LOCAL RUNNING
Oakland — and its Marathon — Shine!

In early spring, my wife, Hindatu, and I participated in the Oakland Running Festival, a historic moment in Oakland's history. Although I was not in sufficient form to attempt the full marathon, which ascended Oakland's scenic hills and traversed 26.2 miles of the city's beauty, I was excited to enjoy the 13.1-mile half-marathon, which took us from downtown Oakland and Chinatown, through Jack London Square and West Oakland, around Lake Merritt and back again.

The author and his wife prior to starting their half-marathon.

The Oakland Running Festival was the brainchild of Lee Corrigan, a veteran organizer of the Baltimore Marathon and other running festivals, who convinced Oakland's overburdened bureaucrats to open their minds and hearts to a wonderful opportunity.

Approximately 1,100 full-marathoners began the racing day at 7:30 a.m. After Mayor Ron Dellums rang the starting bell, they took off from City Hall to north Oakland and Rockridge, up the Oakland hills into Montclair, past the Mormon temple and down through the city's flatlands.

The half-marathoners made up the largest group of festival participants. Nearly 3,700 of us began our run at 9 a.m. After circling the downtown area, we began to get some real Oakland flavor once we entered the historic Chinatown neighborhood. Pretty old ladies waved multicolored fans as we jogged through rustic streets.

We next passed Oakland's Laney College, where a confused woman waited for a bus that would not come for hours (half of the city had been closed to traffic). By the time I realized I should tell her that she waited in vain, we were speeding into Jack London Square.

The endorphins and adrenaline really kicked in as we entered the revitalized loft district near Oakland's Embarcadero. As we ran toward West Oakland we were greeted by taiko drummers from Emeryville (as Hindatu said, only in California is an ancient Japanese art form practiced by middle-aged white ladies) and later, a gospel group praising our run (and Jesus). Even more energizing was a group of A's fans, who shouted, "No way San Jose — Keep the A's in Oakland!"

A highlight of west Oakland was the reception at the Crucible, where this nonprofit art center specializing in metal-working had us "run through fire" (i.e., an ornate flaming arch) and serenaded us with a live salsa band. Their grooves carried us past the Mandela Parkway and toward Lake Merritt.

As we crossed under Interstate 980 and returned downtown, we were surprised by some hard-core Raiders fans, including a fully decked-out buccaneer and another gorilla-suited Black Hole inhabitant, who blessed us with some major heavy metal that made me feel that the last 6 miles would be a sprint.

Of course, I was not in shape for the sprint home. By the time Hindatu and I hit Lake Merritt, I was remembering in vivid detail all my slacking prior to the race, and by the time we hit Mile 11 I had to let Hindatu run ahead. The last 2 miles were a grind, half-walking and half-running, but for the cheering onlookers I might never have arrived.

My final time — 2:09 — was very respectable, all things considered. Hindatu came in at 2:06, giving her eternal bragging rights. Maybe next year I can catch up — as we go for the full 26.2 shebang!

Of course, the pain from that day is only an afterthought as I savor the memories, sights and sounds of Oakland's diverse, vibrant landscape. I hope to see you on the course next year.