Run Marathon Man

Distance runner Ray Christensen

MENUMENU
  • About
    • Running Gear for You!
    • Find a Race: DE / Philly Area
  • 2002-05
    • 2002 Training Log
    • 2002 Philly Distance Run
    • 2002 DE Distance Classic 15K
    • 2002 Dublin Marathon
      • Dublin: Sightseeing
      • Dublin: Pasta Dinner
      • Dublin City Marathon
      • Dublin: Celebration
      • 2002 J.I.M. Bermuda
      • 2002 J.I.M. Disneyworld
    • 2003 Icicle, CR, Broad Street
    • 2003 Marathon Training
    • 2003 Humpy's Marathon
      • Alaska Trip: Travel and Cruise
      • Alaska: Humpy's Marathon
      • Alaska: Talkeetna, Denali
      • Alaska: Team Cobey Hiking
      • Alaska: Sightseeing Anchorage
      • Alaska: More Photos
    • 2003 NYC Marathon
      • New York City Start
      • NYC Triumph
    • 2004 Icicle Run in Wilmington
    • 2004 Caesar Rodney Half
    • 2004 Paris Marathon
      • Paris: Delaware Runners
      • Paris: Notre Dame, Louvre
      • Paris Marathon – Race Day
      • Paris: Cemetery, Eiffel Tower
      • Versailles & Paris Sightseeing
    • 2004 Bay to Breakers
      • BTB in San Francisco
      • BTB Naked Runners
    • 2004 Races & Training
    • 2004 Chicago Marathon
      • Chicago Expo, Sightseeing
      • Chicago Race Day
      • Chicago Congratulations
    • 2005 Winter Races
    • 2005 Boston Marathon
      • Boston Bus Trip
      • Boston Marathon – Race Day
      • Marathon Press Recap
    • 2005 Summer Races
    • 2005 Twin Cities Marathon
  • 2006-10
    • 2006 Boston Marathon
      • Boston Bus Trip
      • Hopkinton to Boylston St.
    • 2006 Steamtown Marathon
    • 2007 Big Sur Marathon
    • 2007 Marine Corps Marathon
    • 2008 New Jersey Marathon
    • 2008 Breakers Marathon
    • 2009 Disney World Marathon
      • Disney Marathon Trip
      • Goofy Challenge Races
    • 2009 Boston Marathon
      • Boston Bus, Expo, Rebels
      • 113th Boston Marathon
      • Boston Globe Photos
    • 2009 California Intl Marathon
    • 2010 Country Music Marathon
    • 2010 Wineglass Marathon
  • 2011-18
    • 2011 Garden Spot Marathon
    • 2011 Marine Corps Half
    • 2011 Philadelphia Marathon
    • 2012 Bob Potts Marathon
    • 2012 Hartford Marathon
    • 2013 Vermont City Marathon
    • 2014 Ave of Giants Marathon
      • 2014: Northern California
    • 2014 Monster Mash Mar.
    • 2015 River Towns Marathon
    • 2015 Richmond Marathon
    • 2018 Baltimore Marathon
  • Contact Ray

2014: Cruising Northern California

SF Bay Bridge
San Francisco side of the Bay Bridge – photo by Bart

Having lived in the Bay Area for 12 years in the ’80s, I visit friends each time I return. Bart & Veronica live close to San Jose Airport in Santa Clara and I hit them at both ends of my trip.

But first, a surprise visit with a running buddy previously from Wilmington, but now living in Seattle. I was grabbing my luggage when I someone called my name. Turning around, Scott “Shaggy” Hodukavich greeted me with a big smile. He happened to also have just landed, enroute to run Big Sur Marathon 2 days later!

Chance Encounter with Shaggy

I was extra surprised to see Shaggy, since I had just received a call from Bart to check my progress. He had flown in on SouthWest, just like me, so we ended up in the same place. What a coincidence that 2 friends should both fly in at the same time to each run a different marathon!

