Adam Allessandrini

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Wow, that was a lot of fun. Before you’re too old I suggest everyone run Bay to Breakers at least once. That was one of the best times I’ve had in awhile. It’s such a spectacle. Everything about it is a blast, from the tortilla tossing to the naked runners to the crazy partying along the course to Footstock at the end. I met so many great people. Everyone was open and friendly and just having a great time. So how’d I do? Not quite as good as I wanted to but pretty damn close.

Overall place: 1,209 (95% of finishers, 98.5% of participants)
Division Place: 251 (89% of males 19-39 that finished)
Sex Place: 1,019 (91% of all males that finished)
Overall time: 1 hour, 1 minute and 15 seconds (75 seconds from my target)
Pace: 8 minutes 13 seconds

Mile 1: 9:15
Mile 2: 7:32
Mile 3: 8:50 (Hayes Hill)
Mile 4: 7:09
Mile 5: 8:03
Mile 6: 7:52
Mile 7: 8:31
Last .5: 3:55

I was amazed at how packed it was. As you can see from my mile 1 time, it was impossible to run at my pace due to the crowd. That added about 2 minutes right there. I should have had an under 7:30 mile 1. Also mile 3 included Hayes Hill, a 214 foot incline with an 11.5% grade. It wasn’t that hard but obviously added time.

Man, I really love races. I feel I’m going to have a sad weekend coming up without one. The camaraderie, the hoopla, the adrenaline, the spectacle, the excitement. I love it. I can’t imagine how my first triathlon will feel. I’ll see if I can find some photos of myself. Here are a few from the event:

That’s a whole lotta people!

The salmon people ran the race in the other direction (upstream).

Even the storm troopers made it out.

Wicked. I want hair like that!

There were dozens of bands playing along the route.

Some of the many weird costumes.

One of my favorite costumes.

I wish I had others running this with me. It was really such a good time. I feel like I did pretty good because I finished just behind Superman, and he’s faster than a speeding train.

One of the funnier things I saw was a homeless guy who looked like he had won the lottery. He had a huge trash bag just after the finish line and he was getting everyone to throw their empty water bottles to him. He most have made a killing today. He was all smiles.

Okay so I’m kind of putting myself on the line here but I’d like to publicly make a few targets. There are supposed to be upwards of 100,000 participants in the race this year. I could only find times from 1997 but per those these are my goals. Some harder than others.

1.) Finish in the top 1000 (top 10,000 finishers get printed in Mondays Examiner)
2.) Finish with a 7:30 mile pace (as of 1997 that would put me in 834th place)
3.) Finish in the top 2%
4.) Finish under 1 hour (as of 1997 that would put me in 1515th place)
5.) Make it in the Examiner (as of 1997 that would be a 1:22:33 total with an 11:45 mile pace)
6.) Have a blasty blast

The race, if you don’t know, is a 12K (7.46 miles) course. From sea level at the Embarcadero the course rises steeply along Hayes Street Hill. Around the 2.5-mile mark runners climb an 11.15% grade between Fillmore and Steiner, bringing them to the highest point in the race, approximately 215 feet above sea level. The remainder of the course gradually flows alongside the Panhandle and through Golden Gate Park ending at the breakers.

I’ve got to get up bright and early, probably 5:30 am, to get to the bus station on time. SamTran has an express shuttle that takes you right to the starting line and will shuttle me back from the finish line after the festivites. All for $12, which I’ll probably save in gas and parking anyways. I’m pretty darned excited, should be a lot of fun. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I’ve had these around for a bit but never uploaded them to YouTube. So for your viewing pleasure I present the following:

Ian’s Skating Incident

668 Skating

7eventy5 Boyz

5150 Competition

Friday Night Whites

Welcome to the new BearSilber.com. It’s a little sexier, a little prettier and a little more colorful. What do you think, do you like it?

I hope to be writing more, we’ll see. I’d like others to write their own blogs too. It’s fun to know what my friends are up to. I think I may just start a “Return of Chirpy Boy” petition.

You can view my videos, photos, etc. by clicking the tabs on the top right. Leave comments and lets chat.

It’s my 25th birthday today and I must say that I’m proud of where I’ve gotten myself physically. I used to weigh 265 and probably not have been able to run a mile without doubling over. I’m now down to 175 with 8.5% body fat. I ran 6.5 miles this morning and on Saturday I ran a 10K (6.2 mile) race where I finished 50th out of a couple thousand. I’m not bragging or being conceited for there are many many others in far better shape than myself. I’m merely pointing out the fact that I’ve come a long way and finally to the point where I feel good about my body. I’ve always wanted to get to that “point” but I had always fallen short.

I guess I might as well show you a before and after. The before is not even close to my worst though. I think I’ve gotten rid of all the really bad ones. I’ve never shown anyone this before picture (and I’m not sure any reads this so I may still not be showing anyone) and it’s a little embarrassing but I think I’m okay with it now.

After (on my 25th)

Before (at 21)

I just got back from Shoreline where I competed in the ‘Human Race’. It’s a 10K (6.2 miles) put on by the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley. It was a lot of fun and I did pretty good. The results haven’t been posted online yet so I don’t know where I stand percentage-wise in the different divisions but here are my stats:

Place: 50th
Time: 47:07
Sex Place: 44th
Division Place: 24th
Pace: 7:34

There were several thousand participants but I’ll see if I finished in the top 5% (one of my goals). I wanted to finish with a pace under 7 minutes but I didn’t quite make it. I know I could have and I’m kind of pissed at myself for not pushing it. It was a longer race so I didn’t really know where I stood. I need to get a good watch so I know if I need to step it up at all.

Overall I had a good time. I got a free massage afterwards which was nice. Everyone there was really friendly (as always) and I finished much higher in the overalls than I did at Pat’s run (50th as opposed to 135th). They had free bagels, pizza and Dunkin’ Donuts but I did not partake. I never understood why they serve things like pizza and donuts after a race, especially a 10K. I took a bunch of bananas and oranges for the house

I’ll update you with other stats when they come in. Next week is the Bay to Breakers (12K), and right now I’m tired just thinking about it. There’s supposedly a huge hill at the 2.5 mile mark. Whew…we’ll see how that goes.

If I had a theme song I think this would have to be it!