I run because I was once broken...

There was a time when I took running for granted. I was young, naive, and operated under the misguided notion that I was unbreakable. 

A broken femur enlightened me. I was as mortal and as fragile as anyone. My ability to run was not a promise. It was as ephemeral as anything else in life.

3 large pins later, I was no longer broken, but I was not the same. I wasn't whole.

Running had been a source of joy and affirmation before being broken. Now it was a source of trepidation and fear. Running could break me as easily as it could elevate me.

I was told I would never be as strong as I had been before...with the pins in me. While I did run sometimes, it wasn't with confidence and clarity. The pins kept me small and scared.

I was haunted. Would my body betray me again? Would I fail to read the messages my body sent me and tempt fate again? Was running a gift or a curse?

I was also haunted by the words of the best coach I worked with who said, 'I think you'll be a great marathoner some day.' Could I really live without finding out?

The only way to exorcise the demons was to remove them...all three of them. It was painful, but what exorcism isn't? Ultimately, I knew I would never be as strong until I had them removed...until I was whole again.

There are no hard and fast rules around healing. You can't force it and you never know when you are fully healed. So, you take baby steps.

I baby stepped my way back into running. It started with a tearful 2 miler in golden gate park. I could still do it...even if it was slow and awkward....I hadn't lost the gift. It was still there.

From there, faint thoughts of the marathon returned. 'You'll be a great marathoner' kept echoing in my head. I was broken once, but maybe I could be whole again.

Baby steps eventually brought me to the starting line of my first marathon. While 26.2 brought me to my knees, it didn't break me.

With this experience came the realization that while I had been broken, perhaps it was this very experience that would make me the great marathoner my coach thought I could be.

From this point forward, I ran with a vengeance. I had lost so much time not appreciating my gift and letting fear hold me back. There was no more time to lose.

I tempted fate and I played with fire. Sometimes I got singed and even burned, but I was never broken.

So, I run because I was broken once. I might be broken again. But, until that day comes...I will keep running.

Tuesday Marina/Presidio Run (2/4/2014)

Tuesday's run launches from Presidio Sport & Medicine at 1162B Gorgas Avenue. Here's a map link to the launch location-

Presidio Run Rendezvous Point

We're logging 2 miles. Here's a link to the course map-

Tuesday Presidio Run Course Map

We'll launch from Presidio Sport & Medicine and promptly take a left on Girard Avenue. After running a short distance (1/4 mile) on Girard, we'll run into Lincoln Ave. Turn right on Lincoln.

You'll continue on Lincoln into the Presidio past the San Francisco National Cemetery (it will be on your left).

Roughly 200 meters after you pass the cemetery you will see a MM2 on the ground in chalk. Turn around here and head back to the start for 2 MILES!

Saturday's YOYO Run Description

We have easy 6 miles scheduled for Saturday. This course launches from the Marina Green Monkey Bars near the intersection of Marina/Webster. Here's a map link to the exact spot where the run should launch from-

Saturday YOYO Run Launch Location

Here's a link to the map of the course:

Saturday's YOYO Run Course Map!

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SATURDAY'S YOYO RUN-

You will head SOUTH along the Marina towards Fort Mason Hill. Crest this hill and head down into Aquatic Park. Run along the waterfront into Fisherman's Wharf. You will be on Jefferson.

Please keep a watchful eye for tourists, cyclists, and other traffic in Fisherman's Wharf. Continue running to the intersection of Jefferson/Powell. There is a large art gallery on the right. This is 1.5 miles.

Continue running along Jefferson which will eventually turn into the Embarcadero. At the intersection of Embarcadero & Bay there is a Hillstone restaurant on the right. This is 2 MILES.

Continue past Embarcadero/Bay. 1/2 a mile later you will encounter the intersection of Embarcadero/Green. This is 2.5 MILES.

Race level runners will continue running along the Embarcadero all the way to the MAIN entrance of the Ferry Building. This is 3 MILES. TURN AROUND HERE! When you get back you will have logged 6 MILES!

Tuesday Satellite Run (9/8/15)

Tuesday's satellite run launches from outside 333 3rd Street between Folsom/Harrison.

If you need to use the restroom, change, and/or store some personal items, head up to PSOAS in Suite 205.

