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The San Francisco Marathon Runner Comments
Back to The San Francisco Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 3.6 
Spectators 2.6
Number of comments: 503 [displaying comments 401 to 411]
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rebecca allison from campbell,ca
(8/3/2004)
"Great run through San Francisco" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 The San Francisco Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my third marathon, first in SF. The course was great. The hills weren't too bad in my opinion, and I didn't do any specific hill training. There weren't many spectators, but the ones that came out that day were super-stars! Lots of encouragement! The water stops were run well with a volunteer standing way out in front telling runners which table had water and which one had Gu2o. Very helpful to prevent too much of a log jam. I ran a PR and will come back next summer to run it again. It was beautiful! The out and back along the great highway miles 10-16 or so was my favorite. Volunteers were handing out beer at miles 16 and 25, and even though I couldn't imagine drinking and running, it made me smile! | |
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J. J. from Southern California
(8/3/2004)
"Bellisima" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 The San Francisco Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is the 2nd year that I have run this marathon. All I can say to anyone who is thinking of doing this race is: JUST DO IT! You will not be disappointed. Yea, the hills are a little tough here and there but come on, guys, this is San Francisco. The only part I didn't like was the boring 2 mile out and back at miles 11-15. San Francisco is such a beautiful city to visit and you really get to see everything on your 26 mile jaunt. I was so excited I rented a bike after the run and rode over the Golden Gate Bridge and back. If I had a wetsuit I would have gone for swim also. Oh, I guess thats another sport called a triathlon. :) | |
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Mike Herrin from Tremont, Illinois
(8/3/2004)
"Neat experience" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I would certainly go back and do this marathon again. My family and I found San Francisco to be a neat city and the race was great. The marathon ran through and by some great sites. There were plenty of aid stations, the course was well-marked, and plenty of course marshals on each corner to control traffic and point us in the right direction. I started with the early group at 5:00am and had all of the same treatment as the top runners. The one downside was the expo the day before. It had plenty of neat vendors and things to see but the number and chip pick-up were in one tent and t-shirt and poster pick-up were in another tent. On top of that, the t-shirt table and poster/hat pick-up were in diagonal corners. Could have been closer together (a little confusing). Besides that, the start and finish areas were well-organized. My son did the half-marathon and my wife did the 5K and they had a great time also. Like I said, I would go back and highly recommend it for anyone. | |
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J. K. from Chicago, IL
(8/3/2004)
"Too Pricey For No Reward" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 The San Francisco Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 If it were not for the scenic course, this race would have absolutely nothing to offer. I am insulted at the high cost of this race which could not even provide water at the finish! Their post-race food was a freakin' orange! Unpeeled! The medal was not unfurled and placed around my neck, but instead handed to me in a little plastic bag. I don't think the marathon organizers understand that participants train months for their race and want a little pageantry at the finish. The t-shirt was cotton and in my opinion ugly. Where does the money go? This race seemed as if it was put together on a shoestring! The organizers are just lucky the City by the Bay offers great scenery, or this race would have no selling points whatsoever. | |
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chuck blair from San Luis Obispo, CA
(8/3/2004)
"Give us old duffers a little more time." (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ The San Francisco Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I have never been a fast runner, and as I get older of course I'm running slower each year. I have run this marathon 11 times now (PB 3hr 57min), but now I am running south of 5 hours. The marathon runners in this race are a young group as one might expect in SF and after 12 miles, it's just me and a few other stragglers. That's not so bad except during the last 8 miles I find it difficult to follow the course and the volunteers, bless their hearts, are going home. I got lost at mile 23 in 02 and ran at least 1-2 miles extra before I found my way back to the course, and still finished 3rd in my division. Last year my son ran the last 6 miles to keep me honest and we both got lost, but luckily I ran only 26.3 miles. This year the map was better, but still not accurate after mile 22. I didn't get lost this time, but it is very disconcerting when chalk marks are barely visible and the truck is picking up the cones faster than I can get to 'em. So if you could please keep the course open for 6 hours, it would reassure old duffers like me that there may be someone still present at the finish line when I get there. This year that was 5 hour, 46 minutes, but if I'm reading the results right, I was numero uno in my division. I can only imagine how bewildered those behind me felt. I'd look for an older crowd to run with but I love SF so I'm stuck running with this bunch of stallions, at least until they get older. It's true that there are not a lot of fans, but I don't complain about this because watching someone like me run a marathon is about as exciting as watching paint dry. Also you might consider changing the course again and begin at what is now mile 7 so we cardiac-impared individuals could run downhill for 2 miles rather than straight up. The rest of the course would then be a breeze. | |
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S. P. from Baton Rouge, LA
(8/3/2004)
