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 ... More
Bay Bridge Art Lights at Night

The Bay Lights Come Back to Life on Bay Bridge | Scott Benbow’s City Guide

Picture this: you’re in your starting corral at the San Francisco Marathon in July. You have trained well, but you’re nervous. It’s cold, dark, and very early in the morning. This year, you’ll have a massive piece of art to distract you from your pre-race jitters. Affixed to vertical wires on the Bay Bridge, you’ll see a spectacular ... More
Trail and ultramarathon running in the desert

Intro to Ultras: What You Need to Know to Venture Beyond 26.2 (A Complete Guide)

So you finished a marathon and now your brain has started whispering: What if I just… kept going? Or maybe you haven't even run the fabled 26.2 (yet) and you already know that it can never satisfy your cravings for new challenges. Or maybe you happened upon a weird documentary one day without knowing that trail and ultra running exists, ... More
A runner is completing the long run with mountains in the background. But "what if I can't do my long run?"

Avoid Chafing, Save Your Run!

Chafing is one of those running problems nobody really posts about, but almost everyone deals with at some point. Sometimes, it’s not just annoying because it can turn a great run into a painful shuffle. In its more severe form, it can also be race-ending. The good news is that chafing can be mostly preventable once you understand what ... More
P-Lo with a medal after the San Francisco Marathon

P-Lo at the San Francisco Marathon: What Is It Like to Run the Race?

You might ask if P-Lo, a prominent Filipino-American rapper, producer, and songwriter from Pinole, California, ever sleeps. He's known as a leading figure in modern Bay Area hip-hop, is mostly self-produced, and also produces for other artists like Yo Gotti, Wiz Khalifa, and Chris Brown. As a co-founder of the Heartbreak Gang, he helped bring ... More
Golden Gate Bridge, blue skies, and lupies flowering in the forgreound.Run in SF.

Pedestrian Day to Marathon Day on the Golden Gate Bridge | Scott Benbow’s City Guide

Before you ever think about cars, tollbooths, or traffic reports, it helps to remember what the Golden Gate Bridge really is: a ribbon of steel stretched across one of the most dramatic entrances to any city on earth. For San Francisco Marathon runners, it is also the moment the race turns cinematic. You are running on a living landmark of ... More
A runner with a missing toenail checks on her foot

Lost a Toenail? Healing Timeline, Care Tips & When to See a Doctor | Foot Clinic

If you’re a runner currently staring at a toe with a missing toenail, welcome to a very weird club. Yes, it's a club, because despite most of us doing what we can to prevent it, it’s a surprisingly common thing. Congrats, here's a tub of Neosporin. Written & edited by Pavlína Marek Now, don't go telling your toenails off for ... More
A couple training together, keeping the intimacy alive through training together

Keep Intimacy Alive During Marathon Training and Finish the Race Together!

Marathon training changes the rhythm of a relationship, and partners notice it quickly. The early alarms, the long weekend miles, the meal planning, the foam roller that somehow becomes a centerpiece of the living room. This is all part of the process, and watching someone chase a goal that big is inspiring. The part people talk about less ... More
Three runners on the background of the Golden Gate Bridge during their SFM destination race

What Makes The San Francisco Marathon The Perfect Destination Race

This is an updated version of the "Perfect Destination Race" article written by 2020 San Francisco Marathon Ambassador, Lindsay Walter. Lindsay is a social media influencer, alopecia ambassador, and health advocate. Anytime there is an opportunity to travel and run a marathon, I always jump on the chance to do so. Add in the chance to run ... More
Alexi Pappas at the 2024 San Francisco Marathon Alexi Pappas 10K

10 Reasons You Should Do a 10K at the 2026 San Francisco Marathon

A 10K is kind of the best deal in running. You get the satisfaction of doing a real race. The bib, the start line excitement, the finish line high,... you get the whole package. However, unlike with longer races, you usually won't need the long, limping recovery (or the 16-week training takeover of your life) that a half marathon or full ... More
A woman is tying her running shoes on a road with a 2026 sign, ready to achieve her running goals

Still Looking for a 2026 Running Goal? Here Are a Few Fun Options!

Fancy seeing you here! By clicking on this article, you already took the first step on a new and rewarding journey. Today, let's cook up your running goal for the year. Or pick (and personalize) one of those I've created for you, there are ten options to choose from! Written & edited by Pavlína Marek Why a precise running goal beats ... More