On Saturday, September 19, I met up with Mel at Presidio's Sports Basement for an 8:00am run. It was pretty foggy and chilly but the weather forecast said it was supposed to be sunny and warm. It was an 11-mile run, but we ended up doing 8 miles, running Crissy Fields, across and back on the Golden Gate Bridge.
It was my 6th time running the GGB, and it's not my favorite run. There's a slight illusion to the naked eye. It looks flat, but there's an actual elevation from one end to the next. The two towers are almost 1/4 mile apart which makes the total span of the bridge about 2 1/2 miles which is a distance of 5 miles on the running map. The traffic noise is intense and the ground can feel shaky at times. A lot of pedestrians walk the GGB but luckily there were not as much people on it for a Saturday foggy morning. The bridge is only open for pedestrians from 6am to 6pm. It has a gate that shuts on both ends of the bridge, making it one of the most secure bridges in the world. It is also known to be the #1 bridge of suicides. A measure is underway for approval to build a suicide barricade on the bridge. However, it may not go through due to structural challenges.
During the GGB run, my right knee tends to get a little stiff. On the way back towards the San Francisco-side, I enjoy the downhill slope from the bridge back to Crissy Fields. There's a lot of momentum to finish the run as I see runners coming the opposite direction. Mel told me that a lot of women were training for the Women's Nike Marathon in October which is an event that only permits lottery-selected runners, making it quite exclusive, but not entirely elite. Even though the Golden Gate Bridge is not my favorite place to run in SF, I always enjoy being out on a Saturday morning, doing exercise, feeling the fresh air and taking in the beauty of San Francisco. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and I'm lucky that it's my home. Thanks for reading!
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