Let's begin with the expo. It is easy to navigate, wasn't too crowded, but parking was a bit difficult at the small venue. Not very many vendors but the upside to that is you can get in & out without much fuss. Part of your race entry paid for an event jacket which looks sporty & feels cozy! There was a table to try on the size you ordered and you could exchange sizes if needed. This is a huge PLUS!

Now, on to the event. I rated parking low because there is virtually no parking around the event venue, BUT shuttle buses were plentiful. I was able to hop right onto a shuttle at the Emeryville Amtrak station and there were empty buses waiting to take runners once the bus I was on left the station. Upon arrival to Golden Gate Park the gear check was easy to locate, porta-potties were plentiful (although toilet paper was not). I've learned to carry kleenex in my pack and it came in handy. Finding race corrals and then accessing them was a breeze, the event started on time, waves were released in a timely manner, and we were off! A hilly course, which is expected in San Francisco, but not the most difficult I've ever run. the scenery was so beautiful that I really didn't feel the hills much. Aid stations had some variation of chocolate/marshmallows and offered NUUN hydration/water. I personally don't care for NUUN which is why I gave a 4 star rating instead of 5. The porta-potties on the course were fully stocked (Thank Goodness!) The finish line was very easy to navigate, and once you make your way back to the gear check area you could also pick up your "Finisher's Mug" which was actually a plastic sectioned bowl nearly dinner-plate size which held chocolate sauce, a paper cup of hot chocolate, marshmallow, rice krispie's square, pretzels, and a couple of other chocolate novelties. I was happy with the medal too, a large metal chocolate bar with an image of a trolley car & victorian style homes. Overall, a great event & fun with friends!

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