A woman runner takes a break from running and stretches with autumn leaves in the background

The Surprising Benefits of Taking a Break from Running

Autumn is near, many big races are over, and you may be wondering what's next. What I'm about to suggest might seem slightly extreme to some, but here it goes: have you considered taking a break from running? Written & edited by Pavlína Marek Professional athletes have been taking breaks for a long time. They intentionally ... More
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 & ... More
Three runners celebrate together at the finish line of the 2025 San Francisco Marathon, ready for the next challenge

So You’ve Done a Marathon. What’s Your Next Challenge?

Have you gotten over the “I’m never doing this again” phase? Are you starting to think about what’s next? You could, in theory, do ‘this’ again. Or you could take it a step further. You’ve done the marathon. Now, you may want to find your next challenge after the marathon—and there’s a world of possibilities waiting for you; ... More
A happy runner crosses the finish line of the 2025 san francisco marathon, starting her post-race recovery journey

Enjoy Your Post-Race High, Deal with Post-Race Blues, & Learn All About Post-Race Recovery!

You're nearing the finish line. Your body is exhausted but you've still got that one last drop of energy that'll help you finish strong. There's the arch. And, suddenly, after months of training, you're done. There's a medal around your neck and a banana in your hand. Your body's exhausted, but your mind's soaring. That's the start of your ... More
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 ... More
A bunch of athletes do alternative cross-training activities like cycling, yoga, and tennis

Unconventional Cross-Training Methods to Boost Your Running Performance

Training for a marathon (or any foot race) can get repetitive quite fast. That's where alternative cross-training methods come in to make things fun again and help prevent overuse injury and mental burnout! It's that extra sauce to spice up your running game. Written & edited by Pavlína Marek We'll go beyond the traditional gym ... More
A Black man and woman sit on the stair during their training session and chat, combining their marathon training and social life

Balance Social Life & Marathon Training in 5 Simple Steps

It's Friday evening and your colleagues have invited you to a bar. But what about that early morning long run tomorrow? Now it's Saturday night and your friends are organizing an awesome Sunday brunch, but you have a 15-mile training run planned and want to get it done before the heat kicks in. Sounds familiar? Balancing your social calendar ... More
An aerial view of the dominant Salesforce Tower in San Francisco at night

Art in San Francisco: The Salesforce Tower | SFM Ambassador Scott Benbow’s City Guide

If you’ve seen a photo of San Francisco’s skyline in the last few years, chances are you’ve spotted a sleek, silvery needle that rises high above the City: the Salesforce Tower. At 1,070 feet with 61 stories of glass and steel, it’s the tallest tower in Northern California. However, this skyscraper is more than just a big office ... More
Alexi Pappas, Olympian

Low on Running Motivation? Get Your Inspiration Back with Olympian Alexi Pappas!

Get back on track with powerful running motivation from Olympian Alexi Pappas. Running Is Hard—And That’s Exactly Why You’re Doing It The runner’s high and finish line thrill are what we live for. But what about the miles that feel impossible? If you’ve hit a plateau, lost your momentum, or need a reset, you’re not alone. Even ... More
An overhead view of one of the Castro neighborhood's intersection with rainbow pedestrian crossings

Running Through Pride: Explore San Francisco’s Castro Neighborhood!

June in San Francisco is synonymous with Pride, a time when the city bursts into a rainbow of colors and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community's resilience and history–and the epicenter of the City’s LGBTQ+ community is the Castro neighborhood. Written by SFM Ambassador Scott Benbow Edited by Pavlína Marek Monuments of Memory Between ... More