I have been asked to relocate to SF for my job.
What are the best places to live in SF area for training purposes if working downtown?
For triathletes what are best areas to swim and bike. Are there good tri clubs or masters programs to join?
Hey. I am also moving to SF for work. I’ll be moving from Ann Arbor, Michigan, so like you, this is a big transition for me. While I am not working downtown, my girlfriend is, and I am working across the Bay in Oakland. With that in mind, we chose to live just outside of the financial district in SOMA. While the area itself is not “neighborhoody,” it did meet our requirements insofar that it is safe, minimizes commute for both of us, and close to a very nice YMCA (long course pool). Yes, it is also unreasonably expensive, but I guess I value minimizing commute (for training purposes) at an unreasonably high number.
In terms of Masters Swim clubs and Training Groups, I haven’t heard much on the former, and on the latter, I have heard that the SF Tri Club http://www.sftriclub.org/ is the predominant club in the area. I doubt I join, since so much of my training is driven by logistics both in terms of specific workouts and specific timing. Where are you working, and what type of training do you do? PM me as I would love to learn more and maybe we can train together in the near future.
I too, welcome more input on this thread. Thanks all!
Oh, yeah, and I forgot to mention; check out Purplepatch fitness. Dixon not only coaches pros, but also has full-fledged programs for age-groupers too. A bit farther from downtown, but if you have a car, could be feasible.
I live in the Marina and it’s a nice short (and safe) ride to get to the GG bridge which puts you into Marin for some beautiful rides. I also swim in Aquatic Park, which is a great spot to practice your open water swimming.
Not super close to downtown, but there’s an express bus full of beautiful type-A people that takes you straight there.
All good info above. You have SF Tri and Golden Gate Tri which are great for getting some socializing in if you are completely new to the area.
Training, you’ve got M2 Revolution (www.m2rev.com) and Velo Sf for cycling studio’s. As many coaches as you can think of. Track practices can be found out at Kezar Stadium an night of the week with a little research (little run down below). Swimming has all sorts of options from the city pools, Koret (Univ of San Francisco), but favorite is becoming the outdoor, salt water pool at Marin High School. Aquatic Park is great as long as you give the Bay a day or two to wash out after it rains.
Track Sessions:
SF Tri Club - Tuesdays at 6:45 - Lead by Tom McGlynn (www.runcoach.com), former Olympic Trials Qualifier - www.sftriclub.org
GGTC - Wednesdays at 6:45 - Lead by Dorette Franks, profession triathlon/track coach - www.ggtc.org
San Francisco Road Runners - Tuesday 6:30 - Lead by our very own Jenni Kirk - http://sfrrc.clubexpress.com/
Golden Gate Running Club - Wednesday 7:00 - 1 of multiple club coaches to lead - http://www.goldengaterunningclub.org
You can pretty much live anywhere in the city and get to downtown via Muni in ~30 minutes or less so you shouldn’t be constrained by training. I would do some research on the different neighborhoods to see which one fits your lifestyle/personality best (i.e. whether you have a family, want to be closer to nightlife, etc.). Yes, buying or renting are both extremely expensive but that’s just the nature of the beast out here.
I can’t comment on SF Tri Club or Golden Gate Tri Club (the two largest clubs in town I believe) but I ride at M2 Revolution, www.m2rev.com, which is an indoor cycling studio in the Polk Gulch area (middle of the city off of Van Ness) and I highly recommend it. It’s filled with a good group of serious cyclists/triathletes and the classes are coached by Michael McCormack who is a two-time Ironman champ and all-around nice guy.
In terms of swimming, you can do OWS workouts in Aquatic Park; for pool workouts, I believe the two aforementioned tri clubs bounce around at local pools within the city. For biking, there is no shortage of clubs and places to ride (north of the GG bridge, down the peninsula to the hills near Palo Alto, or east of Oakland to Mt. Diablo). For running, you can go to Golden Gate Park (the close parts of the interior road on the weekends), along the Embarcadero (lots of pedestrians but not too bad if you run early) or out to Chrissy Field area along the water.
Hope this helps.
I’ve lived in NOPA for years and think it is the perfect place to live for training. Minutes after leaving your home, you’ll be running through the Panhandle and Golden Gate Park. A short bike ride gets you to Arguello Street, into the Presidio and across the Bridge. For a pool, I’d recommend joining the Golden Gateway Club, which is downtown and has an outdoor pool. Just swing by on your way to/from work. They also have a pretty active master’s swim group for early morning workouts. Depending on where you work, it’s also great since you could do a lunchtime run, then shower at the club before heading back to the office.
There are several bus lines in the area which will get you downtown in about 15 minutes (21 Hayes, 5 Fulton, and 31 Balboa). The area is also great for socializing since it has quite a few coffee shops, bars, and restaurants.
I’ve lived in quite a few neighborhoods around town, and NOPA to me is the best for my training.
Look me up when you get here – happy to jump on a ride or run with you.
-Sean
trainsweet.com/sean
You can also live just north of the golden gate in several different communities. I have friends in Mill Valley, and getting to the city is not that big a deal from there, especially if you are working in the north end. The running and riding are better there, you have Mt. Tam right out your door and tons of great dirt trails to run. There are several pools around there too, or you can easily go to the city ones. Not sure about different living costs, i think it is expensive everywhere in the city and north of the bridge.
If he’s working on Oakland, then Marin isn’t a good idea. Which is to bad because Marin is lovely.
