The Nike Women’s Marathon was this past weekend in San Francisco. This is a major race that draws 20,000+ runners each year and unless you are doing it through charity, runners are accepted through a lottery system. I have never entered the lottery, it is a woman focussed event and geared to celebrate all that is woman, but I have attended the expo for the past few years. There really is not too much geared towards men, obviously, but I love the energy of the expo (they actually call it an expotique). Here were some preview shots that I took and what you can expect at the expo.
Friday morning, I was looking at my twitter feed (what else is new, right?) and I noticed some conversations regarding guest speakers at the expo. This immediately peaked my interest when I saw these three names
- Kara Goucher
- Shalane Flanagan
- Joan Benoit Samuelson
That is a line-up. They were going to be speaking on Friday and when I saw it was going to be at 3:30, I made sure I was there to hear it. (see video at the bottom for last-minute tips on race day)
Jay Blahnik, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Shalane Flanagan, Kara Goucher (click to enlarge)
After they were done speaking to the crowd, they took a few Nike publicity shots off to the side. Although there was a huge crowd to hear them speak, I was surprised that there were not a lot of people around. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to politely ask for a photo.
Shalane Flanagan, Nike Women’s Marathon 2012
Shalane was extremely nice. I asked and she obliged. Had I known I was going to be taking photos with one of the fastest American runners out there today, I would have brought a real camera to avoid having someone else take a blurry iPhone photo — C’mon. Hold it still. But it was great to meet her and grab a photo with an Olympian. How cool is that?
Then THIS happened.
Kara Goucher, Nike Women’s Marathon 2012
Excuse me while I immediately lose my mind. I have the HUGEST runner’s crush on Kara Goucher. Look at how freaking happy I am in this photo! Could my smile be any larger? Even Shalane is in the background thinking “dang, look at that giant smile?”
Me: Hi. (tries not to jump up and down and scream) Can I please have a photo with you?
Kara: Sure. Ummm, you look familiar… do you tweet as Pavement Runner?
Me: (Look of shock) Yes, yes I do.
Kara: Oh my god. I’ve seen you on twitter. You’re funny.
Me: Really? Thank you, I’m such a huge fan of yours.
Kara: Thanks. Are you running tomorrow?
Me: No
Kara: Oh that’s too bad. It would have been cool to see you at the start.
Okay, Okay, that’s not what happened.
And if it did, I might have fainted. It really went down like this:
Me: Hi. (tries not to jump up and down and scream) Can I please have a photo with you?
Kara: Sure
Me: I’m reading your husband’s book.
Kara: oh, cool.
(She puts her arm around me as we pose for the photo) I ALMOST LOST IT. I don’t care. It may have just been for a photo, but there is nothing worse that two people standing next to each other not sure of where there arms go. She made the first move and I was ecstatic.
Me: Thank you.
Kara: (smiles)
THAT IS A PRICELESS moment. I quickly looked at the photo and immediately thought “don’t be blurry, don’t be blurry!” SCORE! Thank you kind stranger for taking a great photo. I really wish I had a real camera.
I’m not gonna lie, coolest person I have ever met and I didn’t spaz out and embarrass myself. One of my happiest (non-running) moments as a runner.
Here is a video of some last-minute advice and tips for race day from three amazing women. Take note of what Joan says at 1:40 — people often times say this. We are all “making it happen.”
Side note: I had almost had the opportunity to take a photo with Joan Benoit Samuelson. She was standing off to the side near Kara and Shalane, but she was talking to (what looked like) people she knew and was familiar with. I didn’t want to interrupt them. I couldn’t. I was really hoping to grab a photo with one of the greatest runners of all time, but there wasn’t an opportune (if there is one) to ask for a photo with Joan without interrupting what looked like a conversation between friends. Rain check Joan.
Have you ever met someone you were a super-fan of?
Who do YOU have a runner’s crush on?
— I can keep a secret. It’s just between me and you, of course.
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Im not a runner and would love to meet Kara.
Back in the DAY I met Lynn Hill (climber) when Id just begun climbing and there werent too many women climbers where I lived.
I still have our pic in my office :-)
I have a huge crush on Kara too.I’m so psyched for you!
JEALOUS!!! Your smile says it all in the pic with Kara. I did get to meet Joan AND run with her. Pretty cool lady! Now I gotta get to Kara and Shalane. :)
We both met Paula Radcliffe before the Chicago Marathon & we are still in awe! :-)
That’s so awesome!
It’s so amazing to meet elite runners that inspire you. I met Joanie at the 2012 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler Race Exp, Kara at the 2011 Rock N Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon Expo, Dathan at the 2012 Rock N Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon Expo and Paula at the Nike Store before the 2012 Chicago Marathon!
awww so happy for you! looks like a great weekend!!
Love how happy you look in the picture! I also love the play by play! Priceless :)
Awesome! I don’t blame you for being so excited, I would have been the same way. Great pics!
