Running over the Golden Gate Bridge

UPDATED 9:50 A.M. ON SUNDAY, JULY 15: No wonder I almost passed out during the spectacular run I am about to describe. I just went to mapmyrun.com and discovered that it was 7 1/2 miles from our hotel to the Marin side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Throw in the tough hills, and I just (mostly) ran 15 miles (my longest was 13.1 three times) on a hard course with changing elevations. We had planned to run 9 or 10.

It was the best All-Star Game that has been played since I was a boy, when they were truly staged for pride and glory, and I can only describe my trip out to San Francisco from Saturday morning (7 a.m. flight on 7-7-7) through Wednesday night as UNFORGETTABLE. It was that in every way, from Sunday's future stars to our MLB.com party that night co-hosted by Alyssa Milano and Jose Reyes to Ichiro's inside-the-park homer to the Willie Mays pregame ceremony to the Barry Bonds crowd to the ninth-inning rally to my first visit to majestic AT&T Park with its View Level splendor looking out over the Bay. And you know what? The best part was saved for last.

After four days of working the All-Star week for MLB, I checked out of the truly unforgettable Hotel Nikko in San Francisco at 11:15 a.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday wearing my running gear with 2 GU packs and my Canon Powershot (which I killed on the Golden Gate Bridge) in the back pocket of my fuel belt. I checked three bags with the bellman, and was surprised to find that my colleague Jason, our guy with the Detroit Tigers, was waiting there in the lobby. I had mentioned I was going to run, and he was all ready to rumble, a past marathoner. So I had a running partner, and one who had run the San Francisco course before. We started running at 11:25, our baseball work behind us. It was everything I had hoped for and more when I planned to take a redeye flight out late just for this. Here we go:

We left Union Square and headed for Market Street, then over to The Embarcadero. Here is the first site from there: The Bay Bridge.

Here is the famous Coit Tower, decorated in our All-Star regalia just like me.

That's me and Jason, taken by a guy who was going to run the San Francisco Marathon later this month. Our course covered much of that layout. You also can see what my brand-new Nathan fuel belt looks like. It's twisted around in this pic because my ill-fated Powershot was in that big pocket on my left hip (it was in the middle of my lower back while I ran). I liked the Nathan better than the red/black Fuel Belt because of the sturdier holsters for the water bottles, so that they go in and out easier while you are running. There's the red do-rag I picked up at RonJon Shop on Cocoa Beach last month, and the Nike Sportband I got last month at Apple Store on Fifth Ave. to replace the one I left in the Florida taxi. It's funny when I look at these pics and see little stories of my running past.

Here are a couple of shots of the Aquarium area, first view of the Bay.

There's me about to be eaten by a Megaladon, the largest shark in the history of the world dating back 750 mabilliavajillion years ago. I gave him a tooth inspection and was flossing between his bicuspids. I think he will be happy even though he's about to eat me. I hope my BreatheRight strip will protect me.

Alcatraz.

This was a silver guy. I guess he was being a statue.

The guy making the sand sculpture looks friendly here to the passing Runner Tourist. But he was telling me here: "If you're going to take a free picture, it's at least 5 cents." Ha! Like I'm carrying any coins and what's he going to do, take back my digital picture? He looks like a nice tourist-loving guy but he was a jerk.

This was my favorite thing about San Francisco when I used to come here in the late '80s and when I lived here in 1990-92 (no, I never got near the Golden Gate Bridge back then because of work/whatever). It's Fisherman's Wharf, and even though it's real cheesy there, the crab is just awesome. I love it.

First sighting: Golden. Gate. Bridge. (You are about to see very much of her.) At this point we ran a long way through the Marina district, gorgeous homes. It was a really long straightaway, preparing me for what Fourth Avenue will be like in Brooklyn on Nov. 4. We went through a few really wicked hills, including one straight up. Then, suddenly, it is right there in front of you, the base of The Bridge. I refilled my four water bottles at the Golden Gate Gift Shop, and we each grabbed a Gatorade.

Meet Joseph B. Strauss, builder of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Guess what? We're on the Golden Gate Bridge. I was immediately surprised by how wide it is, how easy it is to run/bike over. It is six lanes wide, and plenty of rec-lane space. And flat.

I repeatedly stopped along the rail to just admire the most fabulous running scenery I have experienced. The panorama is just so beautiful. I love you, San Francisco.

We ran across the Golden Gate Bridge, which was just over 4,000 feet for the main span, and more than 6,000 from support to support. We reached Vista Point on the Marin side of the bridge, and then turned around and headed back. The wind started picking up on the bridge run back, the kind of chilly high wind we were expecting in the first place. That made it really hard to run. It was beautiful, and it was a superhuman workout as I expected. Here is the view heading back across from the Marin side.

After stopping again at the Golden Gate Gift Shop, to refill the four water bottles and to each hit the GU, we ran back to Marina and you would absolutely love this dirt running path that they maintain so beautifully. It takes you right along the marsh beach, and just an indescribably beautiful run back to the City. Alcatraz is right in the middle of the picture...you are running right at Alcatraz on the horizon. I even stopped along the beach to splash some water from the Bay onto my head. (Sorry, Asics.)

On a not-so-good note, when we got back to Fisherman's Wharf, right about then I started getting lightheaded. I walked a little, then started again, and it kept getting worse, like everything was really bright. I was starting to worry that I couldn't finish, realizing that seven months ago I was a pack-a-day smoker. Altitude? Long sleeves for 90-percent humidity? (Felt like 60s so it seemed appropriate.) Not enough hydrating? I was pounding liquids. Was it that condition when you have TOO MUCH fluid that I've heard about? Maybe someone can help me, because that worried me. Also on a not-so-good note, right about then I realized that the aperture was not opening on my Powershot. My experience with others is that once that happens (no warranty), it is toast. No more pics, and fortunately I had already taken all the pics/vids I needed.

After going it slow for a while, I started running again, and then I was fine for the most part. I made it all the way back to the hotel with Jason, working our way back along the sometimes-hilly downtown streets (we passed on the roller-coaster hills of Lombard, just too lethal for such a monster run). Back at the Hotel Nikko, we headed to the health club on the fifth floor and I hit the jacuzzi and the swimming pool. It felt good to do that and shower and clean up there, then I said later-days to Jason and thanked him for the run, and I jumped on the BART train (much better than NYC subways) and headed for the San Francisco Airport. Back to New York.

UNFORGETTABLE...
...from near or far...