I'm not happy, on the other hand, to be running these hills ... yet! I am determined that I will grow to love them, though. I live in a neighborhood that has a few miles of easy, flat stretches, but I've gravitated toward the hills leading up to the Golden Gate Bridge, over to the trails of Golden Gate Park, and up and down the cliffs of the Coastal Trail. The views there are much more beautiful than mile after mile of city block -- but they are also so much harder.
While the scenery of San Francisco is something I always enjoy, I also think that running some hills will feel like a good idea as I step out the front door. I never think that once I start the long steady inclines over the course of a number of miles. I've never felt so out of shape (and stopped to take so many walk breaks so early on) since running a few of these San Francisco hills. I only hope that this will get easier.
My best friend Gramps, who helped me with the 30-hour drive across the country, and I headed to the Coastal Trail along the seacliff earlier this week. I headed out on a short run while he sat in some caves near the Sutro Baths to sketch some drawings. I've done a number of shorter runs on flat dirt trails around Minneapolis, but I've never done this choose-your-own adventure kind of trail running. The Coastal Trail along Lands End has so many trails to choose from, both marked and unmarked -- the "follow this if you want to live" and "stay out if you want to live" kind of paths. One could spend hours exploring this park and I plan to spend more time here.
The Sutro Bath ruins.
Coastal Trail
About 50 gajillion steps going up this hill.
And another 50 gajillion steps going down.
Running to the Lands End.
Looking down at the land's end ... hoping I don't roll my ankle here. 
I keep waiting for some Jurassic Park dinosaur to peek its massive head out of the trees. 
This is fun navigating. Ha! 
After I finished a super slow 3-mile run along the Coastal Trail, I met back up with Gramps near the Sutro Baths and we headed on a short hike to Painted Rock.Some new mussel and starfish friends.
I didn't imagine that Painted Rock would be as literal as it was. 
Gramps contemplating which massive rock he's going to scale next. 
Fog or no fog, it's going to be hard to grow tired of this.
