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2016 San Francisco Marathon

Cheer on your fave runners as they hit gorgeous SF locales & landmarks along the way.
By - posted 7/29/2016 No Comment

See your favorite runner or cheer all of them on as they get closer to the finish line of the San Francisco Marathon on Sunday, July 31, 2016 which starts at (gulp) 5:30 am.

The annual Health & Fitness Expo takes place on Friday and Saturday, July 29-30, 2016.

The San Francisco Marathon is a loop course, taking runners on a journey around the city, hitting gorgeous locales and iconic landmarks all along the way. The race starts at the Embarcadero and Mission Street, traversing San Francisco.

1st Half Marathon
From the Embarcadero at dawn, to watching the sunrise along Crissy Field and the San Francisco Bay, the idyllic experience of racing across the Golden Gate Bridge, to crossing the finish line in iconic Golden Gate Park, each runner’s journey along the 1st Half Marathon is amplified by the cityscape’s unmatched beauty.

2nd Half Marathon
With a start beneath the towering redwoods in Golden Gate Park and a prized finish at Cupid’s Arrow along the Embarcadero, The San Francisco Marathon’s 2nd Half Marathon course winds through city streets, offering a locals’ only tour of the city’s treasured vistas. Racing beside the Conservatory of Flowers, through the Haight-Ashbury and Mission neighborhoods, beside AT&T Park, under the Bay Bridge and more, each runner’s journey unfolds against an unforgettable sense of place.

52.4 Ultramarathon
Few runners have what it takes to conquer The San Francisco Marathon’s 52.4-mile Ultramarathon. This hallowed race is one of the nation’s few urban ultras, offering two challenging loops of San Francisco, and under very different sets of circumstances. The Ultramarathon begins with a midnight start line. Runners tackle a reverse loop of the course and race through the city as it sleeps. At dawn, ultramarathoners merge with the energy of thousands of runners to begin the iconic full marathon course. This challenge is a true test of endurance and bravery.

5K Race
The 5K Race invites runners of all levels to experience our fast, flat course and participate in the finish line celebration. The 5K runs through miles of waterfront that draw millions of visitors each year. Take in views of the Bay, the Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, Coit Tower, and much more. Runners enjoy San Francisco’s iconic backdrop while earning a spot at the finish line festival in front of the Ferry Building.

2016 Official Cheer Stations & Entertainment:

  • Main Marathon Start: SF Cable Car Chorus at Embarcadero Start Line (The Embarcadero and Mission St.)
  • Mile 4: Sports Basement Cheer Station at Sports Basement Presidio (Mason St.)
  • Mile 6: The Gillbillies at Vista Point, Golden Gate Park North Lot (Vista Point and Redwood Hwy)
  • 1st Half Marathon Finish: DJ Blend at 1st Half Finish in Golden Gate Park
  • 2nd Half Marathon Start: Claire Gendler at 2nd Half Start in Golden Gate Park
  • Mile 19: San Francisco Boys Choir at Kezar Tunnel in Golden Gate Park (Alvord Lake Tunnel, West of Kezar Dr.)
  • Mile 21: Team Kesem Cheer Station at 14th St. and Guerrero St.
  • Mile 21.5: Northin’ But Fun Band at 16th St. and Florida St.
  • Mile 22: Sports Basement Pop-Up Party Cheer Station at 16th St. and Bryant St.
  • Mile 22.5: Air France Cheer Station at 17th St. and Wisconsin St.
  • Mile 24.6: Batala SF at Mission Rock St. at Terry A Francois Blvd.
  • Main Finish Line: DJ Will Magid at Main Marathon Finish (The Embarcadero and Folsom St.)

*Cheer stations and entertainment acts are subject to change without prior notice.

Spectator Bus Options (not required)

The Hop-on, Hop-off Spectator Bus is perfect for friends and family hoping to see their runners at multiple parts along their journey. Buses leave from the corner of Mission and Spear Streets (near the Start Line) beginning at 5:15 am. Buses stop along the waterfront at Marina Green (Stop #1), in beautiful Golden Gate Park (Stop #2), where you will have multiple opportunities to watch your runner, and in the eclectic Dogpatch area of Potrero Hill (Stop #3).

When purchasing your ticket, the time slot you choose indicates your departure time from The Embarcadero. Your bus may not go to all spectator locations depending on your time slot, so please click on and refer to the schedule on the left when choosing your desired time slot.

  • 5:15 – 6:40 am goes to Mile 3, Mile 12.5 and Mile 22
  • 7:00 – 9:00 am only goes to Mile 12.5 and Mile 22
  • 9:20 – 11:00 am only goes to Mile 22

Please note: You must pick up your wristband at the Runner Expo on Friday, July 29th and Saturday, July 30th to reserve your seat selection. No wristbands will be available for pick-up on race morning.