We walked to the car rental building and hooked back up after securing our vehicles from different floors. Mine had Colorado plates. Dropped off my stuff at Bart’s and drove down Stevens Creek Blvd to meet Shaggy at a restaurant owned by friends of Bart and Veronica. We had pasta and “Damn Good Beer”, then walked across the busy street to Santana Row, an upscale outdoor shopping mall. Visited a Tesla showroom, & saw plenty of Beverly Hills type shops amidst the palm trees.

That evening with B&V, conversation turned to politics & big pharma. The 3 cats did not join in the discussion.

San Francisco, Friends & Flowers

San Francisco
San Francisco Ferry Building

Saturday in the City
7am exercise and a neighborhood run, with plenty of flowers and vegetation to enjoy. Also some stark contrasts of expensive sports cars on the same street as abandoned/forclosed homes. Bart & I drive 30+ miles north to the city, where we park almost 2 miles from ATT Park and start snapping photos
immediately. We buy $24 “standing” tickets, but walk right down to the dugout in the empty stadium and eventually found a pocket of $50 seats that we make our own for most of the game (in an otherwise full stadium). The Giants make a 4 run comeback for the win as we tour the stadium.

San Francisco Walk
After the game, we walked with much of the crowd to the waterfront and Ferry Building, which now houses shops & tourist area. We had tired legs by the time we doubled back to the car. Pleasand drive back south to pick up Veronica to hit 456 Chinese Restaurant. I had time for a little website work before turning in.

Sunday Church & Gardens
After checking my emails, we attended 10am Mass at St. Martin of Tours, including donuts afterwards. B&V invited me to join friends to carpool around for a “Native Plants Garden Tour”. We dropped by a condo complex, private residences, community gardens plus ducks and a chicken house on a warm, sunny day. San Jose has few zoning laws. Falafel Drive-in was delicious and we wrapped up the day by sipping wine in Ken’s backyard, which includes gorgeous plants and a “wedding chapel” area of hedges.

That evening, Bart cooks chicken with rice & broccoli. More website work (Pegma Tech site) and I’m done for the day.

Guadalupe River Trail
Up at 6:30 to stretch & warm up. Drove on Pruneridge to San Jose where I enjoyed a 10 mile run along the tiny “river”. It’s a typical urban greenway, which runs from almost downtown, past the airport to a pretty stretch where I found several people commuting to work by bike.

Shower back at the house, where exterior painter taped the door closed. 11am-4pm was my drive up I-80 to Grass Valley in the foothills of the Sierra. Warm sun, traffic on 880 in the East Bay. Stopped on Vallejo bridge, then luch at Jack in the Box and I needed to ask an attendant how to pump gas.

Dropped in to Auburn CVS for supplies, including Gel insoles. When unpacking Friday night, I had realized that instead of bringing my new marathon shoes, I had accidentally grabbed a pair of old, retired running shoes instead. Decided to go with them, rather than buying new shoes. Called Scott & then Craig (since using my cell is still a novelty for me) & got final directions to Tammy Way.

Real Estate & Politics
Craig has a great house in the beautiful mountains near Grass Valley. Conversation while being attacked by a couple of their 5 little dogs. We then visited a property that he was considering bidding on by auction for a real estate client. Hit a food store & Craig cooks chicken with rice & boccoli.
NHL playoff game 6 on TV: Kings 4, Sharks 1. Bed at 10pm!

Nevada City

Tuesday Running & Sightseeing
A little web design business to start the day with a couple business calls. Then a quite hilly 5 mile run around the Alta Sierra community. Craig & I head to historic Nevada City for a walk, real estate auction on the courthouse steps, and some delicious Pete’s Pizza. A few miles down the road and we sightsee some more in Grass Valley, where it’s 80 degrees and sunny. Culture Shock Yogurt hits the spot before we visit another property on Hidden Valley Drive.

Nevada City CA
Craig Adachi, Realtor – Nevada City, CA

NHL & NBA Playoffs
That evening is spent with the 5 little dogs, watching the Flyers beat the Rangers and then the Clippers/Warriors game (amidst the owner’s racism scandal). What fun!

