Not going to lie, I had high expectations for this weekend. And it turned out to be… even better than I expected!
Saturday morning I was finally participating in something I’ve been wanting to for a long time: hiking in Marin! I met up with Talia bright and early and we headed up to hike part of the Dipsea trail that runs from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach. (It’s also a famous footrace which, after hiking, leaves me 1. Convinced that anyone who attempts that race or God forbid the Double Dipsea is crazy and 2. Really wanting to do it.)
The beginning of the trail was up, up, and UP! It’s funny how non-runners assume marathoners are in tip-top shape. Maybe we are in a certain way, but damn, walking up these hills at 2 miles per hour took the wind right out of me! But at least it was beautiful.
I had a great time just hanging out with Tali. Ironically, it was beautiful weather in the city, but foggy as hell in the headlands. We slogged our way to the top of the hill that offers vast, breathtaking views of the pacific and saw… this!
Yup. Pretty awesome. Reminds me of these people who I met in the Swiss Alps who had hiked thousands of feet up an alp just to see the same view as above and then turned back down.
I’m looking forward to seeing the view… someday!
We kept heading towards Stinson but it was really wet and got so muddy we were both literally slipping and sliding around so we headed back. All together it was a 6 mile hike and great cross training. I devoured a peanut butter and jelly (with our homemade jam we had just made!) and then we stopped by the Dipsea Café for coffee (for Talia) and a hot chocolate and biscuit (for me). I think our homemade jam is better than theirs. 
Next on the agenda was the San Francisco Street Food Festival. Apparently, 60 vendors from restaurants and food trucks alike came out to Folsom Street in the Mission to sell drinks, little bites (tastes for $2-3) and “bigger bites” ($6-8). I went to get good content for the blog but all my pictures came up craptastically. I ran into Alligator who has been mentioned on the blog a few times and he so kindly paused whatever he was doing often to aid in my photography or jostling of cameras and food, but alas: crappy pictures.
I am more than ever fully convinced I need a new digital camera. One can not blog on iPhone alone. Next paycheck…
Anyway, at the food fest, I had a small Thai iced tea, a little bite of fried yucca, and a bigger bite of Ethiopian food. Which I LOVE, but this was only okay.
I wanted to get the sweet potato pancake or the funnel cake or the ice cream, but I held out because I thought I’d regret it. I regret NOT getting those! A la The Last Crusade, I chose poorly.
Regardless, it was fun times anyway. Sunday brought a 5am wake up call (BARF!) but it ended up being totally worth it! I got picked up so kindly by Katie and Alisyn (from whom I lovingly borrowed these two pics) and we headed to Tiburon for Sunday Runday organized by Layla!
When the three of us arrived, we found Layla and Karin and set out for a four-mile warm-up jog. Then we hooked up with Naomi, RoadBunner, and Alyssa to run some more! People had asked me how many miles I wanted to do and I had said I didn’t know… I hadn’t even run 7 miles in the 3 weeks since SFM and had been feeling so off. But I did another 8 miles with a few of the girls for a total of 12.2 miles. I’ll take it! It was good to get some miles in but the best part was just having fun and getting to know a lot of these women better, I’m so glad I’ve gotten the chance to meet them all! Definitely has made life in SF so much better.
Something else that has made life in SF so much better: Genki Ramen.
The weekend came to a fab conclusion when I met Alyssa, Sandra and Cate for ramen. I choose poorly again, “branching out” to a rice plate instead of the caldron of ramen, but still. Delicious.
And we went to the candy store after.
Overall, a great weekend! This week is shaping up pretty crazy…
- Wednesday: work Company Culture event and GrubWithUs dinner
- Thursday: big meetings and Giants game!
- Friday: Giants game again?
- Saturday: Giant Race! Yes, I think I am running a half marathon this weekend. Word.
Okay, it’s past my bedtime. Goodnight everyone!
Courtney
What was a highlight of your weekend? What are you looking forward to this week?
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sounds like an awesome weekend. ahhhh, so jealous! sf is the greatest!
i spent oct 2010 – july 2011 in sf and sf def did not disappoint! lived up to all its hype.
please enjoy all the amazing food and lack of humidity for me!!
ps- and running down embarcadero. one thing you’ve GOT to try is swimming in the bay.
sure it’s freezing, but you get acclimated real quick. the ocean current going pass your body feels amazing, the freezing water makes me feel alive, and the scenery of the ocean/gg bridge/marin is mesmerizing.
tiffany recently posted..our first patient
I think you got the same Genki curry thing with brown rice that I got! Yum! Wish I could eat ramen… but the rice thing was still very good
I totally want to do the Dipsea and I have never been to even see it.
