Sunday, October 28, 2007

FEAR & LOATHING IN SAN FRANCISCO...VIA A BLACKBERRY


The Haight Ashbury Ultra Society Hunter S. Thompson Fear & Loathing in San Francisco Run - A Savage Journey Thru the Urban Jungle (besides having a long name) is a fun, informal ultra run through San Francisco hitting most major city landmarks. It is put on by our friends at the ultimate ultra shop ZombieRunners

After a couple second place finishes I was finally able to use this race to take my first Ultra overall win. And I am proud that it was in such a super deep field of hundreds of international Ultrarunners (OK, it was only about a dozen local runners ...but they represented at least 3 SF Bay Area area codes!).

I arrived around 6:30 at the race start on the top of Twin Peaks. I checked in with Gillian of ZombieRunner. The early morning views were great. But I realized I didn't bring a camera for the run. So, I grabbed my Blackberry Pearl phone and stuffed it in my belt bag. Except for Stan Jensen's photo of me chatting with the race founder at the mile 25 aid station (and Don's website photo of the F&L coffee mug above), all photos here were Blackberry photos (thus the decreased definition). SF in the early morning.

After some short instructions (we were also given route maps and directions) we lined up for the start:

Then we were off. It was a fun run going down Twin Peaks towards the Mission area of the City.


The goal was always to try and find the 49 Mile Drive signs that were used as route markings.


After passing through the Mission district we headed downtown. There was the first aid station at around Mile 6. Jim was running the aid station - a spread of supplies out of the trunk of his car. He was very nice and I would see him again at a later aid station (Coit Tower). After leaving Jim I continued to run. By now I was alone in first place. I headed downtown and soon approached the San Francisco Giants Baseball Stadium.

Then it was down to the Embarcadero past the Ferry Building along the waterfront of the SF Bay. After that it was a left turn up into downtown San Francisco. Certainly, the views on the urban run differ from most ultras.

I ran up Market street for awhile then turned into the civic center area. I passed the SF City Hall.

I continued to run but was getting the urge to pee. I passed a public restroom - but it was broken (no surprise). That is one difference about the urban run...no bushes or trees. As I ran up on Geary heading towards Japantown I saw a construction sight and a Port-o-John. It was unlocked! So I exited a bit lighter and headed to Japantown where Don would be waiting at the next aid station. But I never saw him. So I followed the race map and ran back on the route towards downtown.

At one point the route turned left and proceeded up to Nob Hill. The "path" UP was a nice long flight of stairs (this should help get me ready for the Quad-Dipsea):

Once at Nob Hill the path the descended into SF's Chinatown.

After leaving Chinatown I proceeded along the route into San Francisco's Little Italy. Then it was a right turn up to Telegraph Hill and the famous Coit Tower (a city landmark that is dedicated to firefighters who have lost their lives in the performance of their jobs).

After reaching the base of the tower, the path went back down the hill. There I met Jim at the next aid station. I grabbed some water, a energy gel and a vegitarian egg roll. Then the run continued. It hit Fisherman's Warf. After running through tourists wandering around, I came to Aquatic Park - sight of many of my triathlon training swims.

After Aquatic Park, went up over the Marina Hill and down to the Marina Green. There was the next Aid Station with Gillian. I grabbed some gel and water and it was suggested that I try the 50 miler. Unfortunately due to my son's afternoon soccer game against the only other undefeated tem in their league I couldn't extend my race distance (FYI: My son's St. Brendan's team won - now being the only undefeated team!....not that I am a proud bragging father or anything).

So I continued on running along the Marina water front. Great views of the bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz Island. <

After leaving the Marina, the "path" took me through the Marina District and then entered the Presidio. I continued to run through this former military base and finally climbed the top of it which is the SF anchor of the Golden Gate bridge.

Then the run continued along the 49 mile drive over Baker Beach. It entered the wealthy community of Lands End (Robin Williams lives there). It was here at mile 25 I came across the next aid station. It was manned by the Fear & Loathing Ultra founder and also by Stan Jensen - ultrarunner and webmaster of www.run100s.com


I then headed up 30th Avenue towards Golden Gate Park. I passed the marathon point at around 3:45. In Golden Gate Park, I passed by the De Young museum and the Japanese Tea Gardens. Then the route left Golden Gate Park and went up 7th avenue.

7th avenue was a constant up hill run. At the top, I turned onto the base of Twin Peaks.

I was checking my watch and wondering if I could still beak 5 hours. As I continued to climb my legs felt more tired. But I tried to push the pace. Finally, my feet reached the top. My 50km time was 4:49:45

There I met Gillian at the end of the run. She congratulated me and gave me a finishers mug (photo at top of post), a ZombieRunner hat and my 1st place award - a bottle of Fear & Loathing wine.

This is a great fun run. The people from ZombieRunner and all the volunteers are super nice. Plus - it is FREE! I recommend doing this race - check out ZombieRunner's website for information.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Ultramarathon Meeting At O'Hare Airport

I was returning home from a business trip in Chicago yesterday. As I was standing in the security line, a passenger passed to my left. I caught a familiar looking emblem of a ram's on his shirt and then a Richter scale looking topo map on the back. He was wearing a Hardrock 100 finisher's shirt.

