Archives for August 2018

Monthly Favorites | August

August 31, 2018 filed under: monthly favorites

1. Here I am again talking about a kitchen item in my favorites’ list, but I beg you, if you don’t own a steaming basket*, get your hands on one. It’s so much easier to cook certain vegetables (like beans, broccoli, etc.) in a steaming basket than in water.

2. I don’t know about your gym clothes, but mine stink (especially after they sat in my gym bag for a few hours), so I invested in Molly’s Suds Sports Wash* to take care of the odor.

3. I’ve been a big fan of gnocchi recently. The regular potato kind, the sweet potato kind and most recently the cauliflower kind. Have you picked these* up at Trader Joe’s? You should.

4. My friend Tanja went to Aldi the other day (no, we still don’t have one nearby – don’t ask!) and sent me Schogetten* just because and it just made me so happy, a) because I have such a sweet friend, b) Schogetten are delicious and c) they remind me of home.

5. I’ve been craving ice-cold chocolate milk this month and Nesquick* is my favorite.

6. In case you are not using a password manager app yet (who doesn’t?), I’d like to recommend Dashlane* to you. It’s a great app that really keeps all your passwords straight and makes logging into websites a breeze.

7. I recently got this Method Body Wash* Coconut-Rice Milk-Shea Butter with one of my Grove.Co* shipments and I just love the smell of this body wash so much. It lathers up real nice, too.

What was one of your favorite things this month?

* #notanad, This is not a sponsored post. I have not been compensated by the brand or anyone else for linking the websites. However, the post does contain ONE affiliate link. If you decide to join and try out Grove Collaborative via this post, you will receive $10 towards your first order and I will receive a $10 credit on my account.

Thinking Out Loud #23

August 30, 2018 filed under: Thinking out loud

It’s been a hot second since my last rambling post, so I thought it was time to link up again with Amanda from Running with Spoons for Thinking out Loud. (Well, to be honest, the link-up hasn’t been posted in a couple of months and I am not sure what’s going on, but I hope all is well with Amanda and in the meantime, I will keep this posting format going!)

+ J and I have been craving Thai food a lot lately (it’s my favorite Asian cuisine, what’s yours?) and I think I embarrassed myself this weekend (just a tad). We often go through the whole menu, just to end up ordering the same things again: Tom Kha soup with chicken (yum), Thai fried rice and an order of vegetable red curry. Our local Thai place makes a kick-ass vegetable curry with lots and lots of vegetable, including one that I love but couldn’t quite figure out what it was. When I finally asked the waitress, she (looked at me a little bit incredulously, because I think she thought I should have known) and told me it was bamboo. OF COURSE. Well, thing is, do YOU know what bamboo shoots actually look like when they don’t come cut up in little strips in a can? I didn’t (until I googled it last weekend). If I just saved you from a potentially embarrassing situation, you’re welcome. If you are way smarter than me when it comes to bamboo shoots, carry on. Nothing to see here.

+ I am working up my courage to actually try a cycling class at my gym. I am trying to get some other forms of exercise (besides running) into my workout schedule and I recently switched from the lateral trainer for warmup to a stationary bike. Now one of the girls at the gym that I regularly run into encouraged me to try the cycling class on Tuesday mornings. I know, my friend Tanja would approve. So, hold me accountable?

+ I was sad to hear about John McCain’s passing last weekend. You can disagree with the guy politically and personally all you want, but he was an honorable man and you don’t make your response to his death a political statement like a certain someone. [insert major eyeroll here] Just don’t.

+ The Google snooze button is saving my life right now.

+ My cousin B and his girlfriend just arrived in Seattle and they’ll be traveling up to and throughout Canada over the next couple of weeks. I wish I could have joined them on yet another adventure. It was so much fun to travel with them last fall. Also, how is it possible that I haven’t been to Seattle yet?

+ We went down to the waterfront last weekend and it was actually quite nice. There was a light breeze, there were boats on the river and everything was lit up nicely. I sometimes forget that while Sacramento is a “small town” compared to other big cities in California, we do have some landmarks that are pretty. We don’t go down to Old Town often because it feels kinda touristy sometimes, but every once in a while it’s fun, and the Tower Bridge really looks golden at night, am I right?

What have you been thinking about today?