Here's a link to the course map-

Tuesday's Downtown Satellite Run Course Map

We will cross Folsom from 3rd Street onto the sidewalk and take a right. We will run along Folsom all the way to the Embarcadero. We will cross the street and take a RIGHT onto the Embarcadero.

Run along the Embarcadero towards the ballpark. Once you pass the intersection of Embarcadero/Harrison, you will run underneath the overpass for the Bay Bridge. Once underneath the bridge (near the intersection of Embarcadero/Spear), you will have 1 mile under your belt.

Continue running along the Embarcadero towards the ballpark. Look for Red's Java House on the LEFT near the intersection of Embarcadero/Townsend. Veer LEFT near Red's Java House and get onto the 'San Francisco Bay Trail' (it's a sidewalk). Just past Red's Java House is 1.5 miles. Beginner runners will turn around here and head back to PSOAS for 3 miles!

Follow the San Francisco Bay Trail BEHIND the ballpark until you hit 3RD STREET. Turn LEFT on 3rd Street. Follow 3rd Street across the bridge and once you're across the bridge, take a LEFT on the sidewalk running along the waterfront parallel to Terry A Francois Street. Just as the sidewalk starts to turn RIGHT, you will have logged 2 miles. Intermediate runners will turn around here and head back to PSOAS for 4 miles!

Everyone else will continue running along Terry A Francois Street until you reach the intersection of Terry A Francois Street & South Street. This is 2.5 miles. Advanced level runners will turn around here and head back to PSOAS for 5 MILES!

Race level runners will turn RIGHT on South Street and continue running. South Street eventually turns into Campus Way. Continue running along Campus Way until you reach 'Koret Quad'. You will do a loop around Koret Quad and head back to PSOAS the way you came for 6 MILES!

Saturday Long Run Description (1/18/14)

You'll be logging 10-15 miles on Saturday depending upon your training level. Here's a link to the course map-

Saturday Long Run

We'll launch this run from Crissy Field and head out on the Marina Promenade towards the Warming Hut.

Upon reaching the Warming Hut, you will run past the Warming Hut and take an IMMEDIATE left to head towards LONG AVENUE. Long Avenue is effectively a short hill that heads up towards Lincoln.

Everyone will head up Long Avenue along the shoulder until you reach a stop sign. This is LINCOLN. Take a right on to the paved cyclist/pedestrian path and follow this path to your right. Stick to this path as it heads towards the Golden Gate Bridge.

You will follow the path for roughly 1/2-3/4 of a mile. There will be a few points at which the path may fork, but stick to the MAIN path. You will soon see the Golden Gate Bridge approaching.
 
You will reach a point where you can continue running and run underneath the bridge or take a hairpin LEFT and wind your way up to the pedestrian side of the bridge. You want to do the LATTER and turn left and head onto the pedestrian side of the bridge.  

PLEASE BE CAREFUL! THERE ARE TYPICALLY A REASONABLE NUMBER OF TOURISTS WHO AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION. BE SMART AND BE POLITE IF YOU NEED TO GET AROUND SOMEONE.

Continue to the end of the bridge to the Visitor Center. Stop here to grab some water, use the restroom, and/or take a gel, clif shot, etc. Everyone will turn around here and head back across the bridge.

For those running the Honey Badger Half next week, you will have logged 6 miles once you get back to our starting point on Crissy Field.

Everyone else will continue running EAST towards East Beach. Run past East beach into the parking lot for 'Little Marina Green'. Veer right through the volleyball court area onto Marina Boulevard. Follow Marina Boulevard past the Marina Green Monkey Bars.

Head towards Fort Mason Hill. Beginners will crest this hill and head back to our starting point for 10 MILES! 
  
Everyone else will head down into Aquatic Park. At the end of Aquatic Park/edge of Fisherman's Wharf, Intermediate runners will turn around here and head back to the starting point for 11 MILES!

Advanced and Race level runners will run along the waterfront into Fisherman's Wharf. You will be on Jefferson. Please keep a watchful eye for tourists, cyclists, and other traffic in Fisherman's Wharf. Continue running to the intersection of Jefferson/Powell. There is a large art gallery on the right. This is Advanced level runners turn around here and head back to the monkey bars for 12 MILES!

Race level runners will continue running to the main entrance of the Ferry Building. Turn around here and head back to our starting point for 15 MILES!