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 ...
Fort Mason festival pavilion where the SFM expo takes place, decked out in SFM banners

Before the Starting Line: Discovering Fort Mason | Scott Benbow’s City Guide

The San Francisco Marathon Expo is where race weekend begins. You’ll arrive at Fort Mason to pick up your bibs, browse the latest running gear, and feel the excitement that builds whenever thousands of people gather before a marathon. Written by SFM Ambassador Scott Benbow Edited by Pavlína Marek I look forward to the ...
A close-up on a running shoe as the runner runs through mud, prompting him to wash his running shoes

How to Wash Your Running Shoes Without Destroying Them

Have you ever looked at your running shoes and thought about all the sweat, dirt, road salt, and mystery smells that have collected there over the weeks, months, and maybe years of use? Did it feel just plain wrong to put them on at some point? If your answer to either of this questions was a "yes," then washing them makes sense. Now, I'm ...
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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
A view of Sunset Dunes with the Pacific ocean in the background and a sign pointing toward the park in the foreground

Sunset Dunes: San Francisco’s Newest Park | SFM Ambassador Scott Benbow’s City Guide

San Francisco is defined by its natural edges: the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Bay to the north and east, and the steep hills in between. With the opening of Sunset Dunes, the city has added another defining feature to its landscape—an expansive new park that transforms a 2-mile stretch formerly known as the Great Highway into a large ...
A joyful group of seven marathon finishers pose together under a red FitVine Wines arch at the San Francisco Marathon Finish Line Festival.

Master the Language of Running: 20 Terms You Need to Know

Have you ever bonked? Or trained with your terrible friend, the dreadmill? And what about the wall? Have you hit it yet? If you don't know how to answer because these sentences just don't make sense in the context, don't fret. Today, you'll learn the most common running terms and finally understand the runner lingo. Written & ...
The Embarcadero, San Francisco, aerial view of the Ferry Building, the Embarcadero, and palm trees

The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of the Ferry Building | SFM Ambassador Scott Benbow’s City Guide

Are you planning to run the San Francisco Marathon or the 1st Half Marathon? If yes, when the race-day morning comes, you'll be assembling with thousands of other runners at the start of the race in front of the Ferry Building, a Beaux-Arts landmark that has withstood the City’s booms, busts, politics, earthquakes, and reinvention since ...