Running: The test range at dawn, to avoid the traffic, and you can choose to run 21.1 km in the first or second part of the marathon, which had 5,000 graduates, compared with 20,000 in the two socks. And there are eight starts, then with the fastest ahead. A good example of organization, as the media has been defending.

After 20 years running, having done numerous marathons around the world, listening to the glowing accounts of friends who went abroad and reading materials of the specialized media on the subject, I decided to join my first marathon in San Francisco, California-west of Far americas.

As in the July heat is intense throughout most of the northern hemisphere, one of the few tests carried out this month is the San Francisco, Calif., a city very beautiful and enjoyable. And that was just the opposite of the Americas, because I live in Recife, in the extreme east of this continent, a fact at least surreal.

Analyzing the pros and cons of this evidence, I concluded that it would be ideal - because the climate is favorable for the race (although California is known for high temperatures in summer, San Francisco is an exception thanks to the icy waters off their coast) and the region is great for tourism, with attractions for all tastes and ages. Moreover, with the two half marathon take place, each one following one of the halves of the marathon route and a 5 km race, in which boys of 15 and 16 years were interested in participating.

I arrived in the U.S. via Miami and made a connection to San Francisco. At the very same day I went to remove the kits and visit the fair (expo).

The withdrawal was very quiet and the fair was quite large, with many products for sale and for demonstration, lunch was possible only with samples of products for nutrition.

In place of the Congress and Exhibition, the organizer knew Joe Whelan, responsible for the www.regularjoe running.com, who was in the booth volunteers. In a brief conversation, I learned all about the event, including the smallest details of the region. I got him some useful tips on the route.

DAWN AND THE WAVES. The marathon starts and the first half are held early, and staggered in eight waves, being the first at 4:30 a.m. and 5:42 a.m. the last. The time is justified by the need to release as early as possible, all tracks in the Golden Gate Bridge.  

For this reason, those interested in preference to a hotel relatively close to the place of departure, allowing the trip on foot.

No easy task, if you decide to participate in the Marathon last minute, as was my case, but with time and was not hard to find a place, since there are several hotels within a radius of 3 km from the start.

Although my time in Rio de Janeiro Marathon (4:30) held on July 17, less than two weeks before the Marathon in San Francisco that had dropped on July 31, 2011, managed to get out in the wave of 4:30.

Still dark, and the temperature of 6 º C, started the race. Right at the third km passed the first tourist attraction of the route, Fisherman's Wharf. You could feel the delicious aroma of the famous sourdough bread from Boudin Bakery, which was being roasted.

After passing the Marina was unclear why the start in waves, some parts of the proof are so narrow that only allow three athletes running side by side.

After a strong rise came at 9 km, the expected round-trip crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, completed in only one tread in each direction and there was so much "fog" that barely could see the towers of the bridge ( no wonder that San Francisco is known as "fog city", that is, a city of fog).

Leaving the bridge, it begins the longest stretches of five switches in which the test two pathways to allow the transit of vehicles. Then we entered the Golden Gate Park (a kind of Central Park in San Francisco) where we run for about 11 km, circulated amidst greenery and scenic trails narrow and almost no audience.

From the 29 km, running back in the city - no more rises until the end. That's when I made my biggest mistake: I was feeling good, I forced my pace for about 5 km, which cost me after 37 km; miles boards never arrived and was difficult to keep under 8 minutes per km. Yet I managed to finish in 5:15:44, my expectations.

Upon arrival, the thrill of seeing my family and hoping to hear the announcer saying "Mr Ricardo Dubeux from Brazil" offset all the suffering of proof.

The presence of Brazilians is small - the largest groups of foreigners were Mexicans and Japanese. By comparison with the Sao Paulo Marathon, the advantages of San Francisco are mainly the time of departure, the warm weather, the incredible landscapes and efficient supply, which has 12 stations (all with water, sports drink, toilets chemical, medical care and, in two posts, also carbohydrate gel.) Public participation is good, but will still be higher, probably by the time.

In short, for those who want to run a marathon outside in the middle of the year for sightseeing and enjoying the San Francisco Marathon is an excellent choice.