San Francisco Marathon Explained

Bgcolour:
  1. 46B3E1
Date:July
Location:San Francisco, CA
Type:Road
Distance:Marathon, Half Marathon, Ultramarathon, 10k, and 5K

The San Francisco Marathon is an annual USATF-certified road running event held in San Francisco, California, that includes a full marathon, two half marathons, an ultramarathon,[1] a 10k,[2] and a 5K.[3] With the exceptions of 1988, 1993, and 2020, the marathon has been held annually since 1977.[4] The marathon starts and finishes on the Embarcadero near the Ferry Building and crosses the Golden Gate Bridge.[5] It is a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon.[6]

History

The first San Francisco Marathon was organized by the Pamakids Runners Club.[7] Athol Barton, a taxicab driver who at the time lived in Reno, Nevada won the inaugural on July 10, 1977 in a time of 2:24:59. Athol was born in Aotearoa, New Zealand and was of NZ Maori and Scottish descent. [4] [8] Fewer than 900 ran this inaugural race.[8] The event's all-time record for marathon finishers came in 1983 with 7,231.[9] An estimated 7,800 runners participated in the various events in 2004[10] and 11,290 in 2005.[11] This number had increased to approximately 19,000 in 2008[12] and 21,000 in 2009[13] The 2009 event was hosted by ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes and Runner's World columnist Bart Yasso.[3]

In 2005, 356 of the 4,873 finishers qualified for Boston.[14] Of the 4,021 finishers in 2006, 277 qualified.[15] 2010's race produced 462 qualifiers,[16] 468 runners qualified in 2011,[17] 377 qualified in 2012,[18] and 2016's race produced 296 qualifiers.[19] 2018's race produced 324 Boston Marathon qualifiers.[20]

The purse has also varied from year to year. In 1977, Barton took home a t-shirt for his efforts.[8] When Pete Pfitzinger won in 1986, he earned $5,000 and a new car.[8] Although many top runners were attracted to the $35,000 purse that was offered in 1998 ($10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second place, $2,500 for third place),[21] no prize money was offered from 1999 through 2001.[22] [23] From 2002 to 2004, $10,000 was divided among the winners.[24] [25] Prize money has not been offered since 2005, primarily due to lack of large sponsors.[26] [27] [28]

The 2020 in-person edition of the race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with all registrants given the option of running the race virtually, or transferring their entry to 2021 for a US$39 fee.[29] [30] [31] The 2021 race was held on September 18-19th, 2021.

In 2024, participants of the half-marathon found out two days after the race that the course had only been 12.6 miles instead of 13.1, due to a miscalculation by race organizers.[32] There are two half marathon races offered, a "city half" and a "bridge half"; the "city half" half-marathon was the course that was short.[33]

Course

The current marathon course forms a loop that starts and finishes on the Embarcadero near the Ferry Building.[3] The course runs past many notable landmarks in San Francisco including Fisherman's Wharf, Aquatic Park, the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, and Oracle Park.[34] The course briefly enters Marin County at the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge.[35]

The marathon course has undergone a number of changes since its inception.[4] [8] [36] [37] In the late 1980s, the start was moved from Marin County to San Francisco.[38] In 1999, race organizers made a number of changes to make the course faster.[39] That year the course was altered to start and end near the Polo Fields in Golden Gate Park and the run across the Golden Gate Bridge was eliminated.[39] Previous routes have taken the marathon along the Great Highway.[36] In 2002, the start/finish at Golden Gate Park was moved to the Embarcadero with a run across the Golden Gate Bridge.[40]

The first half marathon originally crossed the Golden Gate Bridge along the full marathon, but was eliminated in 2018 due to security and safety concerns. Previously, the full marathon and first half marathon ran on the roadbed of the bridge, shutting down automobile traffic for two lanes.[41]

There are two half-marathon races offered, a "Bridge Half", which ends near the Golden Gate Bridge, and a "City Half", which begins in Golden Gate Park.

