...San Francisco, Day 1...

My fear of oversleeping woke me up at 3:05am, so I was already showering when the alarms started blaring at 3:15, 3:17, and 3:19. We were already packed, so we just needed to get ourselves, and Buddy, out the door. That proved a bit more challenging than expected, but we still managed to board our 6am flight before take off. Phew! Made it!

We had a layover in LAX, and arrived in SFO at 11am. One suggestion for when you come  visit SFO, take the shuttle to get to your hotel. It's $17 a person, but the other options, which are only a few dollars cheaper, take hours, literally hours.

By the time we arrived at our hotel, which is cozy (read tiny) but clean, we were exhausted and famished. Andy searched a place to eat (he's so good at finding great little nooks) and we walked up to a pizzeria in our area. It was tasty pizza, AND Andy and I both ate for under $10 - TOTAL! We'll be going back.

After lunch, we headed to the Nike Women's Marathon Expo-tique. Here are some pictures from our adventure.

Walking to the bus stop...I'm not sure I've trained for these hills.
8.0 on the treadmill incline doesn't seem sufficient now...

This is how close we are to the bay. So picturesque!

The start is at Union Square. Red are the steepest hills, yellow are your
basic hills and inclines, and green is supposed to be easy...we'll see...

After my free makeover. I need to remember to smile nicely.

My complimentary airbrush tattoo encouraging me to run like I have wings!

Also had my hair braided by the ladies of Paul Mitchell. I might go back
on Saturday and have them do it again for Race Day!

Because they offer so many free goodies (and I'm bringing home ALOT of free goodies), this is an expensive race to run. We wanted to make sure that I took advantage of everything they offer, and Andy lovingly and patiently carried my bags and took pictures while we walked to each activity. We spent our day at the Expo-tique!

(At one point he did say, "It would be so awesome if one of your girlfriends was running with you and could do all this stuff," but I think he sincerely meant that it would have been more fun for me to have a buddy, and not suggesting that all he wanted to do was get away from all the ladies. If you ever do this race, insist on a buddy, any buddy. If you weren't great friends to begin with, you will be by the time it's over.)


So the evening was all Andy's, and he wanted to watch the St. Louis Cardinals defeat the San Francisco Giants, so we walked to a sports bar, Jillian's, and waited 40 minutes for a table. In fact, they sat us at a huge table and asked us if it would be okay if others joined us. Soon, two older gentlemen came to our table, engulfed in a conversation about their online dating antics and the women they were meeting. At one point (I kid you not!) they were looking at a phone and giggling at the responses they were composing and receiving through text message! Did I mention these were grown men (at least in their fifties) and not teenage girls? It was fascinating!

It was a tense game. When that one guy on the other team hit the home run late in the game, the whole room erupted in cheers. I knew there was no stopping the Giants now...and we couldn't. They went on to win it in the 9th inning. The room went crazy, and Andy insisted we leave immediately. So quickly, in fact, that he left his phone on the table, and we had to go back to retrieve it. My poor, broken-hearted husband. I'm not sure he's over it yet.

When I wasn't looking, Andy snapped this.
Isn't he wonderful?

We have more fun for today! Can't wait to tell you all about it! Remember, I'm running on behalf of the A21 Campaign, and if you'd like to pledge to my cause, you can do so here!

Thank you for loving me so well everyone!