Wednesday: IHOP, WordPress & Hockey
Awesome traditional IHOP breakfast (every time I visit) as usual included eggs, sausage, hash browns, & French toast with strawberries. Then back to the house where I did a full day “in the office”, mainly working on re-design of my school of hair design client’s site. but 4pm was time to watch a thrilling game 7 Rangers OT win 2-1 over the Flyers at MSG. We then headed to an Italian restaurant for an expensive meal with Craig’s friend and family. Pretty small portion of ravioli, but the beer was good! Then we watched another NHL game 7 as the LA Kings beat our San Jose Sharks.

Thursday: Old Sacramento & Capitol Park
Craig & I convoyed through Auburn to Sacto, where he was attending a business meeting. It was a hot day for me to stroll around Old Sacramento taking photos while enjoying the River Walk, shops, saloons and a $5 footlong Subway lunch. Then I drove 2 miles to find a good parking spot to spend 2 hours visiting every monument in the beautiful park surrounding the state capitol building. Redwood & Cedar trees, monuments to wars, Vietnam, Civil War, Firefighters. Many photos & video clips and people enjoying summer weather on the grass or on benches.
SEE VIDEO BELOW!

California

Haircut & Another Park
Still no contact with Wendy, so I found a tiny Men’s/Women’s salon with an $8 haircut sign in the window. The hot Chinese stylists made it an even better deal! Spent 4-5pm at Land Park near my destination for the evening. Finally got to Perkins Street in time to get licked by 2 Beagles. Of the 2 cats that also lived there, one would share my bed that night.

With Chris only flying in later from L.A., Wendy and I hit a cool neighborhood restaurant for Hefeweizen, sausage sampler, cheese tray. We discussed dating and a recent photo scandal.

Friday: Running, Burrito, More Hockey!!!
730am 5 mile run around the big neighborhood park, then a continental breakfast followed by a little work in the office. Had a nice burrito lunch with Chris before getting on the road back to Santa Clara. Took I-5 through the valley to Livermore, and then the scenic route into heavy Friday afternoon Silicon Valley traffic, especially on Lawrence Expressway. Enjoyed a 3-2 Rangers OT win over the Penguins, then a pizza dinner and some TV shows.

Saturday 300 Mile Road Trip
Time for the grand finale of this vacation, a trip within a trip…

Back to:
Avenue of the Giants Marathon Recap

California


San Francisco
Bart & Bay Bridge

San Francisco
Ray at Ferry Bldg

San Jose

San Jose
Bart & Veronica

Nevada City CA
Nevada City, CA

Nevada City CA
Not my rental car

Nevada City CA

Sacramento
Sacramento River

Sacramento
Old Sacramento

Sacramento

Sacramento

Sacramento

Sacramento
California Train Museum

Sacramento
Old Sacramento

Ray’s 90 Second Video of Capitol Park, Sacramento



* * * Search Races (5K to Marathon) across USA * * *

Fortuna, CA
Ray in Fortuna, CA – evening before marathon

Back to:
Avenue of the Giants Marathon Recap

Boston Marathon finisher medal

Contact Ray

Webmaster Ray builds websites



(paid link)

Home
About Ray
2002 Dublin
2003 Humpy’s
2003 New York City
2004 Paris
2004 Chicago
2005 Boston Marathon
2005 Twin Cities
2006 Boston Marathon
2006 Steamtown
2007 Big Sur
2007 Marine Corps

2011 Philadelphia
2012 Bob Potts
2012 Hartford
2013 Vermont City
2014 Ave of Giants
2014 Monster Mash
2015 River Towns
2015 Richmond
2018 Baltimore
Contact Ray

Find a Race
Wilmington / Philly Area

The Lord is kind and merciful,
Slow to anger and great in compassion.

302-633-1482

Running Gear
#ad

© 2002 – 2023 Run Marathon Man – running journal of distance runner Ray Christensen of Wilmington, Delaware. Fitness, training, trails & road races.

Site by Attraction Web Design

Scroll Up