In popular culture

In 2002, the San Francisco Marathon was the fictionalized backdrop for an episode of Monk entitled "Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man."[42]

Winners[4]

Date Men Country Time Women Country TimeFinishers
July 27, 2024Charlie Lawrence2:22:30Jenna Wolfrum2:52:105770[43]
July 23, 2023Brice Daubord2:26:17Leandra Zimmermann2:45:594979
July 24, 2022Simon Ricci2:31:42Brooke Starn2:44:384080
September 19, 2021Gregory Billington2:20:42Judith Corachán Vaquera2:55:333189
July 28, 2019Gregory Billington2:25:25Nina Zarina2:47:015226[44]
July 29, 2018Jorge Maravilla2:27:56Bonnie Tran2:54:095242[45]
July 23, 2017Jorge Maravilla2:28:23Devin McMahon2:52:496510[46]
Max Haines-Stiles 2:30:42 Tori Tyler 2:49:51 6270[47]
Chris Mocko 2:26:22 Anna Bretan 2:49:42 6026[48]
August Brautigam 2:32:17 Anna Bretan 2:47:51 6580[49]
Francois Lhuissier 2:25:15 CR Anna Bretan 2:42:26 CR 5827[50]
Nathan Krah 2:26:44 Devon Crosby-Helms 2:44:02 6494[51]
Michael Wardian 2:27:06 Emily Field 2:50:24 6020[52]
Keith Bechtol 2:23:28 Emily Hardin 2:51:54 5992[53]
Andrew Cook 2:26:32 2:46:34 5101[54]
Chad Worthen 2:31:52 Lauren Gustafson 2:52:33 4,354[55] 4,447[56]
Andrew Cook 2:25:57 Yolanda Flamino 2:43:41 4,250[57] 4,275[58]
Andrew Cook 2:26:46 Julia Stamps 2:54:55 4,021[59] 4,062
Tony Torres 2:31:57 Sarah Hallas 2:56:55 4,869 4,873[60] 4,918
John Weru 2:33:41 Susan Loken 2:50:21 2,665[61]
Patrick Kamau 2:35:11 Lucy Carr 3:02:00 1,891[62]
Nate Bowen 2:31:46 2:50:11 1,920[63]
Vytautas Ezerskis 2:30:53 Micha Lowe 3:12:10 2,249[64]
Michael Buchanan 2:32:49 Lisa Murphy 3:08:15 2,345[65]
Brad Hawthorne 2:24:36 Patti Smith 3:09:44
Hamid Oubadriss 2:23:54 2:45:36
Hamid Miloudi 2:26:49 Kristen Orre 3:02:33
Brad Lael 2:37:27 Margee Brown 2:57:45
Hector Lopez 2:23:38 Lisa Kelp 2:51:12
Patrick Muturi 2:17:34 2:44:34
2:20:02 Tatiana Titova 2:40:32
Sergio Jimenez 2:16:44 2:36:54
Daniel Martinez 2:15:31 2:35:33
2:13:48 2:39:52
Ernest Tjela 2:15:01 Stephanie Robertson 3:09:08
1988 not held
2:14:07 Eileen Claugus 2:39:02
2:13:29 2:37:58
2:15:07 Kersti Jakobsen 2:38:04
Simeon Kigen 2:10:18 2:35:56
2:14:45 2:35:44 7,231
Miguel Tibaduiza 2:14:32 2:44:05
Harold Schulz 2:15:17 2:38:04
Antonio Ramirez 2:18:15 Joann Dahlkoetter 2:43:20
John Moreno 2:18:54 Carol Young 2:49:46
Steven Palladino 2:21:15 Sue Petersen 2:50:15
Athol Barton 2:24:59 Tena Harms 2:53:20
Countries Winners Represented!Country !!Male!!Female!!Total
26 36 62
4 1 5
2 0 2
1 0 1
1 0 1
0 1 1
2 0 2
0 1 1
0 1 1
0 1 1
1 0 1
1 0 1
1 0 1
1 0 1
1 0 1
1 0 1
0 1 1
0 1 1

