Who's driving the car?

Lake Merced is where I do my weekly running. It is also where I first learned how to drive. Indeed, that concrete parking lot have played host to many a young driver’s first time behind the wheel of a car. It always warms my heart to see one of them out there learning how to drive, all the while I am prepared for my run. Because that was exactly me, exactly two decades ago.

I’ve been driving for twenty years? Jesus Christ that is amazing and sobering at the same time.

I wonder if the kids of the future will even learn how to drive, especially those living in big cities. UBER and LYFT remains ever convenient, plus the looming prospects of self-driving cars. Honestly, who wants to drive when they could be driven? I certainly would rather get chauffeured around. Drivers these days are freaking crazy. I’ve said it before: if I didn’t love cars, I probably wouldn’t own any right now.

California recently allowed “robotaxis” to operate in San Francisco unrestricted, 24/7. Meanwhile I am still waiting to get off the waitlist at both Cruise and Waymo, the two highest profile robotaxi companies. I am actually quite excited to try riding in a true driverless car. Though not nearly as excited as the person who had sex in the backseat of one recently. I want to ride in one just for fun; if I need to get somewhere promptly, I will still call an actual human driving car.

Because you can’t count on a robotaxi to be quick. Its first order of responsibility seems to be safety. I witnessed a Cruise taxi waiting behind a double-parked ambulance for way longer than a human car would have waited. The Cruise vehicle was stationary for such a long time than those of us watching wondered if it were going to move at all (it did, eventually). If that were me in the car, I probably would have gotten out and called an UBER.

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Don’t worry, be happy.

The Giant Race

With the pandemic practically over, it’s time to get back to doing things we did before the whole fiasco. One of those things for me is running. Building up cardio is an important part of an exercise regiment. I just happen to find running the easiest and cheapest - not because I particularly enjoy doing it. Swimming is better for my joints for sure, but there’s the cost of entrance, and having to do laundry immediately afterwards each and every time.

Back in 2014 and 2016 I participated in The Giant Race. It's an annual run event put together by the San Francisco Giants organization. Runners start and end at iconic Oracle Park stadium on a summer Saturday morning (enough alliterating for you?) Traditionally there’s race distances of 5K, 10K, and a half marathon. Having done the 10K twice previously, I was kind of psyched to attempt the half marathon this year.

Sadly that will have to wait because the half marathon is not an option for 2022. The longest distance on offer is the 10K. That’s a distance I can do tomorrow with zero training (not so humble brag). It would be nice to be able to challenge myself; surely the half will return in future years. If I have to guess, cost is the reason the organizer have pruned the half marathon: shutting down the Embarcadero along the pier all the way to Pier 39 can’t be cheap!

Even though I can do a 10K tomorrow straight out of bed, ideally I still should start back up running in preparation. Good thing I live much closer to Lake Merced - my running arena of choice - than I did pre-pandemic. Far easier to get up on a Saturday morning to do the 4.5 miles round the lake. It’s only been two weeks thus far, and the key for me is not so much the distance, but the pace. I am quite far away from the 8 minute 30 seconds per mile the last time I did The Giant Race.

There’s work to do!

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New yard in the house.

Getting addicted

I used to hate running; I've always been adverse to exercising outdoors because ah, the sun! It's too bright. Plus, in Asian culture lighter skin is considered more beautiful so I can't risk getting tan. Only half joking here. 

Well I am absolutely addicted to running these days. I've only started a couple of weeks ago, but I can tell it's going to be a staple workout for a very long time. Breathing fresh air is quite beneficial, isn't it? Why hasn't anybody told me that before. Best part about running is listening to uptempo musing and blasting through it in no time. With mild climes year round here in San Francisco, it's the perfect exercise. 

Now I have to go and ice my ankles. Ouch.