Sunday Week 9

Had to get up at 0500 this morning since the half-marathon started at 0730. Got the bus downtown and stood around at the start line. Even here we had to listen to the national anthem before we started.

The course wasn't great, mainly keeping to either highways or residential streets; at one point it went through a very windy woodland path. The marathon and half marathon courses are the same for the first 5 miles, then the marathon course heads off for 13 miles before they meet up again. It isn't a very flat course either; there's a 200m climb on roads stereotypical of San Francisco. This was horrible, but must be worse for the full marathon runners as it happens at the 20mile mark. The last 2 miles are all downhill except 1 final climb for the last 300 yard. All in all it was hard work but enjoyable, and I did my goal time of 1:40; I did 1:38.

Came back to the apartment for a shower and lunch then took mum to the zoo. Its a nice zoo, though the climate can't be very nice for the animals at this time of year. Some of the animals were also slightly stressed; walking around the same track in their cage over and over again.