My friend lives in Lower Pac Heights and loves it, but that’s mainly because she has a sweet place with a small yard (it used to be a carriage house and was converted into a small home.)
I know that she has two pools within walking distance, I think one is at the JCC? and the other might be in/near that Megan Furth school? And its a great area for living – everything is walking distance.
I have been asked to relocate to SF for my job.
What are the best places to live in SF area for training purposes if working downtown?
For triathletes what are best areas to swim and bike. Are there good tri clubs or masters programs to join?
Is the job in SF proper (in the city) or in the SF bay area. That makes a huge difference. Are living expenses not an issue? Or do you have cost constraints?
Welcome! Once you live here, you will wonder why anyone lives anywhere else. (other than how much it fracking costs to live here).
Cheers,
Favorite bike ride during the week:
Over golden gate and ride the Marin headlands. A great ride after a stressful day.
Favorite bike ride on the weekends:
Up and down Mt. Tam. Great workout and fantastic views of the ocean.
I’ll be living in just outside of the Financial District on Harrison Street (I guess it is considered SOMA). Was curious if any of the locals on the thread could recommend good pool options, ideally within walking distance. I was excited when I saw that the Embarcadero YMCA has a 25-meter pool, but much less excited after having visited this morning. 5-lanes, but absolutely packed (and this was during off hours) with varying speeds across all the lanes (e.g., 4 to a lane, some flying in fins, others kicking at 4:00/100, no joke, it was such a circus). I may still end up going with this option since it is so close to where I will be living, but figured I would solicit some more ideas here. Thanks!
check out the gym at UCSF Mission Bay (Bakar), it has indoor/outdoor pools, has a masters group and is reasonably priced. Unfortunately you’ll find most pools will get pretty crowded during peak hours, which is why a lot of people opt to head up and swim at aquatic park (chilly but awesome)
I have been asked to relocate to SF for my job.
What are the best places to live in SF area for training purposes if working downtown?
For triathletes what are best areas to swim and bike. Are there good tri clubs or masters programs to join?
I hate you having been relocated from SF to bumFxxx Tennessee.
I lived on Russian Hill and could be over the GGB to ride easily. And great running. Swimming I did at the Embarcadero YMCA and Sundays at the Burlingame High pool, but a lot of people swim at USF.
Check out Golden Gate Tri Club. www.ggtc.org
Did I say that I hate you? Only a little pink font there.
Great bunch of people. Lots of info on their website.
The best places to live for easy access to Marin (great roads for long rides and trails for running) are the Marina (though pricey and too full of people full of themselves), Cow Hollow, Pac Heights the Sunset and the Richmond. The latter two neighborhoods are right next next to GGP with trails and access to the Great Highway for cycling.
T/F morning swim with Matt Dixon at St. Ignatius HS…But get there early ! Also, USF has a great Master’s program (and one of the better pools in The City).
SFTC and GGTC have heaps of training opportunities and that team thing going on.
Also, check out VeloSF for great Computrainer sessions with heaps to tri connections (including pro’s and top ranked age-groupers who regularly train with us mere mortals).
I have been asked to relocate to SF for my job.
What are the best places to live in SF area for training purposes if working downtown?
For triathletes what are best areas to swim and bike. Are there good tri clubs or masters programs to join?
I hate you having been relocated from SF to bumFxxx Tennessee.
I lived on Russian Hill and could be over the GGB to ride easily. And great running. Swimming I did at the Embarcadero YMCA and Sundays at the Burlingame High pool, but a lot of people swim at USF.
Check out Golden Gate Tri Club. http://www.ggtc.org
Did I say that I hate you? Only a little pink font there.
Great bunch of people. Lots of info on their website.
I know I am jealous of the OP also. I almost want to tell him to live in the Tenderloin.
Just touched down in SF a few days ago. People are not kidding when they saw how hilly it is here; glad I came with a road bike. Anyways, I’m living downtown just outside of the Financial District, pretty much right next to the Embarcadeo YMCA. What roads do you reccommend to get me over the Golden Gate Bridge, and then once over it, what are the best roads for long rides?? If anyone could just throw out a few names I can pull them down on a MapMyRide type of thing. Thanks so much!!
Welcome to SF!
The easiest thing is probably to take Embarcadero to Bay and then ride along the Marina and up to the bridge. Once across, I like to head left straight up into the Marin Headlands and down the back side there. From then, just ride as far as you like, it is endless! Enjoy!
Welcome to San Francisco!
Immediately north of the GGB you can look for Paradise Loop (Tiburon) and the Marin Headlands as a good combo.
Going longer, head north out of Sausalito on the bike path past Mill Valley, over Camino Alto into Corte Madera which puts you onto Magnolia Ave and in good position to head out to West Marin via a series of small towns (Larkspur, Fairfax, San Anselmo).
Keyword searches may include: Paradise Loop, Muir Beach, Stinson Bach, Alpine Dam, Lucas Valley, Nicasio, Point Reyes, Tomales, Bodega etc…
Or… Get a mountain bike or CX and join in on the real fun… Mt. Tam, MMWD, GGNR and the surrounding area is full of long fireroad climbs and descents. Keywords: railroad grade, coastal view, marincello, bobcat, miwok, dias ridge, HooKooEKoo, Rock Springs, Lauganitas… the list is endless for either style.
Enjoy.
Hard to beat the Marina for out the door training, but you better be relocating for a job in finance.