Recipe | Skirt Steak Stir-Fry

August 27, 2018 filed under: recipe

I don’t know about you, but I love a good stir-fry because you can pretty much adjust the meal completely to your liking. Use the meat you like, use the vegetables you like (or have left over in the fridge). There is not much you can do wrong when making a stir-fry.

This is a recipe we’ve been going back to a few times recently because it’s a fairly quick dinner option for a busy weekday night and so delicious. You can easily prepare the rice in advance (or use frozen brown rice) and the combinations of ingredients for this dish are endless. We made it with skirt steak recently (which cooks quickly and is so flavorful when marinated), but you can also use chicken or pork, or omit the meat altogether and make this a vegetarian stir fry by just using a bunch of vegetables, as we did last weekend.

Skirt Steak Stir-Fry

2018-08-26 14:40:22

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MARINADE

6 tbsps low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons cornstarch (scant)
1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

STIR FRY

1 lb skirt steak
1 tablespoon grated ginger (or paste)
6-8 cloves garlic, minced
12 oz broccoli florets
2 bell peppers, cut into pieces
1 medium onion, cubed
8 oz of mushrooms, sliced
oil, for cooking

Instructions

In a measuring cup, combine the ingredients for the marinade along with 1/4 cup of water and stir well.
Place the meat in a medium bowl and add 3 tablespoons of the prepared marinade; coat the meat by mixing with a spoon. Cover the meat and set aside for 30 minutes. Stir the ginger and minced garlic into the remaining marinade and set aside.
Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large non-stick skillet over high heat. Add 1/2 of the prepared beef in a single layer and cook until it is well seared on both sides, roughly 1 minute. Remove to a plate. Continue cooking the remaining meat (and remove).
Add the onions and mushrooms and more oil (if needed) and stir them around. Cook for 1 minute before adding the bell peppers.
In a separate pot, steam the broccoli until almost done.
Add the meat back to the skillet, then add the broccoli.
Stir the remaining marinade, as the cornstarch may have settled, and pour into the skillet. Toss everything so that it all gets coated with the sauce and let sit for 1 minute.
Serve over brown basmati rice.

Adapted from Little Spice Jar

theinbetweenismine https://theinbetweenismine.com/

What’s one of your go-to recipes when you want a quick dinner on the table?

Currently | August

August 22, 2018 filed under: currently

(still) USING | my bullet journal. And I realized that what I love most about bullet journaling is all the space I have to write down things other than weekly appointments or tasks (e.g. lists, brain-storming sessions, etc.)

WEARING | my wishbone-necklace again. I had forgotten about it for a while and then I found it cleaning up in my jewelry box the other day.

READING | The story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg. Such a sweet, sweet story.

WATCHING | my water intake, because most days I do ok, but some days I go the whole day without touching my water bottle and then I think I have to pound 64 oz before bedtime. Stupid idea.

MAKING | scrambled eggs. I like them browned and well done. How do you like your scrambled eggs?

LOOKING FORWARD TO | the long labor-day weekend!

EATING | granola with yogurt.

DRINKING | ice-cold chocolate milk (after my weekend run).

THINKING | lots of thoughts these days. Why can’t my brain ever shut up?

ENJOYING | the cleaner air. Man, you don’t appreciate the clean air as much as you should unless it’s been taken away for a little while. The smoke and haze from the wildfires around us was nasty, but I am so glad we’re (mostly) back to blue skies. I hope that will be the case for other fire-stricken areas as well.

(and also) EXCITED | about slightly cooler temperatures this week. It’s been so nice outside.

LISTENING TO | NPR.

TRYING | to be present and content in the here and now. Why do so many people (me included) linger in the past or keep contemplating the future most of time? GAH.

What’s up with you currently?

5 things I do & don’t pay for

August 20, 2018 filed under: budgeting, finances

A little while ago, my friend Kate shared a post about the things she does or does not spend (her hard-earned) money on and I am jumping on the bandwagon, because if I have learned one thing over the years while budgeting, it is that people just prioritize their spending in different ways. And while it is interesting to see where other people spend their money, it really shouldn’t have any influence on your own priorities whatsoever.

But because comparing on the Internet is fun, I’ll share with you what things I do and don’t pay for.

