Ferry Building 4 mile Run Race Report

The entry fee--$5. No T-shirt given out (but I bought two to support the club). No race numbers. Just little tags to identify us when we finished. No police to hold the crowds back. As a matter of fact, not really any crowds. Just a few people out there cheering the ones they knew running. Racing at it's bare bones. And, this race was as it fun as it gets for running.

The Ferry Building 4 mile race, held in San Francisco, starts at the intersection of Jefferson and Hyde Streets, (if you are familar with SF it's where the cable cars turnaround by Fisherman's Wharf) heads down the Embarcedaro for 2 miles going past Fisherman's Wharf along the way, turns around at the Ferry Building (there is a chalkmark on the ground that showed the turnaround. No one was there to instruct us) and heads back from whence we came to the finish. The finish? A view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The swag? A Finisher's ribbon from the San Francisco Runners Club.

It was a very chilly morning with the wind off the water blowing hard. I raced in layers similar to what I wore at the Valley Harvest Half. And, like the Valley Harvest Half, I was overdressed about 1/4 mile into the race. Once the buildings along the Embarcedaro blocked the wind and the sun came out, it warmed up and so did I.

We ran in the streets and on the sidewalks. We had to run around tourists and other runners not in the race. But, the views were amazing. The experience was amazing. And, to top it all off? A Sea Salt Caramel Hot Cocoa from Ghirardelli at Ghirardelli Square. What a great way to end my race year.

Below are some of the pictures from the morning. Enjoy!

(A view of the Golden Gate Bridge at the start area of the race)

(The sign-in table)

(Looking at the course at the start of the race)

(Fisherman's Wharf)

(The cable car turnaround with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background)

(At the starting area of the race)

(Me with my 'race number' on)

(Another view of the harbor)

(People gathering at the sign-in table)

(Trying to stay warm before the race)

(Waiting for the race to start)

(The start line)

(View of the TransAmerica Building on the course)

(The course about 1.5 into the race)

(The Ferry Building where we turned around)

(The Finish Line with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background)

(Runners gathering after the race)