San Francisco Marathon

San Francisco Marathon

San Francisco Marathon

( 79 reviews )
94% of reviewers recommend this race
  • San Francisco,
    California,
    United States
  • July
  • 3 miles/5K, 13.1 miles/Half Marathon, 26.2 miles/Marathon, 50 miles
  • Road Race
  • Event Website

Fallon C

California, United States
55 50
2016
"Holy Hills"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Fallon C's thoughts:

Registration- It took me 2 weeks to register as the discount codes were not working properly. I reached to race management via Twitter and email and eventually things were straightened out but it was a little frustrating.

Expo- The expo was located at Fort Mason and it was a very scenic location. That said, I was a little disappointed in the vendors. For some reason, I thought there would be more vendors. Granted, I did not arrive until late Saturday so maybe things were different earlier in the morning and the previous day. Packet pickup and shirt pickup was very quick and separated by race- Full, First Half, Second Half, 5k.

Race day- With the first half and full marathon starting at the same time, the start was a little congested. I couldn't find the portapotties. Runners were told to head towards to corrals. I found my corral and lined up. Wave 7 started exactly on time at 6:22.

The race starts on the Embarcadero and heads out to the Golden Gate Bridge, across it to Vista Point and then back across the bridge. From runners head through the city to Golden Gate park. After 5-6 miles in the park, runners exit towards Haight-Ashbury. The remaining miles were through a more industrial part of town before heading back by AT&T Stadium and finishing under the Bay Bridge.

The views in the first part of the course were great but the bridge was mired in fog and very slippery. The park started out very pretty but there were a lot of miles looping around the park, they began to drag on. But that is also just my opinion. The park is also where the First Half runners finish and the Second Half runners joined the marathoners. Haight -Ashbury was fun to run through but the industrial sections were a little mind numbing. Running past AT&T park and then under the Bay Bridge to the finish was kind of awesome.

There were plenty of on course aid stations but they were having troubles keeping up with the demand. A few had run out of pre mixed Nuun and others were having troubles filling the water cups. Once across the finish line, there was little direction from the volunteers, I was a little confused where to go. Granted, this was my first marathon and I was on the slower side so I know the volunteers had a lot to do and were probably tired too but I had hoped for a little more.

That said, I really did enjoy the course and the race. It has a lot hills (Garmin showed 1500+ elevation gain) but they kept things interesting. :) I would run this race again but probably just one of the half's- a few less hills that way. :) They also offer a variety of challenge medals for running the various distances in consecutive years.

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