NOTE: Due to World Athletics policies, the 2019 win by Zarina is legally listed as an Authorised Neutral Athlete because of policies related to Doping in Russia.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ultramarathon - The San Francisco Marathon. The San Francisco Marathon. 2015-12-13. en-US.
  2. Web site: 10K. 2021-02-07. The San Francisco Marathon. en-US.
  3. Web site: The 2010 San Francisco Marathon: July 25, 2010 . The San Francisco Marathon . 2010-01-13 .
  4. Web site: Heyworth . Malcolm . Winitz, Mark . Leydig, Jack . San Francisco Marathon . Association of Road Racing Statisticians . July 27, 2009 . 2010-01-13 .
  5. Web site: Full Marathon.
  6. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon: Full Marathon. www.runsfm.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20100210131429/http://www.runsfm.com/events/marathon.html . February 10, 2010.
  7. Web site: Welcome to Pamakid Runners . 2011-08-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100212114624/http://www.pamakids.org/about/index.html . 2010-02-12 .
  8. News: The emphasis is on fun in this run . Jake . Curtis . 2004-07-29 . The San Francisco Chronicle.
  9. Web site: San Francisco Marathon presented by Runner's World: Press Coverage. www.chroniclemarathon.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20050319164726/http://www.chroniclemarathon.com/about/pr/072304.html . March 19, 2005.
  10. Web site: San Francisco Marathon presented by Runner's World: Press Coverage. www.chroniclemarathon.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20050319164821/http://www.chroniclemarathon.com/about/pr/080104.html . March 19, 2005.
  11. Web site: First Time Victors Lead Record Turnout for San Francisco Marathon . Cool Running . 2005-08-01 . 2010-08-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606040429/http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/3/3_1/first-time-victors-lead-r.shtml . 2011-06-06 .
  12. Web site: Archived . 2023-06-10 . July 15, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110715214313/http://www.runsfm.com/news/2008_july.pdf.
  13. News: S.F. Marathon: 26.2 miles of feel-good pain . Demian . Bulwa . 2009-07-27 . The San Francisco Chronicle.
  14. Web site: Boston Marathon Qualifiers - Most Popular Qualifying Marathons- 2005 . Marathonguide.com . 2010-08-01.
  15. Web site: Boston Marathon Qualifiers - Most Popular Qualifying Marathons- 2006 . Marathonguide.com . 2010-08-01.
  16. Web site: Boston Marathon Qualifiers - Most Popular Qualifying Marathons- 2010. www.marathonguide.com. 2018-04-18.
  17. Web site: Boston Marathon Qualifiers - Most Popular Qualifying Marathons- 2011. www.marathonguide.com. 2018-04-18.
  18. Web site: Boston Marathon Qualifiers - Most Popular Qualifying Marathons- 2012. www.marathonguide.com. 2018-04-18.
  19. Web site: Boston Marathon Qualifiers - Most Popular Qualifying Marathons- 2016. www.marathonguide.com. 2018-04-18.
  20. Web site: Boston Marathon Qualifiers - Most Popular Qualifying Marathons- 2018. www.marathonguide.com. 2018-07-30.
  21. Frenchman Captures Victory at the Providian San Francisco Marathon; Kenyan Dominates the Women's Field . Providian Financial . 1998-07-12 . 2009-05-19 . With $35,000 in prize money, this year's Providian San Francisco Marathon attracted many top elite runners, . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080517070202/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F07-12-1998%2F0000705006&EDATE= . May 17, 2008 .
  22. News: Novice Buchanan Runaway Champ / San Ramon's Murphy dusts women's field in Chronicle Marathon . Dan . Giesin . 2000-07-10 . The San Francisco Chronicle.
  23. News: Chronicle Marathon is for serious runners . Tony . Cooper . 2001-07-17 . The San Francisco Chronicle.
  24. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon - San Francisco Chronicle Marathon: Bigger And Better . Marathonguide.com . 2003-07-14 . 2010-08-01.
  25. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon - 27th Anniversary San Francisco Chronicle Marathon Next Weekend . Marathonguide.com . 2010-08-01.
