Photo by: www.ChuckLantz.com © 2004

Here's a taste of the San Francisco scene, Rugged Elegant Living style, created to inspire you this weekend, September 17-19, 2004.

HEALTHY LIVING

Surfs Up!

Photo by: www.ChuckLantz.com © 2004

Every week day that's feasible, I jog 3-4 miles. This week, I've been on San Francisco's Crissy Field-to-Fort Point path.

Each day has been one quintessential Indian Summer morning, not to be missed, after another.

On Wednesday, there were more than twelve surfers out at Fort Point close to the Golden Gate Bridge attempting to catch a wave, or two. One of them, wearing a white helmet, succeeded, at least once in the five minutes I stopped to take notice.

Yesterday, almost as many surfers were out as on Wednesday. Only one of them forgot to wear his wetsuit. Actually, he didn't forget. He chose not to wear it. The guy's name is "Odd Todd." Todd's friend, Mark calls Todd crazy. Todd says he doesn't have time to put it on.

Two resources for both novice and veteran surfers:

Surfline.com

SurferMag.com

If you're interested in surfing lessons call thirty-five year veteran Steve St. Clair at (650) 359.5400. He is based out of Pacifica, and has been teaching for twenty years.

If you're looking for a surfboard, Rich Landerer of Rickland Surfboards has been making boards and custom painting them for the past three years. To date, he has made 235 boards which cost $550 in the local surf shops. His price: $300 - $400. He uses uni posca water based paint and airbrushing to customize your board. Send him an email at rich@ricklandsurfboards.com

Rock Solid Fitness

Teresa Marchese

At the end of my run I try to pump it out to the St. Franciso Yacht Club parking lot.

This week, in addition to catching a glimpse of the big boats getting ready to race, I had extra incentive when I saw my old trainer, Teresa Marchese, owner of Rock Solid Fitness putting away her weights.

Teresa teaches two women's classes five mornings a week: one at 5:45 am and the other at 6:45 am.

She starts her clients out with a 16 minute multi-pace jog -- from walking to full-on sprint. (In crew, we call it "a Power Ten"). She then brings everyone over to their own mat which she has set up with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. Each day she rotates from an upper body work-out to a lower body work-out. On Fridays, she often offers everyone a break, a chance to breath through yoga moves and stretching.

Teresa said "Three old students just came back. The classes are filling up again, now that I've completed law school. Before I get ready to take the bar, I'm currently exclusively focused on Rock Solid Fitness and Jay's art studio."

Teresa's husband is Jay Mercado, a prominent San Francisco realist painter, who has three large paintings currently hanging in Garabaldi's Restaurant in Presidio Heights.

The couple just returned from Southern California area where they spent a week learning how to eat organic. "The experience changed my life, significantly," Teresa said. "We are no longer drinking caffeine. And we have pretty much eliminated all dairy products from our diet."

Jay lost twelve pounds. She lost eight. More significantly, they are both focused less on "how they look" and more on the longevity of life. Contact Teresa directly for more information, if you're interested.

If you're a woman looking to get into shape or maintain your shape, and you like to work-out outside, go to:

SF.RuggedElegance.com/RockSolidSF

Other San Francisco Bay Area Resources for Healthy Living

Free Breast Cancer Detection Screening Services

For women who are 40 years of age or older; have low income; who don't have medical insurance, or who have medical insurance that does not cover these type of services; or who have a high deductible or co-payment; and are not getting these services through Medi-Cal.

Sponsored by Bay Area Breast and Cervical Health Collaborative.

Call Mon-Fri 9am-7pm 1-800-511-2300

ADVENTURESOME LIVING

San Francisco Big Boat Series Presented by Rolex

Attempting to park near the St. Francis Yacht Club was impossible yesterday morning. That's because the club's annual Big Boat Series, sponsored by Rolex, is under way on the San Francisco Bay.

Racing is in two Americap rating classes and eight one-design classes: Transpac 52, Santa Cruz 52, Farr 40, J120, Express 37, J105, 1D35 and Beneteau 40.7.

1,000 sailors and 109 boats have entered in the series. Competitors include local amateurs and pros from around the globe, including Olympic sailors, America's Cup veterans and ocean racers.

