The San Francisco Marathon course takes you on a counterclockwise 26.2 miles long tour along the Embarcadero of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin County, back to the Presidio and Golden Gate Park, to Haight Ashbury, the Mission, Potrero Hill, Dogpatch, and the finish line. Right at the start of Mile 1 of the 2024 San Francisco Marathon, you’ll run along the Embarcadero, a part of the city that used to be underwater. Written by the San Francisco Marathon Ambassador Scott Benbow The San Francisco Marathon’s course is both challenging and beautiful. In this guide series, you ..read more

Alex Parra, also known on social media as Alex1Leg, is a two-time cancer survivor, an amputee, a disability advocate, and a motivational speaker. Originally from Roseville in California, he now lives in Vancouver, Washington where he moved to be closer to nature. Besides going on hikes, he also loves making videos and bringing awareness to cancer and disabilities. 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. Written & edited by Pavlína Mare ..read more

Welcome to the very first post from our new blog series, “Meet the Team.” Since it’s National Volunteer Week, we’re excited to introduce to you our Administrative Assistant and Volunteer Manager Monika Gebarzewska who’s also a passionate athlete herself. Written & edited by Pavlína Marek Meet Monika Gebarzewska Monika is a former collegiate athlete. Originally from Poland, she represented the University of Southern Mississippi, her alma mater, in Track and Field (rack and cross country) events. Eventually, Monika left the country to go back home but she wasn’t satisfied. “I started a ..read more

When training for a race, whether it’s our first 5K or 15th marathon, we hyper-focus on the miles. But what about strength training? How can we use it to support not only our running but overall health no matter our age? Strength and power are inextricably entwined. Today, let’s discuss this connection and find the best exercises for you. (Here’s a hint: the best exercise is the one you’ll love doing!) Written by Coach Karen Peterson Edited by Pavlína Marek As the runs in your training plan get longer, the need to incorporate strength workouts, as well as runs that use shorter bursts of energy ..read more

When you go out on a run, sustainability probably isn’t the number one thing you think about. The only time it might come to your mind is when you see litter along your route and make sure that your gel wrapper is safely tucked in your pocket, waiting to be disposed of at home. If you’re one of us occasionally completing our (cross-) training in the form of work commute, you might be slightly more aware of the good you’re doing for our planet. However, come race day, sustainability probably isn’t the number one topic you’re thinking about. On this Earth Day, let’s focus on the good you can do ..read more

Fresh from her remarkable experience at the Boston Marathon, where she served as a guide for a visually impaired athlete, Alexi Pappas joined us to share her experience. She talked about the endeavor that transcended the typical marathon experience as a physical challenge and a deeply emotional journey. This year, Alexi helped her visually impaired runner Lisa Thompson reclaim victory in the visually impaired category, overcoming the intense competition and personal physical challenges. Written by the SFM Marketing Team & Pavlína Marek Edited by Pavlína Marek   View this post on I ..read more

Rucking, which is walking with a weighted vest or backpack, is ideal cross-training for endurance runners. It’s a great addition to any marathon training plan as it provides significantly less impact stress than running and can, therefore, help prevent running-related injuries. I found out the hard way. Written by San Francisco Marathon Ambassador Scott Benbow Edited by Pavlína Marek One year ago, I was in the midst of my final weeks of preparation to run the Boston Marathon. On a 19-mile run, during which I was planning to run 15 miles at my marathon pace, I developed a sharp pain in my left ..read more

Ahhh, the long run… The cornerstone of every training plan. Many of us build our weekends around them, experiencing the progression of our mental and physical endurance as our goal races approach. But what about those short runs that are peppered throughout our programming? As one athlete that I coach pointedly asked, “What’s the point?” Written by Coach Karen Peterson Edited by Pavlína Marek 1. Longevity and Exerkines As human beings who all possess expiration dates, a major motivating factor could be longevity. This comprehensive study from ten years ago created quite a buzz, and the scienc ..read more

You’ve probably seen the term GMO nearly everywhere from internet debates to the news to grocery stores. It stands for “genetically modified organism.” It is generally understood to be an animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA (genetic material) has been altered using specific genetic engineering techniques. (This is how I will use the term in the rest of this blog post.) Since you might encounter GMO ingredients even in your running nutrition, let’s discuss the most common GMO facts and fiction. Written by Becca Blumberg, MS, RDN Edited by Pavlína Marek History of GMOs Genetic modification might ..read more

I’ve been joining a friend of mine at the gym for a few months now; they’ve been training hard and I had decided to join them for some extra motivation. Working out with friends increases accountability, and that had been the case for me, too. However, a few weeks ago, my friend started a new job where they’re on their feet all the time, usually walking up to five miles a day. Suffice it to say, their motivation to go to the gym has ground to a screeching halt as they struggle to reconcile their training with a physically demanding job. I know they want to keep up the training and hit their go ..read more