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 ...
Runners run down one of San Francisco's famous hills

Flat Can Be Boring: Why You Should Be Excited For Those San Francisco Hills!

When San Francisco Marathon runners are asked what makes the race course unique to other races, they talk about seeing all the iconic sights in the city, the majestic experience of running across the Golden Gate Bridge, the views of the ocean and the Bay, the amazing San Francisco weather, and the fact that it’s the only full marathon ...
Bill Rogers wins the 1980 Boston Marathon

Experiencing the Boston Marathon from the Press Truck

I was born in a hospital about a mile from the Boston Marathon finish line, which I like to think gave me an early and permanent claim on the event, though I am sure the Boston Athletic Association has never recognized birthplace as a credential. By the time I got to high school and started running cross country and track, I had also started ...
A man runs at night along a lone road, overtraining

Overtraining: When You’re Doing too Much & How to Recover Without Losing Fitness

You’ve been so consistent. You’re hitting more sessions, adding extra miles, sneaking in bonus sets, and basically doing everything fitness culture tells you to do. And then it happens. Because fitness culture won't tell you about that one silent performance killer: overtraining. It affects about 10% of athletes undergoing intensive ...

Twice the Time, Twice the Joy: Memories of the Ibusuki Nanohana Marathon

Back in 2015, I embarked on a journey from San Francisco, connecting through Taipei, to reach Japan’s Kagoshima via China Airlines to participate in a race that was small in scale but grand in heart — the Ibusuki Nanohana Marathon. Run the Ibusuki Nanohana Marathon View the event info here. China Airlines flies from ...
Two runners laugh as they celebrate the end of their 5k

5 Cool Facts About the 5K to Bring to Your Next Race

Before every race, there's always that weird little window of time where everyone is standing around near the start area, pretending they’re chill, while secretly thinking about when they last used the bathroom. Have you ever thought it would be nice to have something to say about the distance you all are about to take on? Tons of people ...
The author with her kids prepared for a run in the rain, raising runners

Raising Runners: When Your Children Outrun You And Your Expectations

Early on in their childhood, I knew it was important to raise children who loved reading. Reading has always been the gateway to all learning for children. But what I never really thought much about was raising runners. This is an updated version of a post contributed by Dr. Lisa Marie Gonzales. Lisa and her twin daughters, Kennedy and ...

What it’s like to run Taiwan’s wildest trail race

The riverbed was one of the most technical sections, requiring constant focus to choose each step among uneven rocks, testing your terrain reading and precise footwork. A turn led me into the mountain trail. As I climbed, soaked in sweat, Mt. Dajian reappeared on my right, glowing under the sun. In that moment, I understood ...
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 ...
Runners at the Taiwania Ultra Trail run through the local lush forest

Running Through the Misty Clouds to explore ancient “Trees that Touch the Moon”

Located in the rugged mountains of Northeastern Taiwan, the Taiwania Ultra Trail is one of the island’s most legendary trail running events. The course takes place on a restricted-access forest path, granting runners a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in Taiwan’s most precious old-growth forests. Another awe-inspiring moment ...
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, ...