It was nice meeting you on Sunday
XLMIC recently posted..To Pack or Not to Pack… and other Hood to Coast Prep… including a REALLY bad haircut
Love hiking in Marin! I fantasize about running the Dipsea all the time. Will probably never happen, but it’s fun to imagine.
Did you get to try the moth larvae tacos? I didn’t make it out, but my boyfriend said they were delicious!
I think my favorite part of this post was the Last Crusade allusion.
Katie recently posted..Snapshot of Saturday Night
What a weekend you had! I want to go to the Dipsea trail someday! I was supposed to go to the Street Food Fair too but somehow ended up at Genki instead. And yay – you’re running the Giants race too!!! Can’t wait to see you there!
Looks like you had an awesome weekend! My highlight was finally seeing Hearst Castle and doing a little wine tasting. There was even an olive oil festival in Paso Robles that we stumbled upon.
TreasureLA recently posted..Music Monday: Jenny & Johnny, Concert Listings
looks fun! i had the same thoughts about hiking when i was in CO earlier this summer. it’s really challenging, even if you’re in good running shape!
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef recently posted..Lunch Date
All those bomb calories !
Marlene recently posted..Netflix Scratched DVDs
Your hike looks beautiful! Love the foggy pictures but I’m not a huge fan of fog – always ruins the views! lol
That hot chocolate looks so tasty!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) recently posted..Lemony Orzo Veggie Salad
The hot chocolate and biscuit idea sounds heavenly. I’m so envious of your HUGE running group! Maybe I need to move to a bigger city…
Maren recently posted..YES I really really did!
I LOVE the SF food street festival. So many places to choose from. Only downside is how crowded it is. Your hike looked great. I’ve always wanted to hike near there.
Jillian recently posted..Baseball with a Side of Breakfast
I’m now craving hot chocolate, despite our surprisingly warm weather on this side of the bay. thanks
My weekend was all travel all the time, so I’m glad you had enough fun for both of us! Are you definitely running the Giant Race?
Beth recently posted..Cupcakes and Champagne: A Brunch Bridal Shower
Sounds like an awesome weekend! This weekend I did absolutely nothing – it was such a nice change of pace!
Caroline recently posted..Ten years
That hike looks awesome! Round 2 when I move there
Jane @ Broccolini + Cheese recently posted..I’m Going Going, Back Back…
The street festival looks like so much fun!
Clarkie @ Beloved Green recently posted..Watermelon Lemonade
Oh my goodness…so many of my favorite things rolled into one!
I was at the festival on Saturday, too! It was so much fun walking around and taking in the sights (the Arepa Lady line was crazy!). And the Dipsea Trail and the Dipsea Cafe are two of my favorite places in the whole Bay Area. I would love to go for a run/hike sometime if you’d be interested in a blogger meet-up! 
Gavi @ Gavi Gets Going! recently posted..Lessons I’ve learned in the past few months
The festival looks fun and the food looks yummy! Good luck on your halfie this weekend!
teresa@vivacious running girl recently posted..Weekend Eats and Buys
Those are some awesome pics of the Dipsea trail! One of my friends does the quad dipsea race every year and does really well, he is seriously insane!
The SF food festival sounds like a great time!
The 12 mile run on Sunday in Tiburon sounds good too, Tiburon is awesome! I’ve been to Sam’s in Tiburon once, that place is a ton of fun to get drinks at.
Ramen is indeed great, I probably have it once very 3 weeks or so.
Bummer that you weren’t able to hear any music from Outside Lands, it was a great time. Good luck at the half marathon this weekend!
Nelly recently posted..SF Outside Lands / Wakeboarding / Flight 93 Memorial
What beautiful pictures you took of Dipsea! A great weekend you had and so much fun to run with you on Sunday! We have to do it again soon!! Tenha um bom dia!
I am jealous of your weekend! I really wish I lived somewhere that I could hike,Florida is not ideal.
Coooool! Looksl ike fun, and that hot cocoa looks delish!
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers recently posted..Eat, Think, Smile… and Eat Some More!