We started talking (I was wearing my Tahoe Rim Trail 100 belt buckle) about ultras. He told me his name was Bill and he was from Loa Alamos. As we chatted more, I learned that he did Hardrock, Leadville and H.U.R.T. this year! Looking at the results for all 3 races, there was one Bill from New Mexico: Bill Geist. I Googled him and found a story about him and a friend here:
http://www.themountaininstitute.com/reports/colorado/lt100.html

Overall, he was a really nice guy. I told him about this blog and about our Ultraholics group so I hope he "pops in" for a look.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

BEARS ON THE RUN 5K (kind of)



Today I ran in a local race called Bears on the Run. It is a fundraiser for my 9 year old's school. In theory it is supposed to be a 5000 meter race on a 400 meter track. But the starting directions were to do 14.1 laps. Hmmm....pulling out my pocket calculator reveals something amiss.

Anyway, I decided to run while pushing my twins in a double toddler jogger. That added around 75 to 80 pounds to my "race weight". The starting line had about 50 people, with about 70% grade school and junior high school kids. The starting gun went off and so did the field.

Early on there were a good 20 people in front of me, but I just kept moving forward. My twins were laughing and saying "Faster" (easy for them to say).

My 9 year old was walking laps as part of a walk-a-thon on the same track so as we passed we gave high-fives to each other.By the 3rd lap, I had moved up to third. I stayed there a couple of laps, but then moved into second. I could see the first place runner ahead, but just couldn't get closer than 100 meters. Soon, I knew I was approaching the final laps. On one lap, the lap keeper said "3 to go". So I kept it up. Some people on the side said "You only have 2 laps to go". But I figured I should listen to the race official.

As I came down for my bell lap - I looked ahead. First place wasn't there anymore. That was strange...but I began to suspect what had happened.

Sure enough, after I finished I learned that they had added an extra lap to my race. Oh well....I did a 6000 meter race pushing my twin boys(3 and half year old) and a double stroller. Nice fun work-out. Final time was a little over 25 minutes.


Team Geraldi - Me, my twins Christopher and Aidan, and big brother Brandon

Thursday, October 11, 2007

FUTURE RACE SCHEDULE



SCHEDULING FUN


In a few weeks (October 27), I will be running the Fear & Loathing in San Francisco 50km, a race put on by our friends at ZombieRunner. It will be a unique experience to run 31 miles through the streets of San Francisco.



Then, the next week (November 4) I will run my first New York Marathon. I hear that Lance Armstrong may run again, so would be cool to run next to him.



November 24, I will run the Quad Dipsea. I ran the Double Dipsea as part of the first two Esacpe from Alcatraz triathlons. I am looking forward to this run - the trail is beautiful.




The last Ultra I have scheduled for this year is the Sunmart 50 in Texas. I would like to shoot for a P.R. there, possibly getting as close to (or a second under) 8 hours (my current 50 mile p.r. is slightly over 8 and a half hours).




I am now officially entered in my first 100 miler for 2008. It will be February 2, 2008 - the Rocky Racoon 100 in Texas. This will be on the same course as the Sunmart 50 and will be my target race to break 24 hours. Per the race website I have been issued my race number: 48.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

RIO DEL LAGO 100 MILE ENDURANCE RUN PHOTOS

OK - I finally got around to developing my photos. Not as many or as complete as I would have liked due to leaving my camera in my fuel belt at an aid station (at least I got them back).



FINAL MINUTES BEFORE RACE START - ANIL (in yellow top)




CHIHPING RUNNING UP FROM THE SCHOOL - STILL DARK OUTSIDE




THE TRAIL AT DAWN....PLUS MY FINGERTIP




THIS IS WHERE THE TRAIL JOINS UP ALONG THE AMERICAN RIVER




RIVER RAPIDS




THE TRAIL LEADING UP TO CARDIAC HILL





OK - ITS NOT THE WESTERN STATES 100 RUN, BUT STILL PRETTY COOL RUNNING ON THE WS TRAIL





WATERFALL AND STREAM CROSSING ON THE WS TRAIL LEADING TOWARDS NO-HANDS BRIDGE





HEADING UP K2 - THE PHOTO DOES NOT BEGIN TO SHOW HOW STEEP THIS CLIMB REALLY IS





ANIL RUNNING TOWARDS ME ON THE OLMSTEAD TRAIL LEADING TO COOL FIREHOUSE





RAJEEV RUNNING TOWARDS ME ON THE OLMSTEAD TRAIL LEADING TO COOL FIREHOUSE...WHILE HE SNAPS A PHOTO OF AN UGLY GUY





THE WATERFALL ON WS TRAIL HEADING BACK FROM NO-HANDS....AND THAT PESKY FINGERTIP AGAIN

Monday, October 1, 2007

RDL MEMORIES



A week after my Rio Del Lago 100 Mile, I am still enjoying one memory: itchy poison oak on my left leg.