Notes
This was the first time I have ever gone for a run in the middle of volunteer duties at Quad. JC had so many folks working at the finish line however that following check-in with Stan in the wee hours of the morning I was able to go out for coffee and then suit up for a quick jaunt on the course. It was a wonderful day out in spite of the fact my throat was still kind of sore from a cold I have been trying to fight off.
I could say so many things about how this run went but mostly it is just the best day ever in all of running. The out and back nature of the course (twice!) allows you to see everyone a couple of times if you stay out for a while and just like in "Cheers" everybody knows my name :)
Great to cheer for all my friends (like family) and the day was perhaps one of the prettiest ever on that course. Bitterly cold in the shade but nice in the sun and so clear I was able to see the Farallons from the top of Cardiac as though they were just a mile or two offshore. Coming back through Windy Gap the view down the hill was of all three bridges, SF, east bay and Sausalito. Heartbreakingly beautiful. Quad day is the day that makes me feel most grateful for my running family and is the true day of Thanksgiving for me. Very special.
Side note on actual run: Legs H-U-R-T. I did spend a bit of time thinking how I could never get through the full 28 miles on that course right now. Also, I have forgotten what it is like to run on a truly technical course. The bad footing on the course puts LS to shame. Rolled an ankle on way back and almost fell a couple of times. Good to remember that if I ever want to do this race again I would actually have to train on it!