SF Bay to Breakers

Quoted message said:

I am doing Bay to Breakers in San Francisco this Sunday.
I'm concerned about one of the people in my group. He is
an unfit 30yr. old who works, goes to school, and has a
new baby. He used to be somewhat athletic, but isn't now
and is also overweight. He is doing the race because his
wife wants to do it; neither has trained at all. She is
not in great shape either, but she would speak up if
anything was amiss. I think I need to keep an eye on him.
What should I look for? I don't think he will fess up to
any discomfort, so what are the signs that signal danger.
It is possible for us to be picked up at any point along
the route, but I think this may be humiliating for him.
However, being humiliated is not the worst thing that can
happen. Please advise.

Oh puhhhlease, this event is insane if it is anything like
it was when I lived up there. This is not a race, it is a
huge slithering circus! It is honestly difficult to "run" in
this event rather than jostle or "bob & weave" or walk. Your
friend will be fine, just like the other 20,000 + (as I
recall?) other non-runners who will be out there partying
down the streets of The City.

it's more like 50,000+. just be sure not to be frightened by
the wrinkly old naked people. i'll be out there running
through the crowds. -d

TopCounsel <[email hidden]> wrote:
:>I am doing Bay to Breakers in San Francisco this Sunday.
:>I'm concerned about one of the people in my group. He is
:>an unfit 30yr. old who works, goes to school, and has a
:>new baby. He used to be somewhat athletic, but isn't now
:>and is also overweight. He is doing the race because his
:>wife wants to do it; neither has trained at all. She is
:>not in great shape either, but she would speak up if
:>anything was amiss. I think I need to keep an eye on him.
:>What should I look for? I don't think he will fess up to
:>any discomfort, so what are the signs that signal danger.
:>It is possible for us to be picked up at any point along
:>the route, but I think this may be humiliating for him.
:>However, being humiliated is not the worst thing that can
:>happen. Please advise.

: Oh puhhhlease, this event is insane if it is anything like
: it was when I lived up there. This is not a race, it is a
: huge slithering circus! It is honestly difficult to "run"
: in this event rather than jostle or "bob & weave" or walk.
: Your friend will be fine, just like the other 20,000 + (as
: I recall?) other non-runners who will be out there
: partying down the streets of The City.

TopCounsel said:

Quoted message said:

I am doing Bay to Breakers in San Francisco this Sunday.
I'm concerned about one of the people in my group. He is
an unfit 30yr. old who works, goes to school, and has a
new baby. He used to be somewhat athletic, but isn't now
and is also overweight. He is doing the race because his
wife wants to do it; neither has trained at all. She is
not in great shape either, but she would speak up if
anything was amiss. I think I need to keep an eye on him.
What should I look for? I don't think he will fess up to
any discomfort, so what are the signs that signal danger.
It is possible for us to be picked up at any point along
the route, but I think this may be humiliating for him.
However, being humiliated is not the worst thing that can
happen. Please advise.

Oh puhhhlease, this event is insane if it is anything like
it was when I lived up there. This is not a race, it is a
huge slithering circus! It is honestly difficult to "run"
in this event rather than jostle or "bob & weave" or walk.
Your friend will be fine, just like the other 20,000 + (as
I recall?) other non-runners who will be out there
partying down the streets of The City.

Yeah, I think he'll be ok, too. Today's paper said 50,000
and the radio said 80-90,000. This is my 7th. one so I'm
familiar with the circus-like atmosphere. In fact, that's
why we like to do it. Thanks for the reassurance!

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA

Danny Bon-Ray Yang said:

it's more like 50,000+. just be sure not to be frightened
by the wrinkly old naked people. i'll be out there running
through the crowds. -d

TopCounsel <[email hidden]> wrote:
:>I am doing Bay to Breakers in San Francisco this Sunday.
:>I'm concerned about one of the people in my group. He is
:>an unfit 30yr. old who works, goes to school, and has a
:>new baby. He used to be somewhat athletic, but isn't now
:>and is also overweight. He is doing the race because his
:>wife wants to do it; neither has trained at all. She is
:>not in great shape either, but she would speak up if
:>anything was amiss. I think I need to keep an eye on
:>him. What should I look for? I don't think he will fess
:>up to any discomfort, so what are the signs that signal
:>danger. It is possible for us to be picked up at any
:>point along the route, but I think this may be
:>humiliating for him. However, being humiliated is not
:>the worst thing that can happen. Please advise.

Hehe, last year there were more of those than any
other year; it was rather frightening! So, I'll see
you there then?

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA

I've genrally noticed that the hundred or so who run in their "birthday suits"
are the ones who shouldnt :-)

rick++ said:

I've genrally noticed that the hundred or so who run in
their "birthday suits" are the ones who shouldnt :-)

<g> yes, you are right and there were plenty of them out
there yesterday. A fun race, in any case!