What I pay for

+ Food

Both groceries and eating out. J and I like to cook and we like to cook good food. I’ve said this many times before, our grocery spending falls in the “moderate to liberal spending category” for two adults per month and I am trying to be ok with it because we value good food.

+ Cable

I know, we’re probably some of the few people who still pay for cable, but it’s worth it to us. We regularly watch news/talk shows on cable networks that we wouldn’t be able to access otherwise. I also really love all the animal and nature shows on NatGeo to zone out to (and knit).

+ Running stuff

I admit it, running is a relatively cheap sport if you want it to be, but there are also so many cool clothing items and shoes and gadgets to buy and races to pay for. I have made a bit of room in my budget for all things running related (mostly because they make me happy). On a side note, I only enter maybe a handful of races per year, so I am picky about the races I will sign up for in order to try and keep the entry fees (which sometimes can be hefty) in check.

+ Travel

It’s always something that is on my mind when I think about where I want my money to go. I try to go home once a year and then also try to see some of the beauty that I am surrounded by here in California (and the US in general). Well, I wish that travel was more of a priority right now (and that I had more time off, ha!), but I do generally like to pay for experiences > things.

+ Yarn

I’ve become a bit of a yarn snob over the years, I won’t just knit with any old yarn. If I spend the time to make something, I want it to feel good and be high quality. So, when I buy yarn, I make sure it’s quality yarn, like the gradient yarn from 100Farbspiele.

What I don’t pay for

+ Books

I know that sounds terrible. Ideally, I’d want this to be one of my “what I pay for” categories, but in all honesty, I get all my books from the library these days. My Amazon Fire + Overdrive are my bffs. It’s just easy, convenient and I only buy physical copies of the books that I really LOVE and would like to own.

+ Coffee at Coffee shops

I love coffee shops and of course, every once in a while I will walk into one and order a fancy drink, but mostly, I make my own coffee at home (or at the office).

I do likemy coffee with lots of milk, so if I feel like a latte, I can also make those at home because I own a fancy milk frother, (ok, minus the fancy foam art, I don’t have the patience for this). There is little reason for me to drop $5 on a caffeinated drink. If you want to give me budgeting advice, don’t tell me to cut out my Starbucks habit. I don’t have one.

+ Hair salon

I have (for now) given up on getting my hair done professionally at the hair salon. It’s just too frickin’ expensive. I only got it done twice a year as it was, but I easily paid $150 (incl. tip) for color and trimming my ends. I decided that for now, I am cutting down the cost even more. I color my own hair at home and get a trim at the barbershop.

+ Clothing

I am not particularly fashionable, I probably would say that I don’t even have a “style” (unless you count jeans and t-shirt as a style), although sometimes I wish I did. (How did you find your style?) I can pretty much wear whatever I want to work, so I also don’t need a closet of fancy work outfits. I sometimes invest in a few higher quality items (like my Birkenstocks), but most of my clothing was on sale and/or pretty inexpensive. It’s just not a priority.

+ Music apps

Most of the music I like to listen to, I own already, so I don’t subscribe to Spotify or Pandora. I like the idea of dedicated music channels (like the “Pearl Jam channel”), but there would be no way I’d have the time to listen enough to make the subscription worthwhile. I know some people can’t live without these apps, but since I also don’t have an unlimited data plan at this time, it would eat up my data even faster than it already does.

What do or don’t you spent money on?

August Link Love

August 16, 2018 filed under: link love

Around the Interwebs

Denialism: what drives people to reject the truth

Reading makes us healthier, smarter, and more empathic.

How I tricked myself into reading more books.

The 25 best productivity apps. Which ones are you using? I am currently using 5 of these but would love to try some of them.

Tipping the scales. What the next SCOTUS confirmation could mean for the country.

This is how tiny changes in words you hear impacts your thinking. This is so powerful if you think about it.

Around the blogosphere

How to nurture adult friendships.

My friend Stephany talks openly about her struggle with anxiety and I love it. We should all be more open about our struggles.

Choosing life. My friend Kate opens up about depression and suicidal thoughts.

5 road trips rules from my friend Terra.

Craftiness

Current favorite pens. Tracy’s my kind of person. Do you also have a pen obsession?

String Art. So cool.

Simple and pretty crochet baskets.

For my runner friends

Speed training for long distance runners – you wouldn’t believe how important that is.

