SF Marathon Ranked #2 Most Beautiful Marathon in the USA

Our city, your course, and now officially one of the most breathtaking races in the world! From postcard views to once-in-a-lifetime finish line feels, the San Francisco Marathon is officially one of the most breathtaking races on the planet. We’ve always believed our course was something special—but now, it’s official. The San ...
A man is running in a mountainous terrain, learning how to improve his trail running skills. The sun is shining and there's snow on the mountaintops. He's wearing war running clothes.

5 More Essential Skills to Improve Your Trail Running Game | Intermediate Trail Running Pt. 2

Welcome to part two of our Intermediate Trail guide! While we focused on things like technique, form, uphill/downhill running, and terrain reading in Part 1, today, we'll look at nutrition/hydration, strength/mobility, risk management, etiquette, and gear. Trail running in its core is easy, but once you have the basics down, the fun is when ...
A young woman wiht long brown hair and a yellow hat is reading a book about san francisco in a library, standing among the tall shelves.

Two Books to Read Before Visiting San Francisco | Scott Benbow’s City Guide

San Francisco rewards curiosity. You can explore its neighborhoods, admire its architecture, celebrate its perfect weather, and run its Marathon. However, understanding the city requires a little more than a good map. Through many boom and bust cycles, San Francisco has reinvented itself repeatedly, and its history helps explain the city you ...
A lone runner in the early morning hours runs through the centre of Chamonix during UTMB week, with Mont Blanc in the background. European running Culture.

How European Running Culture Blends City Running and Trails, from Pavement to Peak, from Parkrun to Pub

Four years ago, I moved (back) to Europe. You see, "back" is in parenthesis because, after spending the most formative years of my adult life in the US, I had become a whole new person. Most importantly, I had become a runner. I didn't expect the European running culture to be much different from what I knew from California. Oh boy, was I ...
A man is getting to run in the dark on a well-lit empty street, tying his shoes.

How to Run Safely in the Dark Without Buying Tons of New Expensive Gear

The first month of autumn is behind us and you might have started to notice that once you come back home from work, there isn't much daylight left anymore. And if you’ve ever left work late in winter thinking, “I’ll just do a quick run,” you already know how this will eventually go; you'll have to run in the dark. Why Running in ...
A runner runs in Golden Gate Park in front of the Naga statue

Where to Run in SF: Best San Francisco Running Routes for Every Level | Local Runs

  You asked, we listened! One of the more frequent topic requests that appeared in feedback you provided (thank you) was local run recommendations. And because we don't do things halfway, you'll receive a full series of run recommendations not only in San Francisco but also in other areas in the Bay. Today, we'll start in the heart of ...
A woman trail running uphill on a technical section doing hill reps.

The Why and How of Hill Repeats: The Simple Workout That Hurts (and Works)

Hill repeats are exactly what they sound like: you run up a hill hard, recover, then do it again. They also feel exactly how you might imagine them to feel. When they first appeared in my training calendar, my immediate reaction was to call my coach and cancel everything I signed up for that might require this exercise. However, even as ...

How the San Francisco Marathon Got Its Start

The San Francisco Marathon—celebrating its 50th birthday next year—is a race around the perimeter of San Francisco, past iconic landmarks, by historic neighborhoods, through Golden Gate Park and over the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a 26.2 mile loop where nearly 30,000 runners compete in the impossibly scenic USATF certified course. It's ...
The Golden Gate Bridge, one of the Golden Gate Dozen, with small silhoutettes of runners running in front of it

Golden Gate Dozen Run: Your 12-Mile SF Trail Guide | Scott Benbow’s City Guide

Start Easy, But Get Ready to Climb Start at the East Beach Parking Lot at Crissy Field, where the terrain is flat and the running is easy. The trail winds through the marsh with the Golden Gate Bridge ahead, and it is a beautiful place to settle into the run. Eventually, though, the route sends you uphill toward the Presidio Tunnel Tops. ...
A woman trail running uphill on a technical section doing hill reps.

5 Essential Skills to Improve Your Trail Running Game | Intermediate Trail Running Pt. 1

Trail running in its core is easy. It's basically a play in the woods. But once you have the basics down, the fun will move into getting good in increasingly difficult conditions. A couple years ago, we gave you a little introduction to trails. Now that you've had some time to put these tips into practice and learned to slow down, watch ...

From 240 Pounds to 2:40 Marathoner: Victor Hurtado’s Transformation

This is an updated version of the original article written by Victor Hurtado, 2019 San Francisco Marathon ambassador. Five years ago, I decided it was time for a change. I was sick of being tired all the time, of getting headaches on a regular basis. Sick of eating junk food every day, of being hungover, of being overweight. Sick of being ...