I’m writing this from San Francisco, where we are on vacation. It’s a gorgeous day here, perfect running weather: temperature in the mid sixties, abundant sunshine, and an easy breeze. After a long flight and exploring the city all day, I took the opportunity to stretch my legs and get out for an early evening run.
We’re staying down by Fisherman’s Wharf close to San Francisco Bay. I set out for the waterfront and headed east at the Embarcadero Promenade, the public walkway that runs the length of all the piers along the bay. It was an amazing run.
Running by the lakefront in Chicago is awesome – it’s one of the reasons we chose to live where we do – but as my normal route, it’s become routine. I have covered that trail so often that I mentally “check out ” without consciously being aware of it. So it was a different experience running in a new city along an unfamiliar route. Additionally the area down by the piers is a tourist hotspot and on a Friday afternoon it was teeming with vacationers and street-performers, along with a steady stream of runners, bikers and skateboarders. All of that resulted in the most present run I’ve had in a long time. I made my way along at a comfortable pace, taking it all in, rarely checking my watch. It was wonderful.
The waterfront walkway follows San Francisco Bay south where it eventually meets up with AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. The park would be a good turn around point, so I planned to run until the path meets the stadium before turning around. If you’re at all familiar with AT&T Park, you know that it is right on the bay and sluggers launch home-runs over the right field fence that splash into the water. Much to my surprise, the walkway continues behind the park and is directly at field level. This Giants are hosting the Texas Rangers tonight, and from the path I could look through the open gates and see the field. So here I was out on my run, along the beautiful San Francisco Bay watching the Texas Rangers warming up right field. It was amazing.
A great run, and hopefully a start to a great vacation!