The race itself is beautiful. For 20 miles the weather was very foggy/misty which was pleasurable while running a marathon. The final 6 miles were sunny but it was still cool enough where my long sleeves were not an issue. 

The first part of the race is the flattest: straight down the Embarcadero where you get to see San Francisco's many piers and Fisherman's Wharf. It's a wonderful start of a race. The first challenge comes when you reach Fort Mason which is a large hill straight up. Following this there is another large hill on the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. I was among the many runners who decided it was best to walk these hills and not cost ourselves too much energy.

Running across the Golden Gate Bridge is surreal. During the race it was very cool and foggy which takes some of the awe away from running across the bridge but it's an amazing experience as it is. Also, taking up nearly four miles of the first half is a great way to speed up the feel of the marathon.

Following the bridge, the next 9ish miles are run through tree filled parks. You see buffalo, waterfalls, and other wonderful sights. 

The final stretch of the race is through the streets of San Francisco. There are portions where they split runners onto two different roads and you barely even notice it happening until you meet up with the next group. When you see the Bay Bridge you know you're almost done.

The final mile takes you by AT&T Park. It's always cool running around city landmarks like baseball stadiums, especially on gamedays which add a few more fans to the cheer section. The race finishes again on the embarcadero. 

The San Francisco Marathon is a beautiful tour of an amazing city and I highly recommend it.