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA

TopCounsel said:

Quoted message said:

I am doing Bay to Breakers in San Francisco this Sunday.
I'm concerned about one of the people in my group. He is
an unfit 30yr. old who works, goes to school, and has a
new baby. He used to be somewhat athletic, but isn't now
and is also overweight. He is doing the race because his
wife wants to do it; neither has trained at all. She is
not in great shape either, but she would speak up if
anything was amiss. I think I need to keep an eye on him.
What should I look for? I don't think he will fess up to
any discomfort, so what are the signs that signal danger.
It is possible for us to be picked up at any point along
the route, but I think this may be humiliating for him.
However, being humiliated is not the worst thing that can
happen. Please advise.

Oh puhhhlease, this event is insane if it is anything like
it was when I lived up there. This is not a race, it is a
huge slithering circus! It is honestly difficult to "run"
in this event rather than jostle or "bob & weave" or walk.
Your friend will be fine, just like the other 20,000 + (as
I recall?) other non-runners who will be out there
partying down the streets of The City.

Just to follow up on yesterday's question. My friend opted
out, so no worries. The rest of us had fun. Thanks again!

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA

In article <[email hidden]>,

TopCounsel said:

Oh puhhhlease, this event is insane if it is anything like
it was when I lived up there. This is not a race,

The seeded section usually contains a few World Class 10k
runners, and the 1st place prize money is not insignificant.

Quoted message said:

it is a huge slithering circus! It is honestly difficult
to "run" in this event rather than jostle or "bob &
weave" or walk.

If you get to the unseeded section about 2 hours before race
start, you're in front enough to jostle the 1st mile at
around 8 or 9 minute pace, and it opens up after that.

Quoted message said:

Your friend will be fine, just like the other 20,000 + (as
I recall?) other non-runners who will be out there partying
down the streets of The City.

If you start at the very back of the pack, it can take 20 or
30 minutes (for the 60,000 to 90,000 people in front of you)
to cross the official starting line. After that it's a
leasurely walk thru The City.

IMHO. YMMV.
--
Ron Nicholson rhn AT nicholson DOT com
nicholson.comrhnOpen ↗ #include
<canonical.disclaimer> // only my own opinions, etc.

I got to the race at 6:45 am (1 hr 15 min before start) and
it was possible to get a decent position in the fun runner
area then. (I also made it into the front page photo on the
online edition of the SF Chronicle! here's a screen shot:
xenon.stanford.edubreakers.htmlOpen ↗) -d

Ronald H. Nicholson Jr. <[email hidden]> wrote:
: In article <[email hidden]>,
: TopCounsel <[email hidden]> wrote:
:>Oh puhhhlease, this event is insane if it is anything like
:>it was when I lived up there. This is not a race,

: The seeded section usually contains a few World Class 10k
: runners, and the 1st place prize money is not
: insignificant.

:>it is a huge slithering circus! It is honestly difficult
:>to "run" in this event rather than jostle or "bob & weave"
:>or walk.

: If you get to the unseeded section about 2 hours before
: race start, you're in front enough to jostle the 1st mile
: at around 8 or 9 minute pace, and it opens up after that.

:>Your friend will be fine, just like the other 20,000 + (as
:>I recall?) other non-runners who will be out there
:>partying down the streets of The City.

: If you start at the very back of the pack, it can take 20
: or 30 minutes (for the 60,000 to 90,000 people in front of
: you) to cross the official starting line. After that it's
: a leasurely walk thru The City.

: IMHO. YMMV.
: --
: Ron Nicholson rhn AT nicholson DOT com
: nicholson.comrhnOpen ↗ #include
: <canonical.disclaimer> // only my own opinions, etc.

Danny Bon-Ray Yang said:

I got to the race at 6:45 am (1 hr 15 min before start)
and it was possible to get a decent position in the fun
runner area then. (I also made it into the front page
photo on the online edition of the SF Chronicle! here's a
screen shot:
xenon.stanford.edubreakers.htmlOpen ↗) -d

Ronald H. Nicholson Jr. <[email hidden]> wrote:
: In article <20040514191634.22258.00001324@mb-
: m01.aol.com>, TopCounsel <[email hidden]> wrote:
:>Oh puhhhlease, this event is insane if it is anything
:>like it was when I lived up there. This is not a race,

: The seeded section usually contains a few World Class
: 10k runners, and the 1st place prize money is not
: insignificant.

:>it is a huge slithering circus! It is honestly difficult
:>to "run" in this event rather than jostle or "bob &
:>weave" or walk.

: If you get to the unseeded section about 2 hours before
: race start, you're in front enough to jostle the 1st
: mile at around 8 or 9 minute pace, and it opens up
: after that.

:>Your friend will be fine, just like the other 20,000 +
:>(as I recall?) other non-runners who will be out there
:>partying down the streets of The City.