Learning how to pace yourself while running outside. I know this is something that needs practice and I’d like to learn.

Deliciousness

What should be your go-to butter: salted or unsalted? Unsalted, always.

Instant Pot Tangy Beef Stroganoff

Saucy Coconut Curry with Rice Noodles and Garden Vegetables. This looks amazing!

Fresh homemade salsa.

Share a good link with me in the comments!

TotR | How has running changed me?

August 14, 2018 filed under: about me, fitness, linkup, running

I decided it was time to participate in the Tuesdays on the Run linkup again hosted by Marcia, Patty and Erika. The topic for today’s post was intriguing to me. How has running changed me?

The short answer: in so many ways.

The long answer:

I am still a fairly new runner, if you count from the day when I picked up running as a serious workout regime, not just as a once-in-a-while jogging exercise. I used to go for runs on the treadmill or use the cross-trainer and attend yoga classes, but there really was no rhyme or reason to it. I would try to go a couple of times per week, but sometimes also didn’t go for a few weeks.

Then one day, I thought there is this nice park nearby and it would be silly not to use it. So I tried to go for runs outside and make that a regular thing. I recorded my first Runtastic activity (the first time I ever recorded and measured a running activity) on November 23, 2013.

And then I wouldn’t run more than three miles (and less than 12 miles per month – you do the math on how many times I actually laced up my shoes) for more than a year.

I was having a bit of trouble transitioning from treadmill exercise to running outdoors. While I was able to run 5 miles on the treadmill, runs outside felt disproportionately hard, and after some initially terrible outdoor runs, I decided to ‘start from scratch’ and download a training plan from Runtastic to attempt a little bit of a more structured approach to outdoor running in early 2015.
I think it was the “running 50 minutes after 6 weeks” training plan. I had never run more than 35 minutes outdoors, so it seemed like a good goal to build up my endurance. It was also much easier to stick with a schedule than haphazardly just throwing in a workout here and there. I invested in some running shoes and I guess that was – unbeknownst to me at the time – where I made my serious commitment to running.

Mid-2015, my friend Susi suggested that we should run a 10k race together and since I am always up for a challenge (and it seemed to be the perfect culmination of my newly enforced running schedule), we signed up.

We ran our first 10k in November 2015, our first half marathon in 2016, and I have run multiple 10ks and 5 half marathon since then.

So, back to the question, how has running changed me?

I am in better shape. Duh.

Well, it should be obvious that I feel physically in better shape now than I was in my 30’s and I definitely have the numbers to prove it. I have always been active in some way and didn’t start running as a weight loss tool or anything like that, but I guess I was looking for a new challenge and something that I can do anywhere and anytime without having to rely on a gym or other people.

I stick to a routine.

As with a lot of things, people are creatures of habit and running has given my workouts a structure and routine that I didn’t have before. I have been able to stick to a pretty set routine for 3,5 years now and that alone is awesome. Setting new goals has helped with making sure I hold myself accountable and keep working towards new milestones. (I always do better when have a goal to work towards.)

I became a morning person/runner.

I used to run in the evenings preferably, but switched to a before-work morning workout a couple of years ago and it’s been a lifechanger. I feel so accomplished when I get to work and have already gotten my workout in for the day. Also, I love being out early on the weekends when most of the world is still asleep.

I am more self-confident.

I accomplished things in running that I never thought I would do. As mentioned above, I never thought I would run more than 5 miles, but then I comitted to a training schedule and set a goal, and when I accomplished that goal (first a 10k, then a half marathon) the confidence boost was beyond my imagination. You start believing in yourself and realize that if you put your mind to it, you can do hard things.

I am happier.

Running has been a stress reliever and mental outlet for me, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I feel overall happier. I am usually a half-glass-full-kinda-person anyway, but running has helped me to work through a lot things. I often use the time on my runs to think, reflect, plan, and solve and usually come back more relaxed and content. I always laugh when J sometimes says to me “you don’t have to run today” (thinking that he’s giving me an excuse to skip a workout) and I respond “but I WANT TO” (because I know what it does for my physcial AND mental health).

Why did you start running? In what way has running changed you?

