56 Hours
On the mere mortal side, it began with my first swim in months as I labored through 24 laps after work on Friday. A good barometer of my utter lack of swimming fitness. Much to improve, I have.
Saturday the Endurables met up early at Rock Springs on Mt. Tam for a selection of loops - down Steep Ravine to Dipsea to Stinson and back up along Matt Davis; out past the Mountain Home Theater to railroad grade and back up along Matt Davis from the other direction. Some of the regulars were back after missing a few weeks so it was a pleasant surprise to run with Amy for most of the first loop as I was solo the second loop, lost in between the quicker runners and those who opted out early. The temps were cool as we started down into the fog and warmer, with a slight breeze, as we crawled out of it. An ideal running day, actually. The flowers were still in full bloom and the grasses green, not yet scorched by the sun. While everyone hung around chatting at the end I had to head out for an additional quickie to stick to my training plan. It was hard to pull away from the idle banter, race talk and post-run snacking. Besides the views, that's sort of the best part.
(Old Mine Trail)
Soon the leading 1/2 marathoners started to arrive and I spotted crazy-distance running star Dean Karnazes who gave me a big smile with a "Good morning" and "Thanks" as I shouted out "Go Dean!" We bonded (and by bonded I mean had our picture taken together) at the finish line for the North Face race last year so it only seemed right. He was followed by Jorge, an Endurables runner from 2008 I haven't seen lately but who looked strong and smiling as always (he placed 3rd AG in TNF 50K) and Kristin Armstrong (best known as Lance's ex-wife), an accomplished runner in her own right and a contributing editor to Runners World whose words I've admired over the years.
(Jenny, Dean and me post TNF Challenge)
I saw familiar faces from various parts of my life - old co-workers, friends of friends, a Providian Relay buddy from 2000. It was great to be out there on such a beautiful day, giving back to a sport I love and to have so much fun doing it. Next best thing to racing is volunteering! I ducked out for my own quick 6 miler along the race course when it was all done, took my hula hoop to the beach for an hour or so to play and then joined a BBQ in Sausalito to celebrate my friend Susan's first 1/2 marathon. She'd passed by towards the end of the race and as we recognized one another and hugged, she invited me over that afternoon to celebrate. Much good food and wine later, I headed home tired and sunburned.
Meanwhile, in the east bay, friend and man of legendary legs, Rick Gaston, was pushing through a grueling 50 mile race on Mt. Diablo in soaring temperatures. Unstoppable. When I got his text later that night, he'd finished 9th overall - 6th male - and left everything he had to give on the course. Much like Kara Goucher in this morning's 113th running of the Boston Marathon. While she didn't push the pace at any time, she was near or at the front the entire race, but when it came to the last mile, though she gave it everything she had, the Kenyan and Ethiopian were too strong and she finished 3rd, 9 seconds back, before breaking into tears. It was riveting and heart-breaking. 
"I just wanted it for everybody that wanted it for me," she said, her voice cracking at the post-race conference. "I'm proud of how I did. I just wanted to be the one that won for everybody."
You did good, girl. 2nd marathon ever (she placed 3rd in NYC in 2008) and you took 3rd in one of the world's premier marathons. Along with Ryan Hall who took 3rd in the men's division, it was the first time in 24 years that an American man and woman podium-ed together. And the first time since 1993 that a US woman cracked the top 3. You raced hard and you left everything you had out on the course. You've also got a smoking set of abs. I'm in awe.
And that was my 56 hours, give or take. Participant, volunteer, observer.
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