San Francisco...where hippies thrive

Pretty, pretty San Francisco...how I love thee.

-On Saturday I did a short 10-mile run before showering and walking to the Ferry Building to enviously gaze at all the colorful, organic produce. Later, Joseph and I met Jonathan at Cafe Gratitude (I forced Joseph to leave the spam musubis I brought him at home...but he still insisted on stuffing a few slices of deli meat down this throat as he walked out the door). For someone who claims not to eat or like raw vegetables, he still managed to run up a $30 tab by himself. I have to say, the food was delicious, but it was definitely an ah...interesting experience for the palate. I mean, I loved it and I'd definitely go back, but for the most part, everything was some variation on a salad.

-On Sunday Joseph and I did a 10-mile morning hike along the Coastal Trail from Golden Gate Park to Fort Funston's lookout point. While on the trail we passed no less than 3,000 dogs. Big dogs, small dogs, hairy dogs, ugly dogs, cute dogs, disabled dogs, drooling dogs and of course- dog shat. I wonder...how do dogs manage to crap without the aid of tp or Cottonelle wet wipes? For me, even with the added protection of fur, I'd chafe like a mo'fo. I give dogs credit. Because even with all the water and fiber in the world, I can't say I have the talent of depositing neat, solid chunks that do not require hours and hours of wiping.

Thankfully, none of the dogs were in heat (although Joseph did get to enjoy one ball sniffing). After our hike we inhaled the most delicious greasy-a** burgers/fries at Darla's, had a quick nap, and then walked about 2.5 miles to meet Jonthan and Sarah (crazy, crazy trail runner training for the Trans Rockies next week...Go Sarah!) for dinner at Chow's (in the Castro district). I thought we'd bump into Linds or Brit (with one or two of her dirty-diaper filled tots) while we were there, but I found out that's Mr. Chow's in LA, not Chow's in San Francisco. Der. Guess I'll just have to catch them when I roll into Pure this weekend with my boy Kanye instead.

-On Monday I woke up and went for a slow, meandering 3-mile walk in the neighborhood and ending up finding a Farmers Market (went nuts there) while waiting for Joseph to wake up. Once he did, we ate at a funky Bohemian cafe for lunch and sat and had coffee at Martha & Bros. in the Haight district before walking over to the Golden Gate Bridge and back. To get there, we walked through the beautiful Presidio neighborhood, Cow Hollow, and the Palace of Fine Arts (that place is really falling apart, man...they really need to just knock it down and rebuild that price of crap). Yes, I'm being sarcastic. While at Crissy Field I also checked out my first Sports Basement. Loved it! As much as I make fun of all the North Face/Columbia crowd...I'd so love to be one. I just need to prostitute Roy at the hospital for more overtime in order to afford that stuff.

So over the course of three days, I covered...44 miles! I've had three people, three 'friends' tell me that this is kinda manic. It didn't feel that way, but I can see how one might think it is. I still haven't run since Saturday's 10-miler (trying to help the knees and shins heal) so I'm getting increasingly paranoid, but I know it's the right thing to do. And like most 'right things to do,' it sucks a**. So the jury's still out on whether or not I should do this week's scheduled 20-miler.