Run - 8 Miles:  I headed out of transition with the encouragement of the crowd.  I saw my sister and her husband within the first half mile and was finding my stride.  The run was picturesque-- along the water, under the Golden Gate Bridge, and then stairs!

I knew there would be 400 sand stairs, but, little did I know that we needed to climb about 100 crumbling stairs along a single lane path at about mile two.

The non-traditional run course was about keeping your footing, and getting in the right position in as many points you had to be in single file with runners going out and back.  Baker Beach was free of the ‘bathers’ I spoke of earlier and the sand stairs were about keeping a steady stride so your HR did not blow up. 

Alas, I reached the top and knew I was heading to the finish.  As I wound my way into the finishing area, I noticed Brian on his phone with the video camera.  Little did I know that coach Matt and a few others were calling in for a race update!  I finished at 3:04:51!  Top 17% of women and eager to do it again some day!