This weekend I flew up to San Francisco to run the Nike Women’s (Half) Marathon for the SIXTH time!! Here was where I ran my first Marathon back in 2005, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Since then, I ran the half five years in a row. It was an excellent race!
Backing up to Saturday… the expo!
My flight landed at 7:30a so I got there really early before the lines formed.
I wizzed through the bag pickup, got a free massage and collected all the goodies before the crowds even got there. 
The bag check bags were awesome this year! The race is “going green” so it was a sweet magenta reusable bag! 
I loved the POM photobooth this year! Cheeeese! 
The theme at the race this year was “I Run To Be” 
I Run To Be: 
I Run To Be…ME! 
And yes, I totally wore my Boston Marathon gear all over the place on Saturday. Woot!
I headed over to Niketown after the expo to look at all the (overpriced) swag. I didn’t buy anything this year, my collection of running clothing is getting a tad bit out of hand as it is. 🙂 
On the wall outside the store, they have everyone’s names posted. I found mine! 
All six? floors of the store were decked out in marathon gear! (But I used self control and walked out). 
Who’s excited to run?! 
After I fully exhausted the expo, I met up with my friend Niki and we went off to explore San Francisco together! 
Lovely sights of the city 
We headed towards the Ferry Building to look around.
Such a cute place inside. I hadn’t been in a few years. 
Later, we relaxed in the hotel that Niki (graciously) offered to share the night before the race. 
Then it was time to find a place to carbo load! We ended up at Olive, which ended up being a nice surprise. It was a really nice restaurant. It was a bar, but we stuck to water! 
Since the name of the place was olive, we got a bunch to share. 
And a few tempura battered ones too (for good measure). 
We split two of their thin crust pizzas (which were AH-MAZING). 
Now… it’s race time! Check back later for the official race recap!
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