The SF Marathon countdown has begun, with the iconic race occurring for the 46th time in San Francisco on July 23, 2023. Whether you have been training for the race itself or just plan to cheer on the determined runners, the marathon brings together the community for an energetic weekend. The event includes seven different races, from the full marathon to a family-friendly 1K.
On the 40th anniversary of the SF Marathon in 2017, more than 27,000 runners participated. Plus, a massive crowd of 80,000 spectators encourages participants during the race. If you want to follow your loved ones each step of the way, an online race tracker provided by race officials will help you follow their journey.
Schedule and routes
The weekend includes plenty of running, including the full marathon, two half marathons, 10K and 5K races.
- Full: start times range from 5:16 to 5:30 am.
- 1st Half : Start times range from 6:30 to 6:57 am
- 2nd Half: Start times range from 8:15 to 8:39 am
- 10k: Start times range from 7:00 to 7:12 am
- 5k: Start times range from 7:50 to 8:05 am
Full Marathon
The full marathon is for early birds, the first wave of runners starts at 5:16 am, and the last corral departs at 5:30 am. Runners begin at Embarcadero and Mission; the finish line is at Embarcadero and Folsom. The route follows the city’s outer perimeter, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge twice before continuing through the Inner Richmond, Golden Gate Park, and Haight Ashbury. The race is 26.2 miles long and has a 6-hour time limit for runners to complete the route.
1st Half Marathon
Runners embarking on the Half marathon get a little more sleep, with the first half starting at 6:30 am. The runners start at the Presidio, adjacent to Crissy Field, and run across the Golden Gate Bridge before finishing at the Rose Garden on JFK in Golden Gate Park.
2nd Half Marathon
Runners in the 2nd Half get extra sleep before starting at 8:15 am at 610 Old Mason St in the Presidio. The route continues through the Haight, the Mission and Mission Bay before ending at the Embarcadero.
10K
Named after Olympian Alexi Pappas, the 10K will start at 7:00 am at Embarcadero near Mission St. Participants will run along the city’s west coast, passing by Fisherman’s Wharf and views of Aquatic Park. The race finishes at Embarcadero near Market St.
5K
The Sunday 5K starts and finishes in Embarcadero, following a similar route to the 10K along the west shore of the city.
A day for community and charity
The SF Marathon’s Athletes with Disabilities program has partnered with Achilles International San Francisco Bay Area Chapter to make the marathon inclusive for all athletes. The non-profit aims to create community and support for disabled athletes.
The San Francisco marathon includes official charity partnerships with Committed 2 Community, Share Our Strength (No Kid Hungry), and San Francisco Recreation and Parks.
Note: There will be road closures from 5:00 am to 1:00 pm on Sunday, July 23, along the race route and some other corresponding roads. Check out this map for more details and traffic advisories.