California weekend

I've decided to try to dig up photos from the states that I ran a half marathon in prior to beginning my blog.  They are California, New York, and Virginia.  This entry is for California.

I flew to San Francisco in November of 2010 for the US Half Marathon.  This was just prior to my moving from Cleveland to Washington, DC.  A bonus to this trip is that my stepsister Patty and her wife Allison (then girlfriend) were living there at the time. So it was nice seeing both a new city and them.  I really liked San Francisco a lot.  The neighborhoods, weather, culture, people ... it was all pretty great.

I even got a chance to take a trip out to Napa Valley with Patty and Ally for some wine tasting prior to race day.  The weather that day was gorgeous and the tastings a lot of fun.

The race took you through the streets of the city (you want to talk about hills) and over the Golden Gate and back.  Unfortunately, race day was pouring rain so the views from the bridge were not that great.  But, still a fun race.

I wish I had more race day pics in this post but I only have one (last shot).  If I find others, I'll be sure to add them.

Walking the streets of San Francisco

Chinatown

Little Italy

Alcatraz in the Bay

The beach where the race began and ended

Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Park

Allison (left) and my stepsister Patty once we arrived at Napa Valley

Race day shot

A weekend with Olympians

It was a fun weekend hanging out with some real Olympians.  To start I got to meet four time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman Friday night.  He was at Pacers in Old Town Alexandria giving autographs. 

It was nice to meet him and inform him that my sister couldn't be there as she was in Philadelphia to run the marathon on Sunday.  His response, "Tell her good luck for me.  I too need to get ready for my marathon in a couple weeks."  In the end we're all runners.  He was a real nice guy.

Saturday I drove to Philadelphia to hang with another Olympian .. my sister.  Carla ran the FULL marathon yesterday finishing in 4:26:27.  She PR'd!  She was amazing finishing strong with an injured leg.  She's been tending to it for a while now and it started to hurt around mile eight.  Being the rock star that she is she pushed through the full 26.2.

Congrats to my sister! I'm real proud of her.

With four time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman

Early morning in Philly walking Carla to the start

She's ready

And excited!

Sun coming up in Philly

Waiting for the runners

The elites!

And here come the runners

Can you see Carla?  She's right there.

Walking to the finish

Finished 26.2 miles!

Family love and support

Heading home

Georgia last day

I couldn't leave Savannah without visiting the spot where Forrest sat telling the story of his life.  It's located in Chippewa Square but unfortunately the bench has been replaced with a flower bed.  The original bench is now in a museum in Savannah.

Afterwards I headed over to the Colonial Cemetery where many patriots of the Revolutionary War are buried.  I really enjoy seeing this part of history (Revolutionary and Civil War era) so this was great.

I sit here now at the airport ready to fly back to DC.  Georgia marks race 26 and my last for 2013.  I will be posting my 2013 calendar soon once I get logistics figured out.  I am charting to hit most of the Midwest and South.  It's going to be another great year.

Setting of the infamous Forrest Gump bench (now a flower bed)

Colonial Cemetery