This year, there are seven classes plus two handicap divisions, from 35-footers to boats up to 70 feet long.

The largest boat expected: Grand Illusion, a Santa Cruz 70 from Hawaii.

Last year, the St. Francis Yacht Club cancelled the races due to the events of September 11th. The 40th annual series is one of the world's premier sailing events. The four day event began yesterday morning at 11am and will finish on Sunday with the traditional Round the Bay race.

Greek Sailor Nicholas Lykiardopulo’s Kerr 55 AERA, Winner of both IRC Class A Races - Day 1

Photo Credit: Dan Nerney, Rolex

This weekend, the place to watch is where the races end: Crissy Field.

Other locations include: Pier 39 and the northside of the Golden Gate Bridge - from the Vista Point.

For exact schedules, a list of competitors, go to: StFYC.com

For those unable to join in the fun, in January you will be able to TiVo the races as they are being broadcast under the title "The Spirit of Yachting."

Tantalizing Television - People & Performances

Speaking of TiVo, a few shows / events to consider recording this weekend:

Barry Bonds' Attempt at His 700th Home Run

Tonight, the six-time MVP's 700th homer will likely come at SBC Park, where the Giants begin a nine-game homestand against the San Diego Padres. Friday's game begins at 7:15pm on FSN. Both Saturday and Sunday's game begins at 1:05pm.

The Miss America 2005 Pageant celebrates their 50th telecast on Saturday night.

Saturday's two-hour program, 9-11 p.m. ET on ABC, will be hosted by The Bachelor and The Bachelorette host Chris Harrison. Viewers will only see the top two finalists perform their talent the night of Atlantic City's live broadcast.

The Emmy Awards on Sunday night

ABC hosts the 56th Annual Primetime from 8-11pm. The event takes place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The Ryder Cup Golf Championship - All Weekend

Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, USA Network; Saturday, 8 am-6 pm, NBC; Sunday, noon to 6 pm, NBC.

Other Local San Francisco Events

Friday, September 17th

Graham Nash's "Eye to Eye" book signing and reading at Border's (400 Post) in Union Square/Financial District at 7pm.

Saturday, September 18th

Children’s Storytime and Family Walks at The San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum (Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way) at 10:30am

Garden stories are read and then a tour of the botanical garden is provided. Admission is free.

Sunday, September 19th

From 10am-6pm on Sunday, The Valencia Street Fair brings our city rich with culture and diversity: Live music, vintage clothing, food and drinks. All the action is taking place on Valencia at 21st Street.

If you're in the neighborhood, we highly recommend La Luna Restaurant on 24th Street at Shotwell (415) 282.7110. They serve Sunday brunch and dinner beginning at 5:30pm.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

If you didn't get to go to Athens for the Olympics, you can still experience the best of Greek traditions -- food, music, dancing and cultural exhibits in San Francisco.

Their annual "Taste of Greece" Celebration takes place at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (245 Valencia in the Mission/Bernal Heights) from 11am - 10pm, Friday and Saturday and noon - 9pm on Sunday.

Admission costs: $3

"Places of Taste" on the Radar Screen

If you want to get out of San Francisco but don't have the time or means, head to Daniel Patterson's Frisson in Jackson Square. "This is so sophisticated and hip you'd think we were in LA or New York" said Jennifer Kelly on Tuesday night. The "aroma" cocktails and appetizers alone are worth the trip.

Ongoing

Portrait by Rive Nestor

Do you own a pet? Would you like to make him or her a star? If so, take your dog or cat to The Urban Pet in Presidio Heights where they will help you enter your "pup star" in ThePetStar.com, the new online community launched this week by Rive Nestor, Laurie Martin and the UDOGZ Designs team. Every three months, the master of the animal with the most votes will receive a two-night stay at the Diva Hotel in San Francisco (the Star is welcome), dinner for two at Moose's, and a $250.00 shopping spree at The Urban Pet.

In addition, the top pet in each category (dog or cat) will receive an original portrait of their pet by well known san Francisco Pet artist, Rive Nestor.

SOULFUL LIVING

City Church, Sunday at 9am and 10:45am - Sutter between Divisadero and Broderick

Volunteer Requests

Are you a painter, photographer, writer, dancer and actor?

The San Francisco public school system is looking for volunteers who are willing to share their artistic talent with students.

