This race started at the pre-race bib pickup experience. After picking up our packets (string bag, race bib, course map, and parking pass) we had to walk through an IKEA maze of shopping experiences to find the exit. The experience wasn't forced on us, it was just the easiest way to go if you didn't try to avoid it. Plus there were lots of free samples of high tech (plant based) snacks and opportunity to do other races.

  

  

They had these light hoodies with the name of every registrant on them. Available for only $34.95. All of the male names were on the green ones, and all of the female names were on the purple ones. I couldn't resist getting a shirt with my name on it. Virginia got one to. Turns out I wore mine during the event. Saw lots of other people wearing matching tops on the course. Virginia wore her usual running outfit.

It was dark when we drove up from Mountain View. Parking was at the Pier 39 garage, not even a block from where the event started. It's hard to think of a way that the logistics could have been more graceful.

The race ended right in front of Ghiradelli Square. There was a post race beer bash (one free beer per registered runner) in Ghiradelli Square. After enjoying that for a while we wandered Fisherman's Wharf looking for food. Ended up at this cavernous place where lots of people were enjoying big meals. After eating a very yummy lunch we went back to Ghiradelli Square. They had let it be known that anybody that bought a sundae and showed their race bib there would get a free chocolate bar so we did that (shown above on the map). Hit the road felling very full and tired.