Monument Valley and Goosenecks State Park | Utah

August 13, 2018 filed under: photography, travel, USA

Hey, remember the road trip that I went on with my cousin B and his girlfriend in September when we visited all the National Parks? I am still catching up on the recaps! Here are parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

After the amazing tour through Lower Antelope Canyon and a quick stop at Horseshoe Bend, we got back on the road to our next destination: Moab.

Of course, road tripping through the American Southwest is never just about the destination, but also about the journey, because there is just so much to see.

We had also contemplated driving a little detour to see Four Corners National Monument (where Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico touch), but the extra driving would have been substantial just to be able to say “we were there”, so we decided against it this time. It would have been cool though.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to enter into Monument Valley this time (as B and I have done on a previous visit), but luckily, a lot of the monuments are visible, and not less beautiful from the distance.

Remember that article that I shared in one of my Link Love posts, about how everybody snaps the same Instagram travel photos? Well, I guess, it’s true. We did, too. It’s just too cool to pass up.

After we left Monument Valley behind, I made sure we included a stop at Goosenecks State Park.

This site, though declared a state park, is still largely undeveloped. There are some very primitive campsites and no developed hiking trails, which really boggles my mind. Honestly, I think it will just be a matter of time until someone will realize the potential of this place, because just look at these views! Those are some of the most impressive views of one of the most striking examples of an entrenched river meander on the North American continent.

I first learned about these impressive meanders of the San Juan River on my geology field trip in 1998. Turns out, not even my nerdy, geology-enthusiastic co-workers knew about the Goosenecks. Wild! I feel like I am on a mission to introduce them to anybody who will listen! At the same time, it’s very nice to visit a site that is not overrun with people. Just sayin’.

The State Park is just a short drive off US 163 and very worth a stop, IMHO. You can’t miss the turn-off, because it will come up on the left just when you leave Mexican Hat behind on your right. The name “Mexican Hat” comes from a sombrero-shaped rock outcropping on the northeast edge of town.

As always, my posts come with a little geology lesson. You’re welcome.

The San Juan River is a major tributary of the Colorado River and drains the Four Corners region. It originates in the San Juan Mountains (which are part of the Rocky Mountains) in Colorado and flows 383 miles (616 km)[2] through the deserts of northern New Mexico and southeastern Utah to join the Colorado River at Glen Canyon. The river drains a high, arid region of the Colorado Plateau and along its length it is often the only significant source of fresh water for many miles. The San Juan is also one of the muddiest rivers in North America, carrying an average of 25 million US tons (22.6 million t) of silt and sediment each year.(Wikipedia).

Millions of years ago, when the land was relatively flat, the river meandered on its normal course (as rivers do). Then, about 20 million years ago, a period of uplift occurred on the Colorado Plateau. As the land rose, the river flowed faster while still following its meandering course. The river cut into the land, eventually creating the impressive entrenched meanders.

Anyway, long story short: the geologic history is fascinating (IMHO as a geology nerd) but you can also just stop there because it’s such a beautiful, impressive view. Everybody can agree with that, am I right?

We made it to Moab just in time for dinner. We checked into our hotel and then of course had to get burgers at an old favorite restaurant, “Eddie McStiff’s”, where I had eaten with Basti and my parents on a previous trip to Utah!

Recipe | Greek yogurt-lemon-zucchini bread

August 8, 2018 filed under: recipe

As I mentioned, my co-worker brought in a ton of zucchinis from her garden and I went home with three huge zucchinis last week.

We roasted two as a side dish for dinner, but I still had one two-pound zucchini left over when the weekend came around and what better way to make use of it than to bake a zucchini bread. Since I don’t have a go-to recipe, I poked around the Internet for a while and came across this recipe for lemon yogurt zucchini bread on Tessa’s blog. Since I love everything with yogurt and lemon, this was the perfect recipe for me to try!

Zucchini is a very watery vegetable and needs to be drained of moisture before you can use it in baking. The more moisture you can extract before baking the more tender and light the crumb will be. I prepared the zucchini the night before and let it drain over night. Tossing it with some sugar will help draw out the moisture.

The recipe called for lemon extract, which I didn’t have on hand, so I omitted it. While the bread still was very good, IMHO, the lemon flavor was very mild and I would definitely add in the lemon extract next time, because it’s more potent and will add a more lemony flavor without adding much extra liquid to the batter.

I also substituted one cup of regular flour with whole wheat flour.

