Regular readers might recall (but probably still don’t care) that I’ve spent the last six months or so training for the San Francisco Marathon - a really big first for this confirmed, dedicated couch potato.

Yesterday, while minding my own business at a friend’s family 4th of July breakfast and local-parade-watching fest in Sacramento, another recent convert to the marathoner way of life cornered me and suckered me into signing on to her Saturn Relay team.

Ever heard of it?

It’s a 199 (no, I didn’t stutter on the 9 key) mile relay race from Calistoga to Santa Cruz run by 12 runners per team over the course of about 27 hours. You run, you sleep in a van, you get up and run some more - in dark vinyards, at dawn down spooky highways in Santa Cruz county (and you thought you loved the 9 and 17 in your car!), in the moonlight across the Golden Gate Bridge. Sound crazy? Yeah, I think so too.

I wasn’t even downing mimosas when she got to me - how she did it, I’ll never know. But I’m in. We’ll see what happens.

Check out the Relay and think about piecing together your own team of crazed runners. It benefits Organs’R'Us, a worthy charity indeed. (I’m pretty sure there’s a joke in there about late night running on highways on one’s own leading to charitable contributions of an all too relevant kind, but that might be crass).

And hey - could be worse - this guy has run the WHOLE 199 MILES ON HIS OWN. After running to the start from his house, if I’m not mistaken. . . . .

Will Run For Shiny Objects
Oh, almost forgot - the Relay, October 15-16, will get you ready for the Nike 26.2 (or 13.1) on October 23 here in SF as well. And remember ladies, that’s the one that gives you Tiffany jewelry at the end. No kidding. If that’s not motivation, I don’t know what is.