: If you start at the very back of the pack, it can take
: 20 or 30 minutes (for the 60,000 to 90,000 people in
: front of you) to cross the official starting line. After
: that it's a leasurely walk thru The City.

: IMHO. YMMV.
: --
: Ron Nicholson rhn AT nicholson DOT com
: nicholson.comrhnOpen ↗ #include
: <canonical.disclaimer> // only my own opinions, etc.

How very cool! We got dropped off at 8, joined the crowd
and crossed the starting line at 8:10. That's never
happened before; I wonder if there were less people. I
should go back and read the article. It was a lot of fun
though, and because two in our group had never done it
before, I got to play 'tour-guide' They were most impressed
with the houses from "Full House' <g> A good day, great
weather, lots of fun.

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA

Ronald H. Nicholson Jr. said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

TopCounsel said:

Oh puhhhlease, this event is insane if it is anything
like it was when I lived up there. This is not a race,

The seeded section usually contains a few World Class 10k
runners, and the 1st place prize money is not
insignificant.

Quoted message said:

it is a huge slithering circus! It is honestly difficult
to "run" in this event rather than jostle or "bob &
weave" or walk.

If you get to the unseeded section about 2 hours before
race start, you're in front enough to jostle the 1st mile
at around 8 or 9 minute pace, and it opens up after that.

Quoted message said:

Your friend will be fine, just like the other 20,000 +
(as I recall?) other non-runners who will be out there
partying down the streets of The City.

If you start at the very back of the pack, it can take 20
or 30 minutes (for the 60,000 to 90,000 people in front of
you) to cross the official starting line. After that it's
a leasurely walk thru The City.

IMHO. YMMV.
--
Ron Nicholson rhn AT nicholson DOT com
nicholson.comrhnOpen ↗ #include
<canonical.disclaimer> // only my own opinions, etc.

Yeah, a great walk through my favorite city! I like Top
Counsel's description of 'bob and weave', indeed that is
exactly what we did for the first mile or so.

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA

what was you r time??? plodizlla

Abby N said:

Hi there,

I am doing Bay to Breakers in San Francisco this Sunday.
I'm concerned about one of the people in my group. He is
an unfit 30yr. old who works, goes to school, and has a
new baby. He used to be somewhat athletic, but isn't now
and is also overweight. He is doing the race because his
wife wants to do it; neither has trained at all. She is
not in great shape either, but she would speak up if
anything was amiss. I think I need to keep an eye on him.
What should I look for? I don't think he will fess up to
any discomfort, so what are the signs that signal danger.
It is possible for us to be picked up at any point along
the route, but I think this may be humiliating for him.
However, being humiliated is not the worst thing that can
happen. Please advise.

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA

Quoted message said:

what was you r time???

I finished at 1:01.

Like everybody else, I find the first 2 miles (until the
Hayes Street hill, when the crowd begins to thin)
frustrating and fun. You're not going anywhere fast so you
might as well enjoy it, right?

I spent the hour and a half before the race at the corner of
(I think) Howard and Spear, adjacent to the "village people"
and the fundamentalists with the "fornicators" sign. Dodging
airborne tortillas, of course.

Richard

gentolm said:

what was you r time??? plodizlla

Abby N said:

Hi there,

I am doing Bay to Breakers in San Francisco this Sunday.
I'm concerned about one of the people in my group. He is
an unfit 30yr. old who works, goes to school, and has a
new baby. He used to be somewhat athletic, but isn't now
and is also overweight. He is doing the race because his
wife wants to do it; neither has trained at all. She is
not in great shape either, but she would speak up if
anything was amiss. I think I need to keep an eye on
him. What should I look for? I don't think he will fess
up to any discomfort, so what are the signs that signal
danger. It is possible for us to be picked up at any
point along the route, but I think this may be
humiliating for him. However, being humiliated is not
the worst thing that can happen. Please advise.

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA

Ya had to ask, huh? <g> It was 2hrs.something (mumble
mumble). Not too bad considering we stopped to watch the
costume judging in the park, waited in a long line for the
porta-potty and one of our group had recently given birth
and was plagued with sciatic issues. We weren't all that
concerned with the time and in fact I forgot to ask what
time it was when we finished because we were discussing what
we were going to order for lunch. hehe.

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA

Richard said:

Quoted message said:

what was you r time???

I finished at 1:01.

Like everybody else, I find the first 2 miles (until the
Hayes Street hill, when the crowd begins to thin)
frustrating and fun. You're not going anywhere fast so you
might as well enjoy it, right?

I spent the hour and a half before the race at the corner
of (I think) Howard and Spear, adjacent to the "village
people" and the fundamentalists with the "fornicators"
sign. Dodging airborne tortillas, of course.

