Without knowing the details, I scheduled myself to photograph the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run in San Francisco.

When I arrived, I was told, it was going to be an 8 mile course through San Francisco at a 10 min mile pace!! Now, if you remember, I was very proud of my 5K in February because before then, I had never ran more than a mile and a half, and never intended to again... so though I wore tennis shoes, I was also in a new shirt, a pretty scarf that a friend had brought me back from India, my big puffy jacket and skinny jeans, not exactly running attire... and I'm not exactly a running person.

I tried to pysch myself up and started off running. Turns out, it's super tiring to run backwards, carrying camera gear, and taking pictures. I lasted just under two miles before hoping on the trolley that was following them along the route.

Funny because just the other day I was telling my mom about my secret (impractical) desire to try and hop on a moving train... I think the trolley totally satisfied that goal.

After catching my breath, I hopped out again once we were outside the Tenderloin District and I thought there might be some pretty San Francisco backgrounds.

As the officer's on bikes riding alongside the runners to protect them were laughing at me saying "you gonna do this the whole way?" One recommended I try to hop in the back of the cop car that was leading the route.... geeeeeeeeenius.

So normally I run from the cop cars (just kidding) but this time, I was running alongside it asking the officer if I could jump in.

I spent the rest of the route hopping in and out of the cop car at various locations. Though Officer McPherson was nice enough to coordinate a slow down for my hopping out, I still kind of felt like I was in an awesome action thriller movie jumping out of a police vehicle ;-)

Afterwards, I was told by various participants what a great runner I am and how impressed they were with my running. I thought haha, I fooled the police again, if only they knew what a TERRRRRIBLE runner I am. But at the end of the day, and the days of soreness afterwards... the joke was on me!

What an awesome day! It's great to have Police Chief Suhr who has recommitted SFPD's support of Special Olympics and having this great event that benefits so many athletes.

Including the three who ran the course that day!

And just because I live a very observational life and find just about everything amusing, here's the best teething toy I've seen that one of the officer's kids was enjoying before the run.

Full set up at: http://www.klcfotos.com/sonc/20120618torchrun