| Name |
Distance |
Location |
Notes |
| Turkey Beach Trot (Nov) |
3 Miles,
6 Miles |
Ocean Beach, San
Francisco |
San Francisco's
Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot at the beach! How Calilfornia is that? Runners
dress as turkeys, pilgrims and indians, and turkeys, pumpkin pie and wine are awarded to
winners. |
| Chinese
New Year Run (Jan) |
5K, 10K |
Chinatown, San
Francisco |
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
The only SF race to go through Chinatown! Very San Francisco! |
| San
Francisco Half Marathon (Feb) |
13.1 Miles |
GG Park, San
Francisco |
Scenic flat course
takes you through GG Park and along the coast. Ranked as one of the best half
marathons in the country. |
| Emerald Nuts Across the Bay
(March) |
12K |
Sausalito to San
Francisco |
Formerly Houlihans
to Houlihans, the course takes you across the span of the GG Bridge. I took 600
photos at the 2006 race. View
photos here. |
| Zippy 5K (April) |
5K |
GG Park, San
Francisco |
Inspired by the
Zippy the Pinhead comic strip, this competitive race is the only SF race in which men and
women race separately. Sponsored by the New Balance Excelsior running club. |
| Bay to Breakers (May) |
12K |
Name says it all,
San Francisco |
Since 1911.
I've run this cross city race a dozen times. Never naked, though--we all have goals,
though. |
| Dipsea (Jun) |
7.1 Miles |
Mill Valley to
Stinson Beach |
At 101 years old,
Dipsea is one of the oldest races in the country, and oldest in SF. With the course
starting off with a series of 700 steps and hills named "Suicide" and
"Cardiac," this aint your grandmother's trail run. |
| Cable Car Chase (Aug) |
5.67 Miles |
Aquatic Park, San
Francisco |
ONLY in San
Francisco. The only race in SF that has the balls to run up California Street, with
grades of nearly 25%! It's the San Francisco running treat! |
| Running of the Bulls (Oct) |
5K |
Peers Park, Palo
Alto |
Ole! This is the
newest race to become one of my all-time favorites. Runners aim to beat the bulls
(local Olympians dressed in drag) to the finish. Runner's are given a
headstart. So far, I've beaten them all--myself dressed in turkey drag. |
| Presidio Trails
Run (Nov) |
5K, 10K |
Presidio, San
Francisco |
Great Presidio trail
course. Sponsored by King Oscar, a sardine manufacturer--guess what post-race grub you
get. |
| Christmas Relay (Dec) |
4 x 4.46 Miles |
Lake Merced, San
Francisco |
Great holiday
running tradition. Four legs, each leg runs a lap around the Lake. The scene
is like a big runner's tailgate. Merry Christmas! Organized by West Valley Track Club. |
Honorable
Mention:
Envirosports Trail Runs
(Jan-Dec) |
5 - 50 Miles |
Bay Area Trails |
I started running
Envirosports trails runs in 1989. The races are barebones without alot of the fanfare and
excessive support you see at many races. Nice change from the mega-races
around here. Bum knee prevents me from running these brutal courses often, though. |
CLASSIC SAN FRANCISCO RACES THAT
SHOULD COME BACK!
California Mile
Hook & Ladder 10K
New Year's Midnight Run
Fleet Week Run
Monster Chase |
Irish Sprint
Pacific Rim Marathon
Zoo Run
Presidio Ten
San Francisco 25K |
|
