BethT took me on the most wonderful run this morning – across the Golden Gate Bridge !!
Can you see it in the background amidst the fog?!
We wore matching outfits
I had trouble sleeping last night – woke up at 3:30 (ready to go to the gym – ooops, wrong time zone!) and again at 5:30. Finally at 6 I got up and got ready for our run date.
I ventured into the hostel breakfast room to fine no fruit, plain bagels, a huge tub of regular (as in artificial) peanut butter, and some toast with jam. I took a piece of what looked like wheat toast and spread on some butter and jam and some OJ to have before our run (my stomach was majorly growling). I split the toast with my mom so I had half –
Beth picked me up at 7:30 outside of the hostel and we were off (yapping about all things blog and more the whole time 🙂 )
The run was amazing – we did about 5 to 5.5 miles and it felt effortless despite huge hills. The bridge was SO cool to cross on foot. Beth was so fun – I can tell we’d be great friends in real life (not that we’re not in blog life, but you know!).
After our run we debated on where to grab a bite to eat and I remembered that I’d never been to a Jamba Juice!!!! So we went for quick smoothies before she had to drop me off to shower and check out of the hostel.
Beth got a pomegranate one – yum x 2! I think the guy working there thought we were hilarious with our camera – and when we asked him to take our picture since it was my first time there.
Mom and I are hitting the famous Ferry Building as soon as we drop our suitcases off at the Westin! We’re going to be doing lots of walking today on top of my 5 miles – I’m wearing walking shoes!
Talk to you guys this afternoon with a lunch and sightseeing report.
Jenn says
wish i could run 1 mile without efford! 🙁
Em says
Love Jamba Juice! That was our high school lunch spot for sure!! And San Fran is definitely on my list of places to visit! Excited to see your sites and adventures!! Have a great day Kath!
caitlibo says
ahhh we are honeymooning in SF next January and i WILL run across the GG bridge EVERY morning i am there no matter what the temperature is! it’s my dream! loved the pic 😉
Monica says
I don’t think you understand how much I love Jamba Juice. The license plate holder on my car says, “Powered by Jamba Juice”. What kind did you get? If you have time to go there again their smoothies with granola (Topper Smoothies) are amazing!!!
Chandra (Eating to Live) says
That’s SO fantastic you got to try your first Jamba Juice! I love em 😀
that run sounds awesome!
Have a great time today, enjoy the WEST COAST =)
magpie says
The Ferry Building is awesome! My favorites are Delica-rf1 (Japanese deli) and Taylor’s – a diner with awesome ingredients. Slanted Door is also great, but you need to make a reservation weeks in advance 🙂
Janet says
What a great run! How fun is that.
KatieF says
How fun! I am so jealous of your dinner/wine last night and your run this morning! 🙂
BethT says
Haha, after much debate and scanning the menu I believe Kath selected the Sunrise Strawberry. Fun and tasty! I was telling her I try to avoid Jamba because I tend to get obsessed with places like that and go there every day, several days in a row…
Oh, and husband, the new plan is for you and Kath to move to San Francisco so we can all hang out. I’m sure she’ll fill you in later.
Hil says
There’s nothing like going across the golden gate bridge on foot…so beautiful. I even love the fog.
Jamba Juice was all the rage when I was in high school…so tasty! I was a little alarmed when I actually read the nutrition info…sneaky, sneaky juice places with their “healthy” drinks. But it looks like they offer smaller sizes now…they used to give you everything in these gigantic 400+ calorie portions.
So when are you going to visit LA? 😉
Emily says
Hello Kath and KERF readers! I’m so glad to see Kath’s vacation is off to a great start. I wanted to give both Kath and all the KERF readers a brief report of how my much anticipated vacation to Puerto Rico was. Thanks to all of your encouragement and support, I arrived confident and happy about my ability to make healthy choices while still allowing for some indulgences on my vacation. I have no guilt and enjoyed myself!! I didn’t count exact calories, but tried to mindful of getting in enough fruits and veggies and portion sizes. I ate light breakfasts and lunches and splurged on evening dinners and desserts. I worked out every single morning and swam and walked on the beach. Most importantly I made wonderful memories with my family and had a great time spending time with them and laughing. Thank you to everyone who took the time to give advice and encouragement because I think that is what helped make all the difference in my attitude! Kath, hope your trip continues to be wonderful and enjoy spending time with your mom!!!