Greek yogurt-lemon-zucchini bread

2018-08-08 09:17:38

Yields 12

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Cook Time

1 hr

Cook Time

1 hr

Ingredients

1 cups (125g) all-purpose flour
1 cup (125g) whole wheat flour
1 pound (450 grams) zucchini, grated
3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp fine salt
1/3 cup (95 grams) plain Greek yogurt
2 large eggs
1 tsp lemon extract
1 tbsp lemon juice
5 tbsps (70g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
For the glaze
1 cup (125 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
2 tbsps lemon juice

Instructions

Start by coarsely shredding the zucchini with a box grater or food processor. Toss with 2 tablespoons of the sugar and place in a fine mesh strainer set over a bowl. Allow to drain of excess water for at least 20 minutes (or overnight).
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Prepare an 8 1/2 by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan by greasing and dusting it with flour, tapping out any excess.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a glass measuring cup, stir together the yogurt, eggs, and remaining sugar. Then add the lemon extract, lemon juice, and melted butter.
Squeeze the zucchini with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. Combine the zucchini, yogurt mixture, and flour mixture (I used my kitchen aid mixer on low).
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 to 60 minutes.
Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer the loaf to a wire rack.
In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice until a thick glaze forms.When the bread has completely cooled, spread the glaze evenly over the bread and allow to set for 30 minutes.

Notes

Completely cooled and un-glazed bread can be wrapped well and frozen for up to 2 months. Defrost at room temperature.
The glazed bread can be covered and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.

By San

Adapted from Handle the Heat

theinbetweenismine https://theinbetweenismine.com/

Since I had a two-pound zucchini, I ended up making two loaves and then took one loaf to work for my co-workers to enjoy!

The Greek yogurt and lemon made this zucchini bread very fresh and light and at about 150 calories per slice, this is a treat I can’t feel too guilty about! You should give this a try!

Recap | The SF Half Marathon 2018

August 6, 2018 filed under: running, travel, USA, weekend

A week ago, I ran the (1st) SF half marathon again. This race has become one of my favorite races (albeit an expensive one) because it combines a great race with a fun weekend in San Francisco. I was lucky that I signed up last year at the bargain price of $85 dollars. This was cheap. Prices went up to $125 for the half marathon, even more for the marathon, until shortly before race weekend.

Still, this race is (relatively) close to me (2 hours from Sacramento) and it’s just a great race all around.

Last year, I took the Amtrak into the City and since that had worked out so well, I decided to do it again this year. J dropped me off at the Amtrak station around 10:30 a.m. and I switched to BART in Richmond and was in Downtown SF with my backpack at 1 p.m.

I walked to my hotel near Union Square and was able to do an early check-in. I dropped off my backpack and then headed out to the Expo to pick up my bib and race shirt. I caught the free shuttle bus that departed from Embarcadero/Market St and it took me to Fort Mason in 30 minutes.

I picked up my bib + t-shirt, got my picture taken at the Biofreeze wall, the new sponsor of the SF Marathon, and grabbed more water and a sandwich at the local grocery store, before starting my walk back to the hotel. I walked through Great Meadow Park over to the piers. The weather wasn’t as clear as last year, and Karl the Fog was keeping the Golden Gate Bridge well under wraps. No pretty views of the bridge for me!

I ran into some Germans on the way over to Fisherman’s Wharf (when do you NOT run into other Germans in SF, I ask you?). It was a Dad and his two teenage kids and he was gesturing towards the SF Marathon swag bag on my shoulder and with (very) broken English asked me where the Expo was. You should have seen the relief on his face when I responded in German and told them the way. Haha.

I paid a quick visit to the sea lions at Pier 39 and then ran into the Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream carnival a few piers down, so of course, I had to stop for a free small cup of caramel cookie fix ice-cream.

I had dinner at the food court of Westfield Mall (it was the closest to my hotel and I just wanted a quick bite, and didn’t feel like eating at a fancy restaurant by myself) and was back in my room 7:30 p.m.

I got my stuff ready for the morning, called J for a quick check-in and then turned the lights off by 9 p.m.

My alarm was set for 5 a.m., but of course I had already been awake a few times. I can never really sleep well before a race, no idea why! I got dressed, had a protein bar and some water and made my way over to the Embarcadero start line at 5:40 a.m.. Lots of people were out and about already, after all, over 27,000 runners were signed up for the event this year.

