Run #13 had perfect weather, friends everywhere, and even a “cameo” in an official race at Golden Gate Park.
Golden Gate Park on race day
I ran half marathon #13 again in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, on the same day a running event (https://sanfranciscohalfmarathon.org/) was taking place there, with the course passing through the park and along the Pacific Ocean. My friend Yves was registered for the half marathon distance, so I became a bit of a “pirate runner”: I wasn’t officially in the race, ran most of the time outside the official course exploring new trails in the park, but in the end I couldn’t resist and hopped onto the race path from the ocean side all the way to the finish line.
Yves on a record-setting day
The big highlight of the day was Yves, who not only finished strong but also set a new personal record for the half marathon, coming in under 1:58. For a course full of people, turns, and that big-race atmosphere in San Francisco, that’s simply fantastic – congratulations, Yves, a truly champion performance!
The “unofficial” crew
Besides Yves, Derek and Herminio also showed up to run, just like me, outside of the official event. Each of us ended up taking slightly different routes and distances around the park and nearby areas, so I only shared part of the path with them, meeting everyone again later near the finish area. In the end it felt like a parallel team workout happening right beside the official half marathon, each one at their own pace but all sharing the same running morning.
And we also had Carl, who came out specifically to watch Yves finish the race. He didn’t run, but joined the group afterwards, helping turn the post-run time into a lively lunch full of stories and jokes about the race and our “alternative” routes.
Sun, perfect temperature, blue sky
The weather helped a lot: we started with temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, that ideal chilly start for running, and it warmed up a bit as the morning went on. The sky turned into a beautiful deep blue with sunshine all the way, a generous winter day in San Francisco – cold at the start, comfortable in the middle, and with the entire park lit up, making every kilometer easier to enjoy.
Insta360 X5 in “shaky” mode
I brought the Insta360 X5 again to record the run, but this time the setup was far from ideal. I stuck the camera pole inside my running vest on my back, and the result is that the footage came out a bit shaky because the camera bounced with every stride and the high, offset position on the pole tends to amplify movement even with stabilization. At least it’s a good lesson for next time: try a chest or shoulder mount, or some way to fix the camera more firmly to my body for more stable shots on future half marathons.
Brunch at Outerlands
After the run, we gathered the whole “squad” – official runners, unofficial runners, and the cheer squad – and headed to Outerlands in the Outer Sunset for brunch. The restaurant is just a short walk from the beach on Judah St, known for its cozy atmosphere and popular brunch, with generous plates and a vibe that fits perfectly after a run: people in running gear, medals still on, and serious runner hunger. It was the perfect way to wrap up the morning: a full table, Yves celebrating his PR, Carl cheering as if he had run too, Derek and Herminio sharing their versions of the routes through the park, and me already thinking how to turn all of this into another chapter of the 52@52 adventure.
Behaved knee, grumpy calf
Physically, the outcome was positive: my right knee caused only minimal discomfort and didn’t get worse during the run, which is a very good sign for the rest of the half marathon streak. The left calf, though, decided to replay the script from the previous run and complained again during the route, always at that level of “annoying but not threatening to end the day.” With stretching, strength work, and some extra care during the week, the expectation is to be ready for the next chapter of the 52@52 project – hopefully with a happier calf, less shaky footage, and maybe a few more unexpected meetups along the way.
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