Katie says
Ohh my gosh! Too flipping funny! I should have checked my google reader when i was on vacation b/c I was out with family in the Bay area for two weeks! JUST got back. Le sigh…
caitlibo says
awww emily i am so happy for you! way to go!
Cat says
I’m so happy to see you’re having fun in San Fran 🙂
A question for you runners…
How do you run so far!? Do you think it has to do with your body build, or can anyone run 5+ miles? After I train for a bit, I can get up to 3 miles, but it seems I have to REALLY push myself to go any farther. And after 3 miles, it just becomes exhausting! I’m pretty active, but could it be that maybe I’m just not built to run that far at once??
rhodeygirl says
i was feeling like being a bum and skipping my workout today. thanks for posting your sweaty pictures you are making me want to have that post-run bliss feeling so now I def can’t skip it.
Anne P says
yay golden gate so pretty! when i was there last year, a friend and i rented bikes and biked over the bridge, but it was freezing cold and started raining a few minutes into our ride (aways from the bridge), so by the time we crossed it and made it to sausalito, the cutest place ever, we were freezing and just ended up just taking a ferry home right away 🙁 glad it was nicer for you!!
sar says
this is random kath, but do you eat SUSHI or any japanese often?
i could see you really getting into it – the fresh raw fish, and edamame too!! plus green tea = amazing antioxidants… feels like a full-body flush.
pepper says
Cat –
I was in EXACTLY your shoes for the longest time (years). A couple of things really helped me out:
1. Get someone to watch how you run (like a good trainer of one of those shoe stores where they analyze your gait). Turns out my form was all wrong and I was using mostly the front part of my legs to push off the ground, rather than using my front and back leg muscles and glutes evenly. It was hard to correct this, but it made running a million times easier.
2. I started taking strength training classes, to build up strength on all parts of my legs, especially glutes.
This all started in January, and I can already run 6 miles easily (whereas for years I could not make it past 2-3). I hope this is helpful. I can answer more questions if you think this might be the case. Good luck Cat!
UVAJess says
Cat-
I run 6+ miles most days. I really think a lot of it is getting over a mental threshold. I do not have a runners
Lilly says
Hey everybody…this is only my second or third time commenting but my KERF-versary is coming up in September…it’s amazing how addicting your blog is, Kath!
I wanted to ask you what you got today and what everybody else usually gets at Jamba Juice — I just moved neighborhoods in Chicago and there’s one pretty close to me now. I hadn’t been there until last week!
Thanks 🙂
caitlibo says
ct – i agree… its all mental. enter a 10k (6.2 miles) and you’ll find you get over the hump fast 🙂
BethT says
Cat, I agree with what others said. I’m training for a half marathon (and have done two others) and honestly, I only do a long run once per week. Two days a week it’s 3 – 4 miles, then gradually building the long run distance on the third day (starting at 5 miles, then 6 the next week. etc). So much of it IS mental, but proper shoes are really important as is stretching, strength and cross training.
That said, it could also be that you’re not cut out for longer distances (my hub is the same way), but it’s worth a shot to try some of these methods and build your distance. it’s addictive!
rahel says
Kath,
I just wanted to say that it was really sweet of you to bring bagels to the dinner last night. It made me smile because I feel like little gestures like that are so much more thoughtful in this age of bling-bling, and sadly going out of fashion. Or maybe it’s because I just turned 25 and feel a bit jaded! By the way I loved the old photo in your other post of you– it was always very sweet!
SweetsandSweats says
So jealous of your run.
From hostel to the Westin. Sounds like a nice jump. I hope that the Westin Difference includes a much healthier and tastier breakfast!
