Lumbering Up Lombard Street

Whenever I travel to a new place I try to run. The runners along the pier in San Francisco were truly inspiring. When I received a text message from my friend Kathy while sitting in a conference session about her truly amazing run up Lombard Street I was hooked. I had contemplated all morning a run along the pier. The previous night Kathy and I had both walked up Lombard street and enjoyed the amazing views of the bay and the lights of the enormous city of San Francisco. I through that was a mental image for the ages; but Kathy's text message made me ponder another possible run. When my conference sessions ended for the day I headed back to the hotel to follow in Kathy's footsteps - a "lumber" (for Kathy a run) up Lombard Street.  As I started out of the hotel adorned in my jogging suit with camera in hand I could only image how this sight looked to the "natives" who had beat me to the punch. If running with a camera in hand didn't scream "tourist" I don't know what would. Anyone watching my jog that day would know that I spent more time twisting and turning my head at the sights then I did moving my feet. As I ran up Columbus street I remember thinking the hills weren't so bad. Where I live it is flat. I remember thinking I was sure glad I had used the incline feature on the treadmill. Soon I found myself at Lombard Street. For those of you who remember Lombard Street you will remember the steep inclines and the one way portion of the road where cars creep down a series of switch backs at 5 miles an hour.  All I could think of when I looked up the road was I wish I had my motorcycle. Since it was just me and the hill (and the other 25 tourist who decided to walk up the hill that day) I decided to give it my best shot. It reminded me of running the football stadium at Wayne State University one summer.  As my lungs and legs burned I kept playing the "Rocky" song in my head. When I reached the portion of Lombard Street where the road became one way and car descended through a series of switch backs, the running became easier because along the sides were well placed although uneven steps. There was no stopping me now......and just when I thought I couldn't take the burning sensation any longer I was at the top. I turned to face the bay and take in the view - my reward for pushing myself. It was at that moment I thought I would catch my breath, but the view was breath taking. THIS was truly inspiring. The blue of the sky met the blue of the day. The massive buildings were nowat eye level. Houses dotted each side of the street. As I took it all in I decided to further trace Kathy's footsteps and jog to the Coit Tower. Just when I thought the down hill run would be a breeze my legs quickly reminded me that it was just as hard for them on the down hill. A couple of twists and turns later and I found myself looking up a series of steps that led up the hill side to the Coit Tower.  I wasn't going to run these. Theses were just straight up. I emerged out of the woods from my climb the most awesome and breath taking views of the city, the bay, and Oakland that I could have ever imagined. This was "America the Beautiful".  I lingered for a long time walking the perimeter of the grounds. The sites were wonderful and well worth the climb. Feeling a need to get back and shower for dinner with my colleagues, I reluctantly descended the stairs to finish the final segment of what was already one of the most memorable runs in my life.