San Francisco Marathon
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge through the fog on one of America's most challenging and iconic urban marathon courses.
San Francisco, California
Late July
42.195 km
397 m
~6,700 athletes
Course Highlights
- Golden Gate Bridge crossing
- Fisherman's Wharf and Crissy Field
- Golden Gate Park
- Haight-Ashbury neighborhood
- Embarcadero waterfront finish
The Course
The San Francisco Marathon begins on the Embarcadero waterfront in the pre-dawn darkness and heads west along the bay toward the Golden Gate Bridge. The approach to the bridge passes through Fisherman's Wharf and Crissy Field, where early-morning fog frequently obscures the towers overhead. Crossing the bridge itself is a surreal experience, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and the bay to the east, often with only the tops of the cables visible above the mist.
After a turnaround on the Marin side, runners recross the bridge and descend through the Presidio into the city proper. The middle miles roll through Golden Gate Park, the Haight-Ashbury district, and the Mission, with several significant climbs that test even well-prepared runners. The cumulative elevation gain of nearly 400 meters makes this one of the hilliest major-city marathons in the world.
The final stretch runs along the waterfront past AT&T Park and under the Bay Bridge before returning to the Embarcadero finish. The course rewards strong hill runners and punishes those who underestimate the terrain, but the payoff is a tour of one of the world's most beautiful and distinctive cities.
History
The San Francisco Marathon has been held annually since 1977 and has become one of the most recognizable marathons on the West Coast. The Golden Gate Bridge crossing, introduced in the 1990s, transformed the race from a local event into a bucket-list destination for runners worldwide.
The event has grown to include two half-marathon options, a 10K, a 5K, and an ultramarathon, making the weekend a multi-distance running festival. Despite its challenging terrain, the marathon remains a certified Boston qualifier, and the combination of iconic landmarks, summer fog, and San Francisco's distinctive neighborhoods gives it a character unlike any other urban marathon.
How to Train for San Francisco
Train hills relentlessly
Nearly 400 meters of climbing spread across steep San Francisco streets demands serious hill preparation. Incorporate weekly hill repeats and long runs on hilly terrain. If you live somewhere flat, use a treadmill set to varying inclines to simulate the constant ups and downs.
Prepare for fog and cool conditions
Late July in San Francisco is nothing like summer elsewhere. Morning temperatures often sit around 12 to 15 degrees Celsius with heavy fog and wind on the Golden Gate Bridge. Train in cool, damp conditions and bring arm sleeves or a light vest for the bridge crossing.
Adjust your pace expectations
This is not a PB course for most runners. Set a realistic time goal that accounts for the hills and focus on running by effort rather than pace. Trying to hold flat-course pace on San Francisco's climbs is a recipe for a painful second half.
Practice pre-dawn fueling
The early start time means eating breakfast at 3 or 4 in the morning. Practice your race-day nutrition routine during training to ensure your stomach is settled and your energy stores are topped off before the gun goes off.
Free training plans
Half marathon to marathon
A free 16-week plan to step up from the half to the full marathon: five runs a week and a long run that builds from 1h 40m to 3 hours.
16 weeksMarathon (16 weeks)
A free 16-week marathon plan: six runs a week, a long run that builds to 2h 45m, a recovery week every fourth week, a peak in week 13 and a three-week taper.
16 weeksMarathon (20 weeks)
A free 20-week marathon plan with a gentle build: five runs a week, a long run that grows to 3 hours, a recovery week every fourth week and a three-week taper.
20 weeksSub-4 hour marathon
A free 16-week plan to break 4 hours in the marathon: six runs a week, goal-pace sessions at 5:41 per km (9:09 per mile) and long runs to 3h 10m.
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How to Train for a Marathon on the Treadmill (Winter Survival Guide)
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