Questions regarding San Francisco Marathon

Triathlon Forum
1

My wife has been slowly building up for her first marathon and we’re looking for a fun one for her to do. We live in Chicago and that would probably be ideal for a first marathon given how flat it is - but timing doesn’t work.

My questions: can anyone tell me how tough the San Francisco course is…and how is the race atmosphere? We love SF, have a ton of friends there, the race is at a perfect time of year for her, but I don’t want her to have a bad experience if it’s too hilly.

thanks

2

Can’t beat the scenery! The course is specifically designed to avoid the worst of the hills in San Francisco, but I definitely wouldn’t call it flat in any sense. For every uphill there is a downhill though. The finish is also mostly downhill. Study and know the elevation profile. There’s a couple of steeper but very brief climbs. Getting up to the Golden Gate bridge is a famous one.

Race atmosphere? It’s San Francisco!! No greater city on earth :slight_smile: