Many, many years ago a crew at GameSpy started running around Skypark Circle training for the Bay Bridge Run in San Diego. I was determined to make this one of my 12 races for this year. With Grandma and Grandpa Mandel in tow we headed down to San Diego for a short weekend trip.

On Saturday we toured Old Town San Diego. Emma and Henry had a blast wandering around the park touring the old buildings, sitting on the many canons and terrorizing as many birds as they could.

Sunday morning Marla and I rose early and took the Trolley to downtown for the Bay Bridge Run. The race had reached its maximum number of participants at 8000 and I think we lined up at about 7800 or so. I spent the first mile trying to run but being surrounded by walkers. We lost LOTS of people (thankfully) when we got to the bridge and started to climb versus running on the flat.

My average pace was just a hair over 9’00” and my time at the finish line was 36’13”. That put me finishing 150th within my age bracket and 1431 of 8000 overall. Marla made great time, too, and finished her walk at just about 54 minutes.

We ended Sunday by touring the apartment that the Mandels lived in many years ago while George was still in the Navy. The apartment was still there, in the newly gentrified neighborhood of Hillcrest adjacent to Balboa Park.