In a unique endurance challenge, Dolan and Spain embarked on a quest to complete 100,000 steps in a single day, determined to fit a monumental achievement into one packed schedule.
Starting their day at the early hour of 2:30 a.m. after an unconventional night of rest, Dolan and Spain set off into the predawn darkness.
The duo, who had prepared by going to bed at 7 p.m. the previous evening, faced a surreal early-morning atmosphere in San Francisco, with the sounds of neighbors still revving up for a night of partying echoing in the air.
Spain, who lives in the Haight, arrived at Dolan’s apartment in Lower Pacific Heights around 1 a.m., gaining a head start of 1,500 steps that would later affect their overall challenge.
“I’m biking past people who are still partying — which should have been me,” Spain recalled.
Upon arriving at Dolan’s place, he found the lights off and the promise of pancakes from Dolan’s wife going unfulfilled, yet they decided to continue with their plan.
As the two ventured east toward the waterfront, they navigated Presidio Avenue, making their way towards the Embarcadero and running into an unsettling situation.
Things took a creepy turn around 3:45 a.m. when they noticed they were being followed by an unknown individual.
“Every time we would cross the street, he would cross the street with us,” Spain noted, reflecting on the eerie circumstances of the late hour.
However, they managed to shake off their stalker a quarter mile up the Embarcadero, arriving at the foot of the Bay Bridge just as the sun began to rise over the Oakland hills.
For Spain, witnessing San Francisco wake up was the highlight of their journey, as they unexpectedly met friends who were out for morning jogs and breakfast outings.
Nevertheless, the initial excitement of the day soon transformed into physical exhaustion as they reached the southern tip of Sunset Dunes around 2:30 p.m.
Facing a time constraint to reach a party in the Mission by 4 p.m., they contemplated their route options.
Dolan suggested they just “split the gap in Twin Peaks,” believing the hills wouldn’t be too taxing.
However, as they trekked for an hour and a half through the steep terrain that divides the Mission and Outer Sunset, their initial optimism was met with frustration and fatigue.
With Spain cursing Dolan and blaming him for the strain in his calves, tensions flared until they finally crested Diamond Heights.
In that moment, the fog lifted, the sun broke through the clouds, and a surge of hope fueled their spirits as they pressed on.
Despite their efforts, Dolan and Spain’s arrival at Dolores Park was met with puzzlement by party-goers who didn’t share their excitement over achieving a seemingly obscure goal.
“100,000 steps is a weird metric that most people don’t really understand,” Spain explained, acknowledging the quizzical reactions as he attempted to elaborate on their challenge.
By this time, they had already trudged through 75,000 steps (equivalent to 34 miles), suffering from several ailments including dime-sized blisters on Dolan’s ankles and Spain’s iliotibial band syndrome—the painful condition affecting his tendon.
As fatigue set in, one key question lingered: Would they muster the willpower to finish the remaining 25,000 steps?
Dr. Nirav Pandya, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and director of sports medicine at Benioff Children’s Hospital, offered a word of caution to anyone considering a similar physical feat.
“Many of these endurance-type events can have significant negative impacts on the body, particularly muscle breakdown and joint issues,” he warned.
Despite the physical toll, Dolan and Spain emerged from their challenge feeling accomplished and proud.
Dolan even announced plans to run a half-marathon at Oracle Park during a Giants game, reflecting on the mental resilience gained through the experience.
“It wasn’t hard in the way that some athletic endeavors are hard; it was just grueling,” Dolan said about their day.
Spain added, “I never hit a buzzer-beater or a walk-off home run. This is the first time I’ve accomplished an athletic feat that shocked others.”
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