Saturday, July 25, 2009

SF Expo with a new friend!

I finally got to meet Penny from Planet Ynnep Running. We've been trying to get together since April, and today everything came together to make that happen.

Her plan was to come into the San Francisco airport around noon, take BART to her hotel and get checked in. I was going to drive up to SF, pick her up at her hotel and go to the SF Marathon Expo. Well, things went a little differently. This morning I was at Garin with Boomer and Penny called to say her flight was delayed almost 1.5 hours. She was concerned about getting up here in time to go to the Expo. There was an earlier flight coming in to San Jose and she wanted to know how far that was away from me. I told her it was closer (just the opposite direction). If it was easier for her, I had no problem driving there. I ended up picking her up in San Jose, just a couple of hours later, and we drove to San Francisco together and went directly to the Expo. The Expo was PACKED. They ran out of 1/2 marathon shirts! How do you do that?

After the Expo we drove to Union Square and got Penny checked in to her hotel. I enjoyed a cup of coffee and a bag of peanut M&M's from her mini fridge. She ordered a pot of tea and we hung out and chatted for a couple of hours. We had dinner reservations at Enrico's in North Beach at 6:00 with Willie from OK and a group of his friends.

When we came out of dinner, the fog was rolling in and it was C-O-L-D!!! Penny was in heaven, while I on the other hand, was freezing walking back to the parking garage. I wasn't prepared for how cold it had turned.

I had such a great day with Penny. It feels like we have known each other forever. Like maybe we just hadn't seen each other since Christmas or something. Do you understand? At the risk of repeating myself from when I met AKA Alice, it's so strange when I meet a blogger friend in person. It never feels like a first meeting. We have talked on the phone quite a bit and we text each other all the time, but still, I'm so happy with how well we actually get along in person. We laughed a lot and talked a ton. I wish I could run the 1/2 marathon with her tomorrow but it's just not in the cards for me right now. Good luck Penny!
Until later.............

8 comments:

RBR said...

I am so bummed I missed dinner and hangin' with you girls! You two look ADORABLE! Will I see you after the race?

Missy said...

How fun! Looks like some great times. You've been busy with bloggerland peeps lately for sure!

Irene said...

I guess the reason why there is that comfort level is because we sort of already know each other through the blogs. :) I know exactly what you mean... It's kind of like reuniting with a friend from high school. It looks like you both had a great time!

Mel-2nd Chances said...

So fun to meet other bloggers, I had that same comfort level with the one that came here from Australia, so wild! It's too bad you weren't able to run it today, but you'll be back soon :)

Unknown said...

Another blogger meet-up. How cool is that!?!?

I'm envious of everything - including the cool weather!!

Stuart said...

Dang another meet up! I need to crawl out from under my training rock!

Aron said...

YAY so fun you got to meet up!!! I wish I wouldve gotten to meet up with both of you!

sneakersister said...

That sounds like it was a really fun day!!