There is an etiquette in trail running that says that slower runners should keep to the right and when faster runners want to pass they say, "On your left." It is a rare day (and on a downhill) that I'm on the left side of the track. I've often considered that I should write about "the view from the right side of the track."
While I know the faster runners appreciate the trails (because you don't run up hills unless you care about the view over that on an easier, flatter road), I sometimes wonder if they see as much as I do. You figure that I have about twice as much time to see the same things - I average around a 13 - 14 minute miles and the fastest folks run 7 - 8 minute miles.
Well, today I took my camera to Coastal Trail Runs Golden Gate run at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
This is the view from the right side of the trail
We started in that parking lot down there.
I was one of many that walked in the beginning. Ahead is my trail friend C, who kept me company on my mud run a few months ago (and then ran another 5 miles).
Because it's quite steep when you begin (yes, that's the same parking lot).
There were even stairs. Yay! Not.
One of the neatest things about this park is that it was a gun battery to guard the Bay during World War II. I think that it would have been a spooky place indeed on a foggy night, fearing the Japanese were coming. Normally we run through some of the batteries, but this time, they were overgrown with poison oak - no thanks!
It was foggy. There is normally a beautiful view of valley here.
It's not the foggiest it's ever been. After all, you can see other runners. Barely.
We run through a horse stable. Happy horses...
Races aren't possible without those wonderful people at the aid stations!
I love this grove of eucylaptus trees! On a warm day, it provides relief from the sun. But it ALWAYS means you're at the top of the Tennessee Valley - a 700 foot climb in just over a mile! Other people (that guy running being one) don't have as much trouble with it as I do!
A view of the parking lot from the top of Tennessee Valley. Ha.
These crazy bushes??trees?? appeared out of the fog
It's scenes like this that make me love trail running.
On a clear day, you'd think you'd be able to touch the bridge when you round this corner.
You know, this bridge (which I did get to see later on, but from further on)!
Sailboats at Point Bonita lighthouse.
And finally, the finish! It took longer to get here than I wanted, but get here I did (3:07:xx). My last race before England!