Fit4Life says
hey kath!
im SO glad your having fun! it just makes me smile! i just wanted to pop in and tell you about an AWSOME website im not sure if you know about or not, but its like a free online nurtitionist! www.foodfacts.com its pretty cool, it gives you calories and all the other nutritional info. and all the ingredents, and if you dont like or allergic to something you put it in, and when you look up a food item the ingredent pops up in red so you see it. and it gives you any idea you could imagine for your desired intensity, calorie burn, and time. and it also gives you an EXTREMLY vivid description of ANY ingredent like how its make or what it is. it s REALLY cool, and i just found it so i dont know everything about it yet.
rhodeygirl says
Cat- I never used to be able to run more than 3 miles (and that was on a really good day) at a time. I think for me it was mostly mental, but a little bit of my stamina. I built up my endurance one step at a time. Try just adding a couple of minutes to your run each time, or when you get tired pick a time amount (like 15 minutes for example) where you run for 2 minutes, walk for one, etc. Before you know it you will be running the entire distance you set out to do.
The 2 biggest helpers for me:
1. running consistently. I run every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday (or at least 4 times a week). I always had had the INTENTION to run at least 4 times, but had never before held myself to that.
2. Not rushing into it. I only added about .5 of a mile a week, and sometimes that was in 2 minutes running, 1 minute walking. Now I can run 6 miles no problem (albeit at a 10 minute mile pace, for now).
Good luck!
Hil says
Emily–you just made my day. 🙂 Thanks so much for keeping us updated, and I’m delighted that your vacation went so well.
Foodie says
A pomegranate smoothie? Yum!!!
Michelle says
I am so jealous…I LOVE Jamba Juice!! Bring me back some In and Out burger 🙂 Have fun!
Mia says
Hey Kath!
I glad you are having fun in CA! Come to san diego!!!
I have a question for you (and other readers). I was wondering if you ever binge or ever had a problem with binge eating. I just read Kate’s post (WFWS) and i really respect her for putting herself out there like that. I am not attacking you by any means – i really respect that amount of control and discipline you have with your food. I am only asking becuse i would like to get there myself!
Sidi says
You look great! Have fun!
Kristie says
That sounds like a wonderful run!
Too bad about the severely limited hostel food, but Jamba Juice more than makes up for it!
Jess says
Jealous of your San Fran run! I love running on vacation. I went to Europe earlier this summer and got to run in Hyde Park, which was beautiful. I actually did way more running on vacation than I thought I would, but it was much slower than usual because my legs were soo tired from sightseeing all day.
To those of you just starting out, the build up to longer runs comes very slowly both mentally and physically. However, this is necessary to prevent injury. And you only need one long run a week to train for a half marathon, just make sure you still do some short ones during the rest of the week.
ModelBehavior says
Hah Jenn I laughed aloud at your comment, I was thinking the same thing!
http://modbehav.wordpress.com/
jenna says
I’m.SO.jealous!!!!!!!!!! of it all! Enough said! 🙂
sarah says
i think there is a ’30 minute hump’ when it comes to running, but after that starts feeling easy it is amazing how little difference there is between 4 miles and 10 (it becomes more of a musculoskeletal challenge than a cardiovascular one, for me anyway!).
the long sleeve shirts made me remember how cool it must be in SF — a nice break from NC 🙂
Evan says
Hi Kath-
there are so many great restaurants in San Francisco. Try Delfina or Tartine in the Mission District, Rose’s Cafe on Union Street, Perbacco, Piperade, or Kokkari in the Financial District. Hmmm, NOPA is amazing and 4 blocks from my house! Yoshi’s on Fillmore St if you want to see a crazy huge restaurant and a jazz show. I can go on but that’s a lot of meals.
And try running the Lyon St Stairs, you’d have fun on those!
Kath says
Emily ,
Awesome you had a great time on your trip!!
Cat ,
The first 2 miles are the hardest – seriously.
sar ,
I do like sushi, but surprisingly not as much as I would like to. It just doesn’t fill me up and I don’t find Asian food as appealing as other types. Don’t really know why!?
rahel,
Thanks 🙂
Fit4Life ,
Thanks for the link – I’m bookmarking it for when I return.
Evan,
Thanks for the recs! We’re on foot so we might stay closeby but I will check some of those out!
Kath
Karen says
You are so cute to take a picture in Jamba Juice! It’s just funny because it’s so regular to me. We love JJ.
Julia says
This blog is actually trendy. It discusses about the life of two girls in hostel and there love towards jamba juice. I too really love jamba juice.