Nike Women's Marathon 2012: Next Year We Are Wearing Matching Outfits. This Is Ridiculous.

Who run the world?

Girls.

And last Sunday, twenty-five thousand of us took to the streets of the city I love and am incredibly blessed to call home, San Francisco, and ran the Nike Women's Half Marathon.

I know, can you believe it? In 2012 I ran two half marathons.

If, on New Year's Eve in 2011 you'd have been like, hey girl, next year you're going to run 13.1 miles in a row on purpose TWICE, I'd have been like, HAIL no. But alas, I would have been wrong.

Typical.

Race bag and recovery drinks--a must have!

The NWM was an incredible experience for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I got to run it with my bestie and training companion Jessica, which was super legit because we've been running all summer together and it was great to see our hard work pay off.

Running alongside Jess was also helpful because homegirl was basically dragging me along the whole way a la Andrew during the Sea Wheeze, and without her I probably would have given up somewhere in the Presidio and gotten eaten by coyotes. So, there's that.

The race is also incredibly impressive because of the sheer number of participants. Twenty-five thousand people run the course, and there is a lottery to be able to participate. Likely because of the coveted prize at the end: a Tiffany's necklace designed just for the event and given to finishers only.

Rad.

As with all half marathons, it started pretty early, so Jess and I met at her house at 6 a.m. and her darling twin sister chauffeured us downtown to the starting line, Union Square. We started off slow and steady, powering through the financial district that we had clocked so many miles through over the last few months, and made our way to the Embarcadero that would lead us to the Marina.

Ready to race!

I try and always be grateful for my blessings. I have been incredibly lucky to have so many things work out for me, but as we powered down the Embarcadero and through North Beach to head to the Marina, I was basically breathless (okay, I was running, work with me here) with the sheer beauty of the city and love I have for San Francisco. The stillness of the water along the coast so early in the morning  does something for your soul that nothing else can.

After the Embarcadero, we trotted down Marina Blvd., which is one of my absolute favorite places in the city, sailed by the yachts, and began to make our ascent into the Presidio.

Aye yi yi. We basically ran STRAIGHT uphill for like a HALF MILE until we got to the top; after we peaked, we glided down Washington Blvd., and out of the Presidio, heading into Outer Richmond and then finally, Ocean Beach.

Really though. We do! Mile 6

As we got to the top in the Presidio though, I looked around us and noticed how many people were dressed the same. Girls everywhere were in matching pink shirts, purple shirts, yellow pants, tutus...you name it. So I turned to Jessica and was like, "We are basically rejects right now because we didn't coordinate. Next year, we are wearing matching outfits. This is ridiculous."

The end of the race could not have come fast enough. As we ran the final two miles through Golden Gate Park I was practically incoherent (okay, that's a little dramatic, but I was definitely struggling) but Jess just kept us going. As we rounded the bend and saw the finish line, we picked up speed and sailed across...with our eyes on those little blue boxes.

All in all, it was an awesome experience. We got to see the all of the best parts of the city in the most intimate way you can: on foot. I couldn't end this post without a HUGE shout out and thank you to the girls I run with every week: Stephanie, Paola, and of course, Jessica. Love you gals!