I dropped off my bag off at gear check, got in line for the port-a-potties, as I always do, then I warmed up a bit and made my way to my corral. And then I had to pee again. I chalked it up to “phantom bathroom urges” (don’t we all have them before a race?) and just hoped that it would go away.

I had a pretty good start and the crowd dispersed much faster this year, which was great. The first 5 miles were the ‘easy’ part of the course because they were mostly flat except for one relatively short hill in mile 3 and even though I was not quite hitting my goal pace, I was moving fairly well and tried to focus on that.

I was a little bit frustrated with the pacer though. I had planned to try and stay with a pacer as a new race strategy, but the 2:00-hour pacer was a joke (sorry). I had started in front of the pacer and even though I was about 10 seconds-per-mile slow, I never saw him during the first 5 miles. Then in mile 5, all of a sudden, he passed me, and FAST. I probably should mention that mile 5 was also where serious inclines began. I mean, WTactualF?

I don’t want to sound ungrateful. I appreciate the runners who sign up to be pacers and put their own goals and ambitions aside to support fellow runners during a race, but if you commit to being a pacer, then, for the love of all things sweaty, run that pace. Don’t run slow for 5+ miles and then speed up disproportionally. The people that are looking to you to PR will not be able to keep up with such fluctuating paces. Well, at least I couldn’t. Not on an incline.

So, I let the pacer go and focused on myself and tried focus on the hills in front of me. There was a fairly rapid decline for about a mile after we passed the Golden Gate Bridge between mile 7 and 8, which is where I hit my fastest pace, and then there were some rolling hills left until the finish line.

I remember feeling really good throughout the race, but was still happy to see the finish line. There were a lot of people out cheering on the runners and even though I had contemplated at every water station to use the bathroom (yes, I ran the whole race thinking I needed to pee), I am glad I didn’t (and once I crossed the finish line, the urge was gone. Go figure!).

Sadly, I didn’t reach my A goal (still no sub-2 for me – womp!), but I was really happy with my finish time, because one huge success this year was that I didn’t die on the hills. I ran all of them, something I wasn’t able to do last year! On top of that, I felt great. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was glad that I was done, but I physically felt really good and my legs weren’t shaking or hurting.

I also shaved almost 5 minutes off my previous course PR from last year and finished at 2:05:03. My Garmin watch was scarily accurate this time as well. I ran a nearly perfect race line and the time was off by only 8 seconds.

I was a bit bummed this year as the organizers had made some big, last-minute changes. The race start for the marathoners and 1st half marathoners was split up. The marathoners had started at 5:30 a.m. and the 1st half marathoners started at 6:30 a.m.
For me personally, it meant that the course was much less crowded right out of the corral and there was a lot less swerving around and passing of people involved this time. For friends that had planned to run together but were signed up for different distances, this might have been a huge bummer.

The other big change was that the 1st half marathon was re-routed and we didn’t run over the Golden Gate Bridge anymore. That was a big disappointment and they literally announced this change a couple of weeks before the race. There was the option to upgrade to the full marathon (which was still going over the bridge – but I mean, who can just sign up for the full marathon if they trained for a half?) or defer your race entry, but I still think that was a shitty move on such short notice. In the end, it wasn’t a deal-breaker for me (since I had the experience of running the bridge last year), but I wish they had announced this earlier.

Still, you really can’t beat the race course through this awesome city. The 1st half marathon took us from Embarcadero along the piers to Fisherman’s Wharf, through Fort Mason and the Marina, along Crissy Field, under the Golden Gate Bridge, and through the Presidio and Golden Gate Park, and I would run this race again anytime.

I collected my medal, some snacks and – wrapped in my race blanket (it’s amazing how fast you cool down and start shivering after a race, or is it just me?) – made my way over to the bus shuttles that took us back to the Embarcadero marathon (and 2nd half marathon) finish line and to the race festival.

I walked around a little bit, got my finisher beer, and took some more pictures. I had time to go back to the hotel, take a shower, and get some brunch at Mo’z Cafe before catching BART back to Richmond and Amtrak back to Sacramento.

I really had a fantastic weekend and wouldn’t mind doing this again next year!

Have you been to San Francisco? Wanna join me next year?