With the pandemic practically over, it’s time to get back to doing things we did before the whole fiasco. One of those things for me is running. Building up cardio is an important part of an exercise regiment. I just happen to find running the easiest and cheapest - not because I particularly enjoy doing it. Swimming is better for my joints for sure, but there’s the cost of entrance, and having to do laundry immediately afterwards each and every time.
Back in 2014 and 2016 I participated in The Giant Race. It's an annual run event put together by the San Francisco Giants organization. Runners start and end at iconic Oracle Park stadium on a summer Saturday morning (enough alliterating for you?) Traditionally there’s race distances of 5K, 10K, and a half marathon. Having done the 10K twice previously, I was kind of psyched to attempt the half marathon this year.
Sadly that will have to wait because the half marathon is not an option for 2022. The longest distance on offer is the 10K. That’s a distance I can do tomorrow with zero training (not so humble brag). It would be nice to be able to challenge myself; surely the half will return in future years. If I have to guess, cost is the reason the organizer have pruned the half marathon: shutting down the Embarcadero along the pier all the way to Pier 39 can’t be cheap!
Even though I can do a 10K tomorrow straight out of bed, ideally I still should start back up running in preparation. Good thing I live much closer to Lake Merced - my running arena of choice - than I did pre-pandemic. Far easier to get up on a Saturday morning to do the 4.5 miles round the lake. It’s only been two weeks thus far, and the key for me is not so much the distance, but the pace. I am quite far away from the 8 minute 30 seconds per mile the last time I did The Giant Race.
There’s work to do!
New yard in the house.