"Great Marathon!!!" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 The San Francisco Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This marathon was well run and the course was beautiful. I have heard a lot of complaining about the hills, but they were not really that bad. I would love to do this marathon again! | |
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N. T. from Antelope, California
(8/3/2004)
"Beautiful, Tough, Hilly Course" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 The San Francisco Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 The people that organized this marathon must read all of the negative comments on this website. Many of the issues have been resolved with this year from last. This was only my second marathon. I'm not a fast runner. I couldn't see starting at 5 am due to an earlier comment about no water until mile 14 and the course being poorly marked. I started at 7 am. I finished just over the 5 hour limit since the traffic is opened at noon. Well, by the time noon came, I was already near Pac Bell Park where there wasn't a need to have traffic control. I still found plenty of water and food, medals and space blankets at the finish line. The few fans that did cheer me on as well as fellow runners were great. Organizers keep up the good work. I'll be back after I lose another 20 pounds. | |
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Francis Valencia from Sunnyvale, California
(8/3/2004)
"Abnormal August Weather, Hilly and Scenic" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 The San Francisco Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I was warned by the S.F. Chronicle Marathon site that this race is usually mild/cold, but this year it actually rained during the first half (drizzle to you non-Northern Californians)!! It was totally overcast and I didn't see the sun once during my run. Needless to say, I applied sunscreen and brought my sunglasses in vain. The course was very nice. You get to see the Golden Gate Bridge enveloped in fog, Alcatraz, and you can hear the gentle sound of waves crashing all during the first 10k. The course was hilly, but for every uphill there was downhill so it balanced out. In general, the course was pleasant - you run through neighborhoods, Golden Gate Park and the sound and sight of waves crashing into the beach at mile 4 and miles 11-15 is inviting. Don't expect any skyscrapers here, they are wise not to include Union Square or the Financial District. My sister who cheered me on in Haight street at around mile 19 said a group of hippies in their sewing machine powered VW bus were on the verge of rioting due to their traffic woes. Can you imagine yuppies rioting and being inconvenienced in the Financial District? Perish the thought. The organization was fine. The start and finish was sane and organized. The volunteers at the hydration and grub/Gu stations were very supportive. None of the aid stations ran out of supplies which was a concern for me. My only qualm was the race pick up day. The notice in the mail should clarify the order of our pick up. The bib/chip, T-shirt (mediocre, but I will still wear it with pride), and grab bag were in three different tents!!! Is one pick up area too difficult? Or do they do this for crowd control reasons? I have no idea. It took me at least forty minutes to figure this out and finally leave with all three. I agree with many of the comments I have read in this website - there wasn't a huge number of spectators for such a famous city. But those who were there, thank you, thank you, thank you... Many of you lady fans were very cute (but you already know that). Most if not all of you were very supportive. Your cheers, smiles, and signs helped me and countless others. The lady who wrote 'Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever' kicks ass. It is people like you that helped me accomplish my marathon goal time. Would I recommend this race? Yes. It is much better than my first marathon back in 99', the San Jose Silicon Valley Marathon (to say this race is boring is such an understatement). The weather may be unpredictable, but it sure beats 85 degrees or more anywhere else in the country. It is hilly though, so be sure to include hill training. I have no regrets running this race, despite the usual post-race soreness. | |
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e. h. from Santa Monica, California
(8/2/2004)
"Great Marathon in a Great City" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my first ever marathon and I had a blast! San Francisco is a beautiful city and this course takes you past all the great sights and neighborhoods. The race was well organized and everyone (support staff, volunteers, etc) was friendly and supportive. The hills weren't too bad, and though it was summer time the weather was nice and cool. I will definitely be coming back to run this race again. | |
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Wayne Hooper from San Diego
(8/2/2004)
"Best summer run" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 The San Francisco Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 We have run this 3 out of the past 4 years and keep on returning. This was my 26th marathon. The expo was not too bad considering the small size of the run participation. The expo site is very pleasant with easy access to several hotels. The night before the run, meal opportunities in a city like San Francisco, are terrific and well worth the weekend. We flew into Oakland this time and the access to the expo and hotel was easier than coming from the south SF airport. The weather was terrific: cool, light mist, cloudy, and thus, fast. The hills are tough, but the several Red Bull sponsored stops were welcome. The roads were a little slippery on the downhill, and you needed to be careful. All the hills are tough. It helps to draft behind someone along the six mile out and back coast run halfway along. Don't burn out your quads on the downhill scamper. The uphills are worse the first half, mile 22 has a small but killer hill when you think they are all behind you. The sites are pleasant: Fisherman's Wharf, the Science Pavilion, Golden Gate bridge and park, the Pacific coast, Haight Ashbury, and SBC Stadium. But nothing is as pretty as finishing at the Embarcadaro. Nice ending and pleasant treats given out. Coffee shops all around to have a prize such as a frappacino to reward yourself. Have fun. Worth it despite the poor crowd turn out. The folks that came were greatly appreciated. |
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