On The Run: San Francisco (Again)

Sometimes when I'm traveling for work and am slammed with meetings, the easiest way for me to adhere to my training plan is to just hit the treadmill; no mapping out routes in unfamiliar cities, no budgeting time in case I get lost, no waiting for satellites to load.  It's boring and somewhat depressing, but also, work isn't paying for me to sightsee on foot, so it's not really their problem if the only sights I see are the inside of conference rooms and my own reflection in the mirror opposite the hotel treadmill.

Luckily, my schedule in San Francisco this week has left my mornings mostly open, and coupled with jet lag, I've found myself with ample time to run outside before conference sessions and cocktail functions.  My familiarity with the city has also meant I didn't have to do too much research into where to run, so for the last three days, I've tossed on my Kinvaras and headed to the Embarcadero.

The Embarcadero is a great place to run, and I'm certainly not the only person taking advantage of it.  An uninterrupted sidewalk along the bay, it's filled with runners, walkers and cyclists in all directions.  Facing the Ferry Building, you can make a left and run towards the Golden Gate Bridge, or make a right, and loop around AT&T Field.  Despite its hilly reputation, San Francisco along the water is pretty flat, which makes for some pleasant miles.  If you venture far enough west, you'll hit a few hills at Fort Mason, and then plenty more as you enter the Presidio.  But from the Financial District where I'm based for the week, you can get in a solid 10 miles to Crissy Field and back without too many climbs.

Below are a couple of shots from my morning runs this week.  Thanks for the sunrise views, jet lag!