Richard

Wow - a great time! I think you beat Gavin Newsom. What was
with the tortillas, anyway? I'll bet the pigeons were happy
the next day.

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA

Abby N <[email hidden]> wrote in news:40ACD970.181A7B96
@hotmail.com:

Quoted message said:

checkin out the Napa/Sonoma half marathon. Wine samples
at every aid station. This is its inaugural event and
they're limiting it to 2000. Sounds like a real kick.

My family reunion happens to be that same weekend at me
sister's home near San Francisco. The opportunity to enter
this race was too good to pass up (even if it is 90 miles
away). I've already registered. Maybe for my long runs I
should fill my CamelBak with some Gee Vineyard Pinot Noir
from Bouchaine vineyards.

Phil M.

--
"I gotta go. You're killin' me."

Phil M. said:

Abby N <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:40ACD970.181A7B96 @hotmail.com:

Quoted message said:

checkin out the Napa/Sonoma half marathon. Wine samples
at every aid station. This is its inaugural event and
they're limiting it to 2000. Sounds like a real kick.

My family reunion happens to be that same weekend at me
sister's home near San Francisco. The opportunity to enter
this race was too good to pass up (even if it is 90 miles
away). I've already registered. Maybe for my long runs I
should fill my CamelBak with some Gee Vineyard Pinot Noir
from Bouchaine vineyards.

Phil M.

--
"I gotta go. You're killin' me."

Oh, how fortuitous for you! I think it will be worth the
90min. drive; how could it not be? beautiful countryside and
all. We are still 'thinking' about it and hoping they
haven't closed registration once we've decided. Problem is
13 miles in 3 hrs, I'm not sure we can do it; my daughter
can, I'm not sure I can. We did the SF Half Marathon in
October in nearly that time, mostly fast walking, some
running, but well, I don't know. I love the wine idea,
however, it wouldn't be my fuel of choice (zzzzzz). I hope
you plan to post a report on this race. Have fun!

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA

Abby N <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Phil M. said:

Abby N <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:40ACD970.181A7B96 @hotmail.com:

Quoted message said:

checkin out the Napa/Sonoma half marathon. Wine
samples at every aid station. This is its inaugural
event and they're limiting it to 2000. Sounds like a
real kick.

My family reunion happens to be that same weekend at me
sister's home near San Francisco. The opportunity to
enter this race was too good to pass up (even if it is 90
miles away). I've already registered. Maybe for my long
runs I should fill my CamelBak with some Gee Vineyard
Pinot Noir from Bouchaine vineyards.

Phil M.

--
"I gotta go. You're killin' me."

Oh, how fortuitous for you! I think it will be worth the
90min. drive; how could it not be? beautiful countryside
and all.

I'd have to go twice. Saturday to pick up my race packet and
go to the expo, then Sunday for the race.

Quoted message said:

We are still 'thinking' about it and hoping they haven't
closed registration once we've decided. Problem is 13
miles in 3 hrs, I'm not sure we can do it; my daughter
can, I'm not sure I can. We did the SF Half Marathon in
October in nearly that time, mostly fast walking, some
running, but well, I don't know.

The FAQ says that the course will be closed to vehicular
traffic up to a 13 minute per mile pace. The Finish Line
will remain open until 4 hours following the start.

Quoted message said:

I love the wine idea, however, it wouldn't be my fuel of
choice (zzzzzz).

Seriously, I don't think I'll be drinking any wine on the
course since I want to run my best.

Quoted message said:

I hope you plan to post a report on this race. Have fun!

Certainly. I have to.

Quoted message said:

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA

We used to live in Danville, CA. I went to 1st grade at
Green Valley Elementary School in 1963.

Phil M.

--
"I gotta go. You're killin' me."

Phil M. said:

90min. drive;

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

how could it not be? beautiful countryside and all.

I'd have to go twice. Saturday to pick up my race packet
and go to the expo, then Sunday for the race.

Downtown Napa is 45 min from me and Danville is 20 min so
you may be looking at less than 90 min. That's good, yes?

Quoted message said:

The FAQ says that the course will be closed to vehicular
traffic up to a 13 minute per mile pace. The Finish Line
will remain open until 4 hours following the start.

Oh, OK, I will have to go back and read it more carefully.
So, there is still hope for me <g>

Quoted message said:

Seriously, I don't think I'll be drinking any wine on the
course since I want to run my best.

Good for you! Me neither. I wonder if they will be repeating
this little gimmick next year?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I hope you plan to post a report on this race. Have fun!

Certainly. I have to.

Maybe I missed something; I haven't been reading this NG
that long, so why do you have to?

Quoted message said:

We used to live in Danville, CA. I went to 1st grade at
Green Valley Elementary School in 1963.

Cool, I go by there all the time.

Quoted message said:

Phil M.

--
"I gotta go. You're killin' me."

Abby in Walnut Creek, CA