My Life, As Told Between (Baby Cakes') Naps

I love this post and wanted to share.  In case you bypass the post (despite my insistence that you read it!), this is my favorite line:  “Prettiness is not rent you pay for occupying a space marked ‘female.'” 

I write this of course as I’m putting on makeup, worrying about my upper arms being flabby, and wondering if I should get a haircut soon!  =)

Just got back from the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco.  The weather was perfect on Sunday and it was a beautiful, scenic run.  If it wasn’t for all the hills, it would have been perfect marathon conditions.  There’s a tradition in the L.A. Leggers to post a race report following a race, so here’s mine:

Woke up at 4:30am.  Arrived at SBC Park at 5am and took a free shuttle to Union Square, where the race started.  The race didn’t start until 7am, but I was meeting a friend at her hotel so we could walk over together.  We hung out in her room for awhile before venturing out at 6:15am.  I’d forgotten to pack my jacket but fortunately it was an amazingly mild morning.  Union Square was packed with women.  We all cheered and made enough noise to raise the dead…or at least those poor unfortunate souls who had rooms in Union Square this particular weekend.  

I crossed the start line approximately 6 minutes after the start time, at 7:06am.  The sun started rising as we approached the Embarcadaro and the first six miles brought us a beautiful view of Golden Gate Bridge swathed in fog (and a surprisingly familiar face – Miss C., it was such a nice surprise to see you out there!).  The next couple of miles were spent climbing a hill up to an elevation of 295 feet.  Much of the run was on asphalt cutting through forests of fog covered trees.  At mile 10 or so, we hit Golden Gate Park and a stretch of sunshine.  We ran past the Bison fields in the Park and looped back out to run along the Bay, circled Lake Merced and came back up the Bay to finish at Ocean Beach.  Finishers got cute necklaces and baby blue dri-fit shirts.   

Along the way, I downed a few packets of GU Energy Gel, half a banana, several Clif Shot Bloks (which are my new favorite running treat) and a Red Vine.  My friend and I lost track of each other around mile 9 but found each other again at mile 25.  Another friend of mine showed up to cheer me on at mile 25 and ran alongside us  for the last mile (thank you thank you thank you).  Runners call it “towing” someone in a race. 

Aside from a weird quiver in my right leg which developed at mile 24 and general exhaustion which started to set in at mile 20, I felt pretty good crossing the finish line.  I finished this marathon in 05:03:56, about 13 minutes slower than the LA marathon.  I missed my goal time of under 5 hours by almost 4 minutes, but overall it was fun race and I’m already looking forward to the next one (having conveniently forgotten the pain and agony of the last six miles of the marathon)!

[Update:  I forgot to add the funniest sign I saw while running.  Four guys held up a sign that read, “You’re beautiful.  We’re lonely.  Please call (###) ###-####.”]

Sorry all, no excuse for the lack of posts lately.  I’ve managed to keep this blog up and running for the last two years and have entertained tens of people, but work and life is getting the better of me so my posts have sadly taken a beating.  Plus, I’m putting myself on a budget so no new pretty things for awhile. 

Things are really good overall, but I’m currently finding myself in some sort of odd (for me) nesting mode.  I’ve recently decided I really want a house, a yard, and a dog.  Considering that I’m more of an apartment, even-cats-are-too-much-responsibility person, you can see why this is all kind of a shock.  Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve actually, officially been working for two years now and am coming to realize that I’m probably never going back to school full time again (sad).  Maybe it’s the fact that I actually have some money saved up and some decisions to make about where I’m going to live.  Maybe it’s the fact that I am only two freaking years from thirty (ack!).  Maybe it’s T.  Whatever it is, I’m at an odd, contemplative moment right now that doesn’t really lend itself particularly well to posts – since I don’t generally like posting anything with any actual substance. 

Anyways, as soon as I get it all sorted out, I hope to have some fun, interesting things up again!

What I did this weekend:

• Met T’s mom. Tried to be charming.
• Ran 10 miles.
• Played frisbee and paddle-ball in the park. Found out am very bad at frisbee and paddle-ball.
• Watched Open Season. Cute.
• Ate at Shutters in Santa Monica and The Terrace in Venice. Yummm.
• Watched the first few episodes of Battlestar Galactica. Awesome.
• People watched on Third Street.
• Bought Christopher Moore’s The Stupidest Angel.
• Worked.

What I didn’t do this weekend:

• Laundry.
• Grocery Shopping.
• Get an oil change for Toby Too.
• Clean apartment.
• Buy dress for friend’s upcoming wedding.
• Wake up on time Saturday to run 13 miles, as planned.
• Start/finish any of the books on my to be read/am reading list.
• Eat less.