Please call 415-749-3700 x3009.

RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) encourages men and women 55+ to offer their patience, experience and enthusiasm as tutors in San Francisco elementary schools.

Training and support is provided.

Please call or email: 415-731-3335, bmarre@ncphs.org.

Experience Corps is seeking adults 55 and older to tutor or mentor children at Malcolm X Academy Elementary School in Hunters Point.

Read with a child, help out in a classroom, or participate in an after-school activity. We provide comprehensive training, team support, and personal in-school orientation. Volunteer just a few hours, or serve 15 hours a week and receive a monthly $150+ stipend. 415-759-3690 (ask for Janet).

For further information, go to: ExperienceCorps.org/SanFrancisco

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful living -- whichever path you're on this weekend!

~ Jennifer King

While my brethren at City Church got soulful with Reverend Fred Harrell yesterday morning at their annual picnic, two of us pounded our soles for 7.46 miles in an outdoor sanctuary called San Francisco's Bay to Breakers.

The 2004 Bay to Breakers Elite Runners

The Healthy

The 12K race attracted "the healthy" led by Benjamin Maiyo of Kenya (34:50) and Albina Ivanova of Russia (39:56). Maiyo ran the race not just for the $7,500 purse, but as a training run for the Athens Olympics. Ivanova came with the goal of winning the race, in part, as a 27th birthday present to herself. It also comes on the heals of qualifying for the upcoming 2004 Olympic Games in Greece. She will be running the marathon with the Russian team.

Had James Koskei, winner of the last three Breakers, won again yesterday, he would have joined Arturo Barrios (1987- '88-'89-'90) as a four-time champion. Instead he came in second place with a time of 35:01 -- just eleven seconds behind Maiyo.

The top two male and female American runners: Peter Julian (36:18), a thirty-three year-old from Boulder, Colorado, who finished eighth, and Chris Lundy (42:52), a thirty-three year-old veterinarian from Sausalito.

The first Bay Area man to cross the finish line was Greg Jimmerson (36:33), a twenty-nine year-old Stanford graduate.

Autodesk won the centipede competition.

And Mayor Gavin Newsom finished in 1 hour, 8 minutes.

Other Bay Area Top Finishers:

Peter Gilmore of Menlo Park, the winner of the 2003 San Francisco Marathon, in a time of 36:53

7th place, Mary Huang (45:24) from Portola Valley

San Francisco's Katy Hollbacher who came in ninth (46:45)

Menlo Park's Jennifer Glare (47:39) in 11th

San Francisco's Sara Gigliotti (49:03) in 13th

Sara Paul (50:23) of Palo Alto who placed 15th.

The Adventuresome

This year, as always, the Bay-to-Breakers attracted "the adventuresome." Before we jumped in at 1st and Howard, we watched at least two dozen "invigorated" nudists go by wearing nothing but tattoos and neon yellow hats. One of the nudists had a snake tattooed on his pelvic bone. You can guess where the head was.

While nude running was supposedly outlawed by the race promoters this year, it didn't stop anyone. The police, including SFPD Officer, Jeff Roth, looked the other way. The only violations given were to those who crossed the finish line in exhibition mode.

SFPD Officer Jeff Roth looks the other way as Chronicle photographer, Frederic Larson, captures a half dozen bare behinds.

The Soulful

Of the 100,000 who came out to run, walk, skip or party, a sample of the "soulful" included a band of Elvis look-a-likes, Jesus, who turned out to be part of a mock-World Wrestling Federation, the Organs 'R' Us (ORU) Centipede, and a Jews for Jesus troupe handing out flyers at the end of the race.

S.F. Chronicle Photographer, Frederic Larson, Shows Off the Elvis Show-Offs

The most inspiring of all, other than the elite racers at the front of the pack, were the seniors we saw power-walking, jogging and some even, running past us. One older couple ran the entire distance holding hands.

And...

Those in the "and..." category included: Doctor Seuss' Zig and Zag, American Idol Diva wannabe's La Toya London, Fantasia Barrino and Jennifer Hudson, Willy Wonka's Golden Ticket, and a group of I Dream of Jeannies.

