The SD Half Results and Buckboards

The pictures are in, so now I can tell the rest of the story of this year's San Diego Half Marathon. The temperature was slightly cool when I arrived at the starting line at about 6:30am. The official start time for the race was 7:20am, and I was in Wave 2, which would begin approximately 1 minute and 45 seconds after that. I was nervous about 2 things; one was taken care of by a quick trip to the restroom inside of the Omni (note to self: never eat lasagna laden with mozzarella the night before a race) and the other was something I had no control over, which is the outdoor temperature. It was going to be a warm day, and I just wanted to start as soon as possible before the sun came out in full force. As you can see in the first photo, I was in a pretty good mood, excited to be doing a new race and excited to see how far all of my training would take me. I also had a number of coworkers who were running the race, too (thus the apparel).

Here's how it started: the first few minutes, I always wonder, "How the hell am I going to run 13 miles at this pace?" Then by about mile 1, I calm down and start to feel pretty good, as witnessed by this shot of me passing the Star of India Maritime Museum on Harbor Drive.



As the race wore on, the heat factor increased, and I began to wilt. By mile 8, I started seeing too many people pass me (never a good sign) and it really messed with my mind. I had a feeling that my goal time was slowly going down the drain.



After completing the worst hill of the course (and there were quite a few for this race), I saw the time at the 10 mile marker which showed I had been running for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Son of a bleeping bee-yotch. I realized that a personal best was impossible, and all I wanted to do was just stop and walk the last 3 miles. Fortunately, I trudged on and began to get my game back. Not enough to run 3 miles in 15 minutes, but enough to finish with a time of 1:56.12. I saw my assistant from work at the finish line; she had waited for me after completing the 5k. If you run, I am sure you understand how much it can help to see and hear somebody cheering you on. It definitely bolstered my spirits and helped me finish strong.



I was disappointed beyond belief not to achieve a personal best, but I was happy that despite the heat (which is my achilles heel when it comes to running), I came in respectably under 2 hours. And the worst part of the race? Having to climb a few flights of steps to pick up the after-race snacks and goody bag. Ouch, ouch, and double ouch.



Next up…maybe I'll do the SD Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon. Stay tuned…

Thanks to David over at Gorillas Don't Blog, I was reminded that Life Magazine had a number of shots of the Buckboard Wagons from when Disneyland first opened. Hmmm…looks like fun; can't imagine why they didn't last!



Driving through Frontierland, with Native Americans along the way, it looks like lots of fun! I don't get it?!?



Oh…now I get it.



I can imagine that there were very few guests who were excited about getting wet in this vehicle that provided very little (if any) protection from the elements along the way.



Obviously, not much testing occurred with this attraction before it opened! NOW I know why the buckboards didn't last long in the park.



See more Daveland photos from my collection on my main website.

Exploring The Headquarters

For most races, the day before the event is when you pick up your racing bib and other materials that you'll need for the big day. Of course it would be easier if they mailed this stuff to you, but then the vendors at the Expo wouldn't have an opportunity to sell sell sell their wares to you. It was also a chance for me to go to an area I rarely explore, as The Seaport District is fairly touristy and difficult to find parking; therefore, I tend to avoid it like the plague! Parking near the USS Midway, I had to get a shot of the imposing aircraft carrier, which is now a museum.

The San Diego Half Marathon Expo was held at The Broadway Pier, which functions as a Cruise Ship Terminal and an event space.



The design of the building is very sleek, and I can see how it would be a very cool venue for a special event or party. The expo itself was well organized, albeit a bit lackluster.



While at The Seaport District, I figured I might as well check out the surroundings. Why waste a good parking space, right? I encountered this little dragon sculpture along the way to The Headquarters, which was my ultimate destination.



The Headquarters was once the San Diego Police Station. It was recently converted into an outdoor retail complex, showing what a bit of creative thinking can do when it comes to adaptive reuse of old buildings.



I would have preferred the tenants to have more of a local flavor and be less national chain-oriented, but considering how touristy the area is, perhaps it was a better choice to go in that direction.



The building looks brand-new after the remodel...



but still bears some of the architectural details that let visitors know it might actually have a history.



Not sure if it was intentional, but this window looks like a huge gaping mouth, aka "The O Face."



The coolest part of The Headquarters is that they preserved this area of cells.



And yes, you can go inside some for photo ops and selfies!



Your basic jail cell.



Marilyn Monroe brightened each day of this particular prisoner.



Puesto, a Mexican bar & eatery, is one of the restaurants that guests can find at The Headquarters. There is one other Puesto location up north in La Jolla.



Seasons 52 offers a more upscale dining experience, with both indoor and outdoor seating. And yes, it's a chain.



I might come back to The Headquarters; it's fun, has a great location, and just a tad bit kitschy. Still, for guests that come to town, my first choice would be to take them to one of the less touristy neighborhoods so that they can experience a San Diego that is a bit more unique.

See more vintage & current San Diego photos from my collection on my main website.

San Diego Half Marathon: A Challenge for 50

Typically, I prefer to do races in cities other than the one I live in. When I train, I don't believe in training on a treadmill or on a track; races are held outdoors, and that's exactly where I like to train. To have a race over the roads that I train everyday seems somewhat boring, but this year, I have decided to break with tradition. On March 9, 2014, starting in Petco Park, I will be doing the San Diego Half Marathon and hoping to achieve a personal best in honor of my impending (yikes) 50th birthday. When I turned 30, I was living in Indiana, and my family took me to Chi Chi's, a "Mexican" restaurant (the quotes are intentional). I remember all the waitstaff coming out to sing "Happy Birthday" and dumping a huge sombrero on my head. I also remember thinking, "Is this what 30 is about?" Once I recovered from that (5 years later), I felt my life start to hum again. When it came time to turn the next corner and hit 40, I decided to take life (and my celebration) by the horns and face it head on. The 40s have been a blast, and I fully intend to make the 50s even better, starting with this race.

Here's the course: along the way, runners pass the Broadway Pier:



Harbor Drive/Harbor Island and The San Diego Airport:



Coming back, Liberty Station in Point Loma and up through Mission Hills, which is known for its beautiful Mission/Arts & Crafts-style homes and gardens:





Next along the line is Hillcrest, home to many unique restaurants and shops:



And then past the jewel of San Diego, Balboa Park:



With a tremendous finish (I hope) through the Gaslamp Arch:



As far as scenery goes, I really can't complain.

See more vintage & current San Diego photos on my main website.