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 together Black, Asian, and Latino artists. Multiple Bay Area anthems came from his work, and defined the local style.
On the top of his star career, he’s also a runner.
1) What was it like running SFM?
The SF Marathon was my first marathon so plenty of nerves but the course is incredible. From the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Haight St, passing Chase Center, I’ve had so many moments from my childhood and highlights from my career tied to San Francisco. It was extremely rewarding being able to run the city.
2) What was your favorite part of the course?
Being a Bay Area native the Golden Gate Bridge is unbeatable. Running across it so early in the course was such a tone setter for the rest of the race.
3) What surprised you the most about the course?
All the hills, you know San Francisco is known for hills but when you’re on mile 20 and you turn a corner and you see an
incline, I had to dig deep.
4) Everyone talks about the Golden Gate Bridge. What was going through your head as you crossed it?
I was just trying to not fly off it. It was so windy but such an incredible moment to run back and forth on such an iconic
landmark.
If you, too, want to take on the course of P-Lo’s first marathon, we’ll be happy to welcome you in July! Not up for the full? the Bridge Half will take you over the Golden Gate Bridge, an experience like no other.
Do you want to read more about some of our runners? Here are some of the amazing humans that took on the San Francisco Marathon over the years!
Jeremiah Maestre
Jeremiah Maestre is a Filipino-born Orange County runner and martial artist, a father of two, and a man with big dreams and an even bigger heart. He’s helped build boxing gyms across the US and coaches combat sports fighters and runners alike. In 2025, he plans to head back to the Marathon des Sables to push himself further than ever before.
DeadSKOUT
Just this fall, SKOUT has finished a run from California to New York. He did it in 68 days, with a daily average of 43.67 miles. The run was dedicated to spreading awareness about Mental Health & Suicide Prevention. Why did he run in a motorcycle helmet? And why did he run this route again, even if he’d already crossed the States on his own two legs last year?
Alex Parra
Alex Parra, also known on social media as Alex1Leg, is a two-time cancer survivor, an amputee, a disability advocate, and a motivational speaker. In 2023, he ran the San Francisco Marathon on crutches to bring awareness to the cost of running prosthetics. In this Runner Spotlight Q&A, learn about the How and Why of Alex’s experience.
Sanyika Shakur
Sanyika Shakur is a Houston runner who started to run as a gift to himself for his 31st birthday. He wasn’t a college athlete. However, sports have always been a part of his life. He was a teacher for seven years, a PE coach, and an athletic director. Eventually, outgrew the streets of his childhood, completing three marathons within a year.
Lucie Nestrasilova
When Lucie Nestrasilova was 45 years old, she decided she wanted to do something big for her 50th birthday. Inspired by a book and her wish to run across the Golden Gate Bridge, she said she’d run a half marathon in San Francisco. Eventually, she traveled across half of the globe to do run her dream race.
Tommy He
Tommy He is a student, a dad to an adorable pet lion, and an autistic runner. He came to the Bay Area nine years ago, not knowing he’d become a passionate runner, a friend to many within the running community, and a Boston marathon finisher. This year, he joined the 52 Club after completing the three-year challenge.