There were many who helped add spirit to the morning adventure including the live bands, Low Carb Karaoke, U2 cover band Zoo Station, and Fine By Me, to name just a few.

In addition to Alhambra H20 and flavored vitamin mineral water, we were served Zola Acai Brazilian Berry Power Juice which tastes a bit like the Noni Juice we drink every morning. (Acai is pronounced AH-sci-EE.)

Dressed in mere tank tops, sarongs, our running shoes, and a fanny pack, we couldn't have ordered a more quintessential morning.

After "training" five days a week through Alamo Square since the beginning of March, we were prepared for the Hayes Street Hill and the long jog through Golden Gate Park.

When we hit Queen Wilhelmina's Tulip Garden, you would have thought someone turned on the windmill. The fresh breeze coming off the ocean was a welcome feeling as we hit the last 1/4 mile of the race.

The only time and place we stopped was to take a photo of the photographers.

Two Dedicated Bay-to-Breakers Sport Photo Photographers

After crossing the finish line in one hour, thirty-four minutes and fifty-eight seconds (only one hour after the top runners), we joined the lot at Footstock to stretch, to soak up the sun and the sounds of Luce and Stung, and to indulge in an $8 chicken kabob and rice brunch thanks to Sonoma Teriyaki.

By 11 o'clock, we started the four mile trek home. Along our walk we decided to see if there were any other crazy folk still coming down the race track. Little did we know there would be thousands of them. An American Red Cross volunteer said, "I still haven't seen 'The Tiki Hut' serving Mai Tais. And there's supposed to be a Transamerica Pyramid made out of beer cans."

Moments later, what came strolling by but both The Tiki Hut and the tower of beer cans.

So, will I be shopping at Albertson's more often now that they were the lead sponsor of the 93rd Bay-to-Breakers?

Personally, I'm partial to Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Andronico's Market and A.G. Ferrari Foods.

However, I'm happy to give their Fulton and Masonic location a plug. Their selection is outstanding. The prices are right. And the parking is free!

One thing is for certain: I'm looking forward to indulging in the Kabuki Springs & Spa early this week. The Bengay patches that were being handed out after the race were much appreciated. But there's nothing like rejuvenating your mind, body and soul in a soothing bath in Japantown.

For those of you wishing to congratulate one of the "healthy" souls in your family for making it across the finish line, or for those who at least tried, we recommend you call Jonathan Rachman and Betta Cattaneo at Fleur't.

Not only will they send over an exquisite bouquet, if you want to go all out, they'll include a one-of-a-kind piece of Italian jewelry for that one-of-a-kind Bay-to-Breakers champion. To order an arrangement, call 415.713.4779, and tell them Rugged Elegance sent you.

If you're looking to get your body in alignment today, we recommend you call either Dr. Robert J. Nathanson, D.C., QME of San Francisco Bay Chiropractic at 415.563.1888 or acupuncturist, Dr. Angela Wu of Wu's Healing Center at 415.752.0170. On Sunday, Dr. Nathanson was at the corner of Hayes and Divisadero cheering everyone on to check their liver and their pulse.

For all the people who came out to cheer us on, thank you.

After hosting a nine-year-old slumber party for fifteen girls on Friday night, I was just happy to cross the finish line. Others were not so lucky.

Today, we are praying for the man at Fell and Masonic who lost consciousness, as well as the man who had a heart attack at the top of the Hayes Street hill.

As one of the volunteers shouted as the top runners went by yesterday morning, "Here come the elite runners; that is, the other elite runners. Of course, you are all elite, in your own way."

Here's to the healthy, adventuresome, soulful elite of San Francisco, and the rest of us!

Next year, let's get the Rugged Elegance community together and race for "a youthful" cause like the Diabetic Youth Foundation, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or San Francisco's Chapter of Friends of the Children.

Speaking of FOC, Anna Yen, we're praying for and cheering you on this week!

Inspire & Be Inspired.

~Jennifer King

P.S. The race was created in 1912 to lift the spirits of San Franciscans during the tedious reconstruction following the 1906 earthquake. The 2005 race will continue in this same spirit. To join in the fun next year, go to BayToBreakers.com.

If your number was 51469, 45087, 39620 or any other, feel free to share your Bay-to-Breakers story with our monthly audience of 200,000. Click on "Comments" below and type away!