In the dead of winter, December 20, four brave souls (Michelle Deasy, Tom Wilhelm, Tom Linthicum, and I) set out to continue the “illegal” tradition of running from the South End to Stinson Beach and back to Old Mill Park, a felony known as “The Outlaw’s Marathon.” (Why this is an outlaw run is a mystery to this day.)
We left the club at 6 a.m. in the pitch-black dark. The only lights we could see were the white clouds our breaths made as we exhaled into the freezing cold air.
Wonder woman Michelle Deasy led the pack and then left it in the dust, smoking everybody and winning the race handily. I only saw her twice during the whole run.
Ultra-runner Tom Whilhelm, having run a 50-kilometer race the day before, set out to do his “25-mile cool down jog” with the rat pack following Michelle’s dust, only to discover after Mile 10 in Mill Valley that he’d rather take a well-deserved rest.
That left just me and Swim Criminal (and now Run Criminal too) Tom “Reptile Brain” Linthicum, aka The Golden Gate Bridge Ghost. After Tom reappeared after getting lost around Fort Point, we ran a nice pace together to Mill Valley, but then he took off like a speeding bullet. Left behind and feeling a little empty, I decided to pit-stop for a double espresso and coffee cake. I paused at Old Mill Park for a brief chat with Keith Nowell, who, along with his wife Linda, was helping us out at stocked aid stations along the way (thanks, Keith and Linda!).
I got back on the road and took as many short cuts through the Dipsea Trail as I could. Along the way, Michelle Deasy passed me going the other way, looking like a graceful gazelle and not the least bit tired.
Running pro Dominic Spinetta greeted me at Stinson Beach, where he also manned an aid station (thanks, Dominic!). Hot after running 17 miles, I decided to take a dip in the ocean. As I came out of the water, Tom Linthicum arrived and saw me and said, “Where have you been?!?” Reunited, we ran back along the Dipsea trail together most of the way.
Then, out of nowhere, in the last minutes of the race, we saw Kathy Bailey running down the Dipsea Trail on her way to the finish line! Where did she come from? We learned later that she did a Super Outlaw Marathon, starting the race from her HOUSE! Hats off to you, Kathy.
I greeted Kathy as I made my way down the steps and across the finish line in 2nd place (far, far behind Michelle), followed by Reptile Brain and then Super Marathoner Kathy.
We couldn’t have asked for a better welcome than Suzie Dods waiting to pick us up and give us a ride back to the club. It was a perfect ending to a perfect morning.
Thanks again Dominic, Keith, Linda, Suzie, Tom, Tom, Michelle, and Kathy for a great day and a great run.
The next crime spree will be the Spring Solstice Marathon, a run from Bolinas to the South End – keep an eye out for notices, and please come join us.
