States 100 lottery.
I got down to the start of the race and checked in. I was wearing my SF Triathlon Club jacket a fellow club member (Mark Nassi) was there also – his wife spotted my jacket and we chatted a bit. At the start of the race, I decided to just run my pace – after all, this was my first ever ultra and I just wanted the WS100 lottery mark. After a while, I noticed that I was in 3rd place overall. About every 5 laps, there was a leaderboard that would be updated. I was behind two runners John Mintz and Eric Clifton. As I was new to this sport, I had no idea that Eric Clifton was an ultrarunning legend. He was profiled in the Badwater Ultra movie “Run on The Sun” (where he won the race). I just knew he was fast and wearing really loud tights 🙂 (he actually makes the tights and sells them via ZombieRunner …link on this page under my profile. No, I don’t get any commission or kick-back 🙂 )
At 26.2 miles I was feeling great. My buddy Rajeev Patel had advised me to be sure to take walk stops so I stopped each lap at the aid table and either grabbed some hydration or food and walked a bit. I was holding my 3rd place mark. Then, around mile 35 I noticed that I was catching up on Eric Clifton. We then started talking. He mentioned that he had looked at the entry list and Googled some people and considered me one of his big threats!!!! I couldn’t believe it and laughed. I told him that this was my first Ultra and I was stopping at 50 miles no matter when as I only wanted the WS100 lottery mark.
Eric and I ran some more. He noticed my leg was bothering me and I told him it was piriformis. He said he gets the same thing. Then he stopped mid-race and drops to all fours to show me his favorite piriformis stretch! Here he is, an ultra legend, running in the top 3 of a race and he just stops cold to help me out! I met his wife later and she was just as nice – starting rooting me on too.
Later, I had some friends, Rajeev Char, Tandy, Eric and a few others pop down and cheer me on. Tandy snapped some photos. At around mile 44 I was getting tired and my piriformis was really acting up. I was in solid 3rd place overall then (a position I kept until I ended my run) Then, with Rajeev walking with me on my last lap I came through Mile 50 at 8 hours 31 minutes! I did it – WS 100 lottery here I come (note: my name was not selected so I entered the Tahoe Rim Trail 100 instead).