The San Francisco Marathon is an annual road running event in San Francisco, California, featuring a full marathon, two half marathons, an ultramarathon, a 10K, and a 5K. This event attracts travelers and runners who enjoy combining their passion for travel and sport as they get to experience the city's rich history and scenic beauty, making San Francisco an open-air museum.
The Races
The San Francisco Marathon offers a variety of race distances, each with its unique start times and locations, promising an exhilarating experience for participants and spectators alike. The full marathon (26.2 miles or 42.2 km) begins at 5:15 am at the Embarcadero at Mission Street and concludes at Embarcadero at Folsom. The first half marathon (13.1 miles or 21.1 km), known as the "Bridge Half," starts at 7 am from Presidio, adjacent to Crissy Field Sports Basement, and finishes at Golden Gate Park, specifically on JFK at the Rose Garden. Meanwhile, the second half marathon, dubbed the "City Half," commences at 8:30 am from MLK Jr. Drive in Golden Gate Park and crosses the finish line at Embarcadero at Folsom, which is also the finish line for the full marathon.
Runners in the 10K (6.2 miles) race set off at 7 am from The Embarcadero near Mission Street, with the race concluding at Embarcadero at Washington. For the 5K (3.1 miles) races, participants start at different times and locations: Saturday's race begins at 7:30 am at Crissy Field, while Sunday's race starts at 9 am at Mission Street and The Embarcadero. Families can also enjoy the Lollipop Family 1K (0.62 miles), which starts at 8:30 am at Crissy Field. Finally, for the ultra-marathon distance covering 52.4 miles, the first loop kicks off on Saturday at 10:15 pm from Mission Street and The Embarcadero, with the finish line at The Embarcadero at Folsom, shared with the full marathon finish line.
Tickets
Race fees for the San Francisco Marathon vary depending on the length of the race. The San Francisco Ultramarathon is priced at $545.99, while the Full Marathon costs $330.99. Participants in the 1st Half Marathon will pay $253.29, and the 2nd Half Marathon is $208.99. The 10K race is priced at $98.99, the 5K Fun Run ranges from $89.99 to $95.99, and the 1K Mad Dash costs $29.99.
History of San Francisco Marathon
The San Francisco Marathon, organized by the Pamakids Runners Club, held its first race on July 10, 1977, with fewer than 900 participants. Athol Barton, a taxicab driver from Reno, Nevada, won the inaugural marathon in 2:24:59. The event's record for marathon finishers was set in 1983 with 7,231 participants. Participation grew to approximately 21,000 by 2009. In 2005, 356 of the 4,873 finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon, with varying numbers of qualifiers in subsequent years. The prize purse has fluctuated, with no prize money offered since 2005 due to a lack of large sponsors.
