Favorite run in pictures, part 1

I'm so excited that I can run again! After over 3 months of seeing every specialist imaginable, I finally found a therapist who identified that my hips were out of alignment (which I'd guessed months ago, but no one confirmed until this week.) I also had a lot of adhesions that had glued my hamstring to other muscles. I still have one or two sessions before I'm back to normal, but my piriformis pain is gone and my hamstring is so much better.

So a few days ago I set out on my test run... 3 minutes running, 1 minute walking. Repeat. And I was running easy and faster than I'd run in the past within my set heartrate zone. So exciting! However, I suspect much of my gains were due to an "isolated active stretching" session the day before. I got so much additional range of motion in my hip flexors, it was amazing! Supposedly it can take off minutes from your run times. I believe it.

Today was a longer test run; I'd tightened back up again so didn''t feel as fast and loose as last time, but it was still a great run. (But isn't any run a great run when you haven't been able to run for 3 months??) Since I could only go 3 miles, I'll share some pics of the beginning of my Presidio Park route. The spectacular cliff shots I'll take and post when I'm up to 5 miles.

This is the look-out point at the top of the Arguelo Gate coming into the Presidio. This photo doesn't do the view justice. Yes, that's Alcatraz in the Bay. The orange dome is the Palace of Fine Arts, which has a really interesting history... originally constructed in 1915 for an international arts expo. When I can run down to Crissy Field I'll share some up-close photos. It's gorgeous. My second favorite run.

Then you run through a beautiful wooded area...

(Have I mentioned yet (in case you couldn't tell) that it was a perfect day? Mid-60s, sunny. I love living in San Francisco.)

Had to turn around before the other look-out points, so I headed back up to the top of Lyon St stairs for my cross-training. I posted pics here of my stairs workout but here's another view of Alcatraz from the stairs:

By the way, I definitely don't live in one of these mega-houses! I totally got lucky with a great apartment near the park. Rents are pretty reasonable in my hood given that I'm not in a hot spot like the Marina or Fillmore. (Of course, "reasonable" is relative....)

Anyway... here's one last shot of a mega-hill that I'm sure I'll be running up soon enough. This pic doesn't really capture the extent of the grade, but it's perfect for hill repeats... it's like a bowl. Down, then up the other side, and back.