I loved the race, but those hills at the end were killers. I will never forget the experience of running across the GGB. Amazing.

S.F. is a great place to run a race. Perfect wave organization at start line, far too few of toilets, though. Great views during race. Impressive finisher's medal and shirt. I was very disappointed in the promised support from the sponsors. They offered gel at station 3, but nothing after that. They only offered a small bag of chips and a sports drink at the finish line. I was so in need of nutrition through the race and at the finish - and I finished near the middle of the pack. Many thousands after me received the same treatment as I did. Perhaps the sponsors furnished nutrition support for the first half of the runners, but how about the rest of us? Didn't the rest of us marathoners pay the hefty $120 registration fee, also? This also happened in 2008. I give the sponsors a failing grade for their integrity. You should come prepared unless you are a sub four-hour runner.

This was my 1st US marathon, and on the whole I enjoyed the experience. The expo was busy, but I was able to pick up my bib and t-shirt easily enough and without delay. I wouldn't pay for parking for this event; there is plenty of street parking within the locality!

The race was really well organized. There were no problems parking, plenty of toilets, and clear signs indicating where to start! The early start was fine and the first few miles are really pleasant along the waterfront. The climb onto the bridge isn't that bad if you are prepared for running hills! Once on the Golden Gate Bridge, I totally understood the reason for the large gaps between waves; I was in wave 5 and came across lots of runners who overestimated their abilities! I think that, with the narrow lanes, slower runners needed to be directed to keep to the right, but their failure to do that didn't really spoil my enjoyment.

Running the park is always nice; and again, the hills are tough, but they are not a surprise - it is San Francisco! The last 5 miles are run through industrial streets, so it is not a good place to deal with the "wall." The support isn't going to be great for this event, but again, this isn't a surprise, having read the reviews for previous years. A big thanks to the Harley chapters who assisted as stewards, and offered plenty of support. The guy at mile 24 1/2 was a real life-saver, giving out some nice drinks!

The finish was well organized and the runners get a chance to recover from the run before mixing with the public. They give you a nice medal and t-shirt, and they have some nice goodies at the end. In summary, it's a great location to run in, and it's well worth a long weekend. You might struggle to run a PB, but running isn't always about that!!! :)

This marathon is worth running if you're looking for the value of crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and other notable areas of the city. However, I'm not sure I would return to this marathon.

The course was challenging enough with the hills (of my four marathons, this was my slowest time), but they weren't impossible. I trained on extremely flat areas on the East Coast and I didn't struggle with the hills. They came early enough when my legs were fresh. (Although the most common comment from the spectators and organizers was, "That's barely a hill.")

The expo was not too bad but it was crowded and located in a very sketchy part of town. DON'T WALK THERE!!

The worst part for me was there was NO FOOD on the course, only GU, and I could have used an orange, banana, or bagel. Also, most areas had no spectators (though Haight-Ashbury really shows strong support and I enjoyed that). There were few timers on the course and they were set for the first wave, so it's nearly impossible to figure out your time. Wear a watch or don't run it for time.

The police do a great job shutting off the intersections so that the race was safe. Also, the weather is fairly ideal in July, with the fog and cool temps. I didn't warm up entirely until Golden Gate Park.

Overall, don't expect your PR, but run it once for the experience of crossing the Golden Gate Bridge (even if you do have to share one lane with 20,000 of your closest runner friends - the bridge was VERY crowded). Too bad the bridge was mostly shrouded in fog this year. I did stop twice on the GG Bridge just to take it all in. Pretty amazing! I'm glad for the experience.

Overall, a fantastic experience.

Pros:
- Course is excellent. Presidio and Golden Gate park were very scenic and pleasant. Twists and turns kept things interesting toward the end. I like the challenge of the hills as well.
- Weather - wow, can you ask for better marathon running weather? Cloudy, cool and a slow build up of sun just as I finished. Perfect!
- Crowds, while sparse at times, were friendly, supportive.
- Traffic control was great. There was no sense of aggression from drivers who looked to be waiting awhile.
- The 4:15 pace bunny - thanks, Jennifer! I appreciated the company and I finished in 4:15:00! :)

Cons:
- The expo way too crowded. They need a bigger venue.
- What's up with the disposable timing tags? They were a bit of a pain and not reusable; that doesn't seem to be a very "green" way to track times.
- It seemed like they missed some mile markers. Not a huge deal but it affected my pacing at times.

Other thoughts:
- Golden Gate was great to run across, but it was pretty congested.
- They could add a family reunion area to hook up with friends and family. We wound up meeting at the hotel.
- The t-shirt was OK, but I liked the half-marathon version better.
- How about some KM markers for us Canadians, eh?

Congrats to all. I'm very pleased with the race and would recommend it to anyone.

My mom asked me about the scenery; I am sure that it was stunning. But... my objective was just to live to see the finish line. My first full marathon! I hope more are to come! MILE 19 was ridiculous though! This year mile 19 got me; next year, I'll get it! Haha!

I ran the San Francisco Marathon this weekend (July 2009) and my comments are as follows:

1) Thank you to the police and the Harley Davidson Owners group and aid station volunteers and race management staff, as we could not have run this without your help.
2) The course was challenging and fun (not super hard nor super easy).
3) Overall, a scenic course (just not the industrial area towards the end).
4) The small, shot-sized water cups filled 1/4 full of water or sports drink was very confusing to me. Larger cups should be used to ensure adequate fluid intake. I had to take at least 5 or 6 cups a stop. Plus, water stops on both sides of the road would make it easier on the runners and volunteers.
5) Spectators? Ummmm... not really. This city does not seem to care about this run. Come prepared to keep yourself motivated. I have seen way more spectators in towns of 60,000 people.
6) The finish line food consisted of: 1 bottle of water, 1 bottle of Cytomax, 1 small bag of chips, and 1 small square of chocolate. This is what 5K or 10K races have.
7) It is a good race to run and I would say to give it a try. But it is not an example to hold up as a great marathon, though it has potential with the right adjustments.

This was my sixth marathon in 18 months, so I was not expecting to do well; however, I nailed a sub-5. The weather was perfect; the course was challenging but great; and the volunteers and mentors were very supportive. I wish to return to do this marathon again after I run three others on my list. Thanks!

My first half marathon, which I did with my wife and daughter, was beautiful; early morning mist over the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay and ocean views were awesome. Overall, I give the event kudos, but I do have a couple of concerns. My wife walks a 14-minute pace, and the late water stops had no cups for water. In addition, the site for the expo was cramped and, despite very good vendors, was difficult to maneuver and not conducive to hanging out. I have participated in many half and full marathons; overall, I found this event very good, and I will definitely return again.

How cool was it to run over to Golden Gate without traffic worries? Add some fog, blowing tug boat horns and bridge workers who high-five you, and it all spells a once in a lifetime experience. What fun the San Francisco Marathon offers.

Sure, the route had some hills; what goes up does come down. The Presidio and Golden Gate Park made up 50% of the course - they were very lush with greenery. The last 5 miles were downhill, after trekking up to the heights of the parks. We had great running weather, with the fog burning off just as I crossed the finish. It's a fast course. You can PR this one.

Plan for water stops every 2.5 miles. For me it was ok, but others looked thirsty. I love the 5:30 a.m. start because I can still make the airport for the east coast flight home. The medal was huge. The course is the star with this marathon, while the organization was efficient. Not much swag, but that's ok for me. Plenty of security on the streets with traffic, so I always felt good through the intersections. Very safe for such a big city.

Add this race to your list. Its a one-of-a-kinder.