Nike Women's Marathon 2011

So here goes the story. It goes way back to 2010 when me and my friend Sisi drove a common friend Mary to SF for NWM 2010. It was a memorable experience. When we were waiting for Mary at the finis line we heard stories from women who finished the marathon. Some in pain. Whom am I kidding most of them in pain but all of them ecstatic to have done it.

October 15th 2011.
I get to sleep on Akshay's couch on the night before the race. He lives on 6th and the Mission (close to the starting point of the race). He literally lives on the 6th and the Mission. If you were to jump from his window, you would be ON the 6th and the Mission. I decided to park my car near his place and walk to the Union square to pick up my race packet. Bad decision. My phone's GPS asked me walk on the Leavenworth street. I did. There were junkies, hookers, homeless people who won't stop staring at you, people who would cat call. I did what I used to do when I was 10 and had to walk from the bus stop to my home on a road filled with monkeys. Say a prayer and keep my head straight, not let the fear that I felt inside reflect on my face and be prepared to run if I had to.
Apart from that, everything else was fun. Akshay and I had dinner at Naan 'n' Curry. The best Naan I have had outside Delhi. The Bhindi masala was a well of oil. Guess he thought I needed to get 'fueled' up for my race. Literally. I slept quite soundly. The few times I woke up to drink some water, I could hear people arguing down on the street. As Akshay told me earlier, it does indeed get noisy in the night.

October 16th
Akshay dropped me midway to the start of the race. I walked up a few blocks and before I could line myself up at the start of a faster pace group, I found myself running to the start line and thus began the race. I did not have my head phones this time. I could listen to what people's conversations, most of which I found utterly boring.
Mile 1 :
I was dodging people
Mile 2:
I was dodging people
Mile 3 :
I was dodging people.
There was a church choir cheering the runners.
Mile 4:
The t shirt comes off.
High school cheer leaders were cheering us on.
I was dodging people.
Mile 5:
A group of drummers keeping up the beat.
I was dodging people.
Mile 6:
Here come the hills. I hear shouts of "I love hills".
I was dodging people.
Mile 7 :
I have water.
Had to run away from the conversation of two middle aged women.
I was dodging people.
Mile 8 :
Beautiful views of the ocean.
Running by myself feels amazing.
Mile 9 - 12 :
I thought at the start of the race that I would think about what has been plaguing me for an year now. I don't. All along the race I don't. I just run. I don't think of anything else but running. What a waste :P
Mile 13 :
I carefully increase my speed. I see a lady running in pain. running.
Last 0.1 mile :
I sprint.
and its done.
No great feelings of ecstasy. I just did it in 2:05:12.
My first half marathon.