Ryan Levander

Me on boat ride over Golden Gate Bridge.

San Francisco Marathon + Trip

Leave a Comment / Adventure, Races / By
Published on: July 22, 2013
Categorized in: Adventure, Races
Read Time: 3 minutes

I ran the 2013 San Francisco Marathon as my first ever. I was quite surprised I finished that race as I had a partial hamstring tear just a week before the race. With some awesome physical therapy treatment and staying off it as much as a could, I managed to not further hurt it and still get really close to qualifying for Boston (I came in at 3:05:56…: 56 seconds off qualifying!)

I did make a bathroom stop at mile 2, so that was pretty ridiculous!

The marathon is one of the only, if not the only time of the year where the Golden Gate Bridge is shut down. It was a pretty surreal experience to see the sunrise while running over the foggy San Francisco morning.

Newspaper the morning after the Marathon.
Newspaper the morning after the Marathon.

I really enjoyed the course – and highly recommend it if you aren’t averse to a little more challenging, hilly terrain.

I also recommend San Francisco as a travel destination to anyone. Such a socially liberal and fun creative arts city. Yet, it feels very classy and sophisticated in the right manner as well.

Timelapse of Union Square in Downtown San Francisco

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I had a great balance of spending time exploring on my own and with my Aunt, Cousin, and my friend from college who was there as well.

I will definitely be back to San Francisco and be spending more time there when I’m back! (and you can expect a full Alcatraz roll of photos to be here, too)

Click on photo for lightbox viewing with caption (all photos taken by Ryan with iPhone and Canon Rebel T3i and edited in Snapseed and Adobe Lightroom)

Me on boat ride over Golden Gate Bridge.
Me on boat ride over Golden Gate Bridge.
Me on boat ride over Golden Gate Bridge.
Me on boat ride over Golden Gate Bridge.
Kaitlyn and I in Bay Area boat ride.
Kaitlyn and I in Bay Area boat ride.
My media setup back in the day! hah
My media setup back in the day! hah
Leaving Denver.
Leaving Denver.
Over Denver + Utah Mountains.
Over Denver + Utah Mountains.
Entering Bay Area.
Entering Bay Area.
Sushi heaven. A 49'ers roll. I used to be a 49'ers fan, so this was a must.
Sushi heaven. A 49’ers roll. I used to be a 49’ers fan, so this was a must.
Book fair outside government buildings.
Book fair outside government buildings.
Beautiful government buildings in downtown San Francisco.
Beautiful government buildings in downtown San Francisco.
Giants vs. Dodgers! (Went to extra innings and Giants won!)
Giants vs. Dodgers! (Went to extra innings and Giants won!)
Mandatory palm tree selfie.
Mandatory palm tree selfie.
San Francisco Marathon Expo.
San Francisco Marathon Expo.
Downtown San Francisco.
Downtown San Francisco.
Fog + bridges from Giants stadium after game.
Fog + bridges from Giants stadium after game.
Fog + traffic from Giants stadium after game.
Fog + traffic from Giants stadium after game.
Lombard Street - famously steep and crooked street!
Lombard Street – famously steep and crooked street!
Bay area + boats. Lovely day.
Bay area + boats. Lovely day.
Running sucked after I was very sore - post marathon.
Running sucked after I was very sore – post marathon.
Union Square.
Union Square.
Biking day.
Biking day.
The classic cable cars.
The classic cable cars.
Cable car tracks.
Cable car tracks.
Newspaper day after marathon.
Newspaper day after marathon.
In the Pacific Ocean.
In the Pacific Ocean.
West Coats Sunset.
West Coats Sunset.
Sierra Nevada on tap.
Sierra Nevada on tap.
Normal is boring in San Francisco.
Normal is boring in San Francisco.
Chinatown.
Chinatown.
Ant's view of cable car tracks.
Ant’s view of cable car tracks.
Mandatory In-n-Out burger. (not a fan)
Mandatory In-n-Out burger. (not a fan)
Another golden gate version.
Another golden gate version.
Golden Gate at night - slow shutter with combined exposures here.
Golden Gate at night – slow shutter with combined exposures here.
Oakland Bay Bridge with sun flare.
Oakland Bay Bridge with sun flare.
Coffee and pastries at Union Square. Lovely.
Coffee and pastries at Union Square. Lovely.
Me running across the Golden Gate Bridge - around mile 8.
Me running across the Golden Gate Bridge – around mile 8.
Finishing photo!
Finishing photo!

Photos by Ryan Levander are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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