Amazing. Three incredibly inspiring ladies. There’s still time for Kara to discover you on Twitter… :)
I finally got to meet the amazing Brandi Chastain this summer in London during the Olympics. I have been a huge fan of hers since I was in elementary school and it was so great to meet her and take a picture. I may or may not have been giddy (go with may)
And I also got to watch Kara and Shalane run by a few times during the Olympics marathon in London. Now THAT was pretty awesome.
Oh my word!!! I would have DIED if Kara knew me!!! Like seriously would have had a very hard time playing it cool!! Congrats!!!
haha you make me laugh. Glad you had a good time!
{hyperventilates} SO JEALOUS! I was even jealous of your FFA dinner :( Would have loved seeing you all!
Great photo op! I met Kara a few years ago while helping out with the NYC marathon…pretty cool experience. We actually got to meet all the elites on race morning…and by meet I mean see and be within 10 feet of. Congrats!
HEHEHE. I am a girl and I have a huge runner’s crush on Kara!! She is everything I want to be. Amazing mom. Writer. Elite runner.
Love your smile in the picture =)
hahaha this is so funny. I would definitely tell people the first conversation that you guys “had” haha (:
So jealous! You guys get all the cool runners/events over there in SF!
SO JEALOUS!!
I’m a gynormous Kara fan and hope to meet her someday. I plan on finding Bart Yasso at Walt Disney World marathon weekend because that is an absolute MUST. I will be seeing Joan this weekend at our marathon event and hope to snag a pic with her as well.
Ahh this post made me laugh. I TOTALLY get your excitement. I had the opportunity to meet Olympic Gold medalist in Triathlon, Simon Whitfield at my work and I was beside myself. He was such a nice guy, took a fair bit of time to chat with me about my IM training. AFter the shoot, the crew dragged me into the studio to have my picture taken with him – I was mortified. I was just happy to meet him. I look incredibly awkward. I didn’t want to put my arm around him and he didn’t make the first move so we’re both standing there with our hands in our pockets. Good god. But, it was still a really cool experience.
Meg Ryan came into a store I was a manager of many years ago, couldn’t work up the nerve to talk to her.
No runners crushes that I can think of.
Um, greatest post EVER. I love this and am super super jealous. I can’t believe you got so lucky! And, yes, I love what Joan was saying in the video! At first I thought your convo w/ Kara was real and I was like, wow, she must really follow Twitter! ha ha.
Agree with Ericka – one of your best post, especially the imagined conversation with Kara. I saw your pics and was super duper jealous. Your smile says it all. I met Kelly Slater last year when the pros were surfing in Long Island. I literally couldn’t get a word out of my mouth and my hands were shaking. I think he must have thought I didn’t speak English and was a tourist who had no idea what was going on. I nearly fainted.
Hahaha that was hilarious and I am sO jealous!!!
Oh my, I’m insanely jealous! Kara is my girl-crush. I’d die to meet her. And Shalane too? I think I’d pass out right there on the spot.
You are too flippin’ cute. I can feel your excitement in your words. I have never really met anyone famous. That will all change the day I finally meet you, right? ;)
What awesome pictures! You look so happy! I wish they’d do a Nike Mens Marathon for you to get to enjoy! :D
Looks like you had an exciting time! I’m happy for you that you were able to meet someone who you’re such a big fan of.
Hoping over from Link Love and sharing love to a fellow FFA.
E
adventureofe.blogspot.com
AMAZING!! I totally fell for your first Kara story and I was freaking out for you haha. I am pretty sure she secretly follows you on twitter xox
Haha – love it. Fun recap and so cool to get to meet her (and some awesome bloggers too).
I’d have probably started crying. Seriously, that woman is an inspiration! What an awesome experience. Glad you got to be a part of the NWM weekend, even if youre not a lady ;)
I LOVE this!! I seriously thought she recognized you from Twitter :) That would have been cool – but seriously, just getting photo with Kara is amazing! It’s a keeper.
I love Chrissie Wellington – I think she’s WONDERFUL – so down to earth and cool. And my runner crush, Josh Cox – I just love him (shhh, don’t tell anyone)
haha this is hilarious and awesome! when i read that first twitter convo i was like holy cow!! and then i spit out my dinner laughing when you said that didn’t really happen. sweet pix though!
Great photos, so awesome to meet people that you admire.
I’m so stoked to hopefully meet Shalane this weekend at the RW event. How cool she was there too and you got to meet both her AND Kara! So cool And I seriously was buying your story at first about her recognizing you. Yes, I look when someone tells me gullible is written on the ceiling.
Seriously. Too. Funny. Your runner’s crush is awesomely hilarious whereas my husband’s man crush (Zac Efron, hehe) is just hilarious.
Kara is on my crush list, but Joan was on my legendary list. It happened. :)