CROSS DRAINING

I am currently at the friendly end of a seven week break between marathons, but that doesn't mean I'm slacking. Okay, maybe just a bit. But, I won't be for long. I'll kick things up very soon, in anticipation of my third running of the Salt Lake City Marathon (#5 in the 12in12) in mid-April.

Since the soggy Napa Valley Marathon two weeks ago today, I've taken a week off, then run a 10 miler and a 7 miler...and today I rode my bike, for the first time in months.

When I got up I checked the wx forecast and decided if it WAS raining, I'd run. If it wasn't, I'd ride. It was NOT raining when I left my house, heading into San Francisco to cheer some friends across the finish line of the Emerald Nuts Across the Bay 14K run from Sausalito to The City. That was pretty much the last time it really wasn't raining all day.

Arrived at the finish line about 45 minutes after the race started. Already, the soggy front-runners (pun intended) were sloshing beneath the banner, many of them, smiling from ears to ears. I waited a half an hour, til the race clock hit 1:20...and I hadn't seen my friend Julianne come up the chutes...but knew there was no way she'd not crossed already. So, off I went, heading for the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin County, and my post-ride lunch.

Checked my Twitter while on the bridge, as I hunkered down behind one of the massive towers, sheltering from a driving rain. Turns out Julianne and her gang had finished around 1:04...so I had missed their finish, after all.

The rest of the ride was uneventful, except for incessant rain showers and the obligitory Mars bar at mile 13, always a stellar moment, outside Mike's Bikes in Sausalito. After that headed into Mill Valley and the very steep (but, short) Horse Hill. Coming down the other side of that climb I hit 42 mph on my speedometer...in the rain. Awesome!

My original thought was to have lunch at the 20 mile mark, which just happens to be Marin Brewing Company. I was thinking jalapeno poppers and a Raspberry Trail Ale...IF...I could time it right with a ride home on the Larkspur Ferry. However, as I pulled into the Ferry Building parking lot, the 11:40 boat was pulling out, four minutes late. The next one would not be for two hours, so I shifted gears (literally!) and headed past San Quentin, head-down, up-hill, into another drizzly headwind, with San Rafael's Broken Drum Brewpub on my mind.

Once there, I ordered up. Turkey Burger with cheese, garlic fries AND...an IPA. Top-notch nosh.

Then it was off to catch the bus across the San Rafael Bridge, back to the East Bay.

My options at that point were the 3 mile ride home from the Del Norte BART station or the 8 mile ride from Pt. Richmond. Being a glutton for punishment, I chose the latter.

My favourite part of that ride is the Richmond Marina. It's home to some amazing views...

...and some stunning boats. Among them, the Robert Gray.

This is someone's home. I first saw it years ago. Ever since then I have been envious of whoever it is who gets to take their shoes off here at the end of a work day, and sit out on the aft deck with a glass of wine, watching the evening sun's recession.

My total for the day, 32 miles...in 2:49. Not a great time, in terms of how long it took to complete the distance. But, a great time, in all other ways. Despite the freakin' rain!

Gotta run!