Not all rainbows and unicorns

I had a great time at The Giant Race last weekend in San Francisco and am immensely proud of my run.

However, it was not all rainbows and unicorns.

The race, which had more than 10,000 finishers (not including hundreds and hundreds of registered no shows) and big-race promises, was organized like a small-time charity race. The infrastructure just couldn't handle the size.

Some of the big problems that I encountered:

There weren't enough toilets. 

If you're a racer, you understand that nerves and all kinds of factors make it so you have to go before the race - a bunch of times! We got there early enough that we hit it a couple times before the crowds arrived, but right before the race, the lines were so long that I opted to pee in a water bottle in the back of our rental SUV. That was tricky! But I had little choice.

I know people missed the start because of the lines. Not cool.

The start was really unorganized.

There were signs indicating "corrals" - expected finish times. But as race time came close, they told us all just to go line up. Eryn ended up starting with me - and we finished 35 minutes apart. There were walkers and everyone just mixed together. (What's wrong with the woman behind us?!?!)

The PA system could only be heard by those in the very front of the group, so we all missed the announcements. We only knew it was time to run because the people in front of us started moving.

The course was beautiful but WAY TOO NARROW.

Because we didn't do a wave start (we all started at once instead of smaller groups spaced a minute or so apart) and the roadway was narrow, the course was impossibly crowded.

I was weaving around other runners and literally bumping elbows. And once the 10K runners started coming back at us on their out-and-back route, the course narrowed even more - with us each getting just one lane! It didn't spread out at all until the 10K turnaround - that's the first 3 miles! And even then there were far too many people in that space.

This picture is at about 7 miles. So crowded!

It was very unpleasant - and made it very difficult to run at the pace I needed to run to make my goal.

When I put my arm out to take this picture, I almost clobbered a guy right next to me:

Someone who isn't a runner must have picked the on-course food.

This is truly laughable.

Usually, water and/or a sports drink is offered every 2 miles or so to keep runners hydrated and safe. At longer races, a fuel source is usually provided. It's a gel or chew - something designed to be eaten while running - quick and won't upset the stomach.

Just before the half-marathon turnaround, they were handing out fuel: PowerBars cut in half. Still in the wrapper. And not even the yummy kind - the nasty original version.

Wow.

I cannot even imagine what it would have been like to unwrap one of those and chew on it while trying to run. And then to have it sit in my stomach for the next 7+ miles. No way. Talk about a side ache - and runner's trots!

They rationed water and ran out of finish-line food.

A big deal was made that Safeway was sponsoring the Finisher Food Market, where we'd get "a nifty reusable shopping bag, some fuel, and a smile from our food distribution team."

Well, when Brad finished, he walked to the Safeway area and was given a little shopping bag, a half a banana, a whole bagel and a coupon. When I finished, about 30 minutes later, the bags were gone and I got just half a banana and half a bagel. When Eryn finished, they were down to just half bagels.

Besides disappointing that we didn't get yummy food to celebrate, we needed that food to refuel - and we they were out! We were waiting for each other to finish and got really hungry in the process.

As for the water, each runner received just one 12-ounce bottle. When we asked for more, they said one per person. It was hot and sunny, and I just ran 13 miles - give me water!! Not acceptable. 

So...

I don't mean to be totally down on the race. It was very fun, and the money went to a good cause. But please don't invite 10,000+ people over for a party and then only have space and food for 1,000.

I'm glad I did The Giant Race - no regrets. But I will not do it again. I'll save my money for something that can handle the crowds.

:)