  26. News: SAN FRANCISCO / A GAIN WORTH PAIN / Finishing marathon is a salve that soothes . Cecilia M. . Vega . 2005-07-31 . The San Francisco Chronicle.
  27. Web site: California Track and Running News - Regional News Article . Caltrack.com . 2010-08-01.
  28. News: Marathoners tough it out on streets of S.F . Chris . Cadelago . 2008-08-04 . The San Francisco Chronicle.
  29. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon - November 15th, 2020 . www.thesfmarathon.co . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200828034554/https://www.thesfmarathon.com . 28 August 2020 . dead.
  30. Web site: Print . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220302193818/https://nk52l3tul6x3a6ogk25ywu4j-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/SFM_Cancellation_2020.pdf . 2 March 2022 . 11 February 2023.
  31. Web site: 2020 Cancellation FAQ - The San Francisco Marathon. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200828034800/https://www.thesfmarathon.com/2020-cancellation-faq/ . 2020-08-28 .
  32. News: Vaziri . Aidin . 31 July 2024 . San Francisco Marathon organizers address significant course mistake . San Francisco Chronicle.
  33. Web site: Simon . Alex . 30 July 2024 . SF Marathon quietly admits to mistake that infuriated hundreds of runners . 2 August 2024 . SFGate.
  34. Web site: Full Marathon.
  35. Web site: Spitz . Barry . Et cetera . Marin Independent Journal . MediaNews Group . July 26, 2008 . 2010-01-13 .
  36. News: S.F. marathon picks charity over fame . John . Crumpacker . 2002-07-26 . The San Francisco Chronicle.
  37. News: San Francisco Expects 10,000-Plus in Marathon . The New York Times . 1983-07-24 . 2010-04-03.
  38. Web site: Barry Spitz . Sunday marathon through Marin canceled due to lack of interest - Marin Independent Journal . Marinij.com . 2010-08-01.
  39. News: Change in Course Just One of Many For S.F. Marathon / Event forges fresh identity, and there's no money to be won . Brad . Weinstein . 1999-07-10 . The San Francisco Chronicle.
  40. Web site: San Francisco Marathon: Press Coverage. www.chroniclemarathon.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20050319164642/http://www.chroniclemarathon.com/about/pr/061804.html . March 19, 2005.
  41. Web site: 2018-07-01. This month's SF Marathon runs into obstacle at Golden Gate Bridge. 2021-01-08. SFChronicle.com. en-US.
  42. Web site: "Monk" Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man (TV Episode 2002). IMDb.
  43. Web site: Athlinks . 2024-07-29 . www.athlinks.com . en.
  44. Web site: RunRaceResults.com. 2020-09-30. www.runraceresults.com.
  45. Web site: RunRaceResults.com. www.runraceresults.com. 2018-07-30.
  46. Web site: RunRaceResults.com. www.runraceresults.com. 2017-07-24.
  47. Web site: RunRaceResults.com.
  48. Web site: RunRaceResults.com.
  49. Web site: San Francisco Marathon 2014. 2014-07-28.
  50. Web site: San Francisco Marathon 2013. 2013-09-26.
  51. Web site: San Francisco Marathon 2012. 2013-03-14.
  52. Web site: San Francisco Marathon 2011. 2013-03-14.
  53. Web site: San Francisco Marathon 2010. 2010-10-27.
  54. Web site: San Francisco Marathon 2009. 2013-03-14.
  55. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon Race Results 2008 . Marathonguide.com . 2008-08-03 . 2010-08-01.
  56. Web site: 2009 Marathons . K2jfitness.com . 2010-08-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713131036/http://www.k2jfitness.com/html/2009_marathons.html . 2011-07-13 . dead .
  57. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon Race Results 2007 . Marathonguide.com . 2007-07-29 . 2010-08-01.
  58. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon - race results, information and statistics on . Race360.com . 2010-08-01.
  59. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon Race Results 2006 . Marathonguide.com . 2006-07-30 . 2010-08-01.
  60. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon Race Results 2005 . Marathonguide.com . 2005-07-31 . 2010-08-01.
  61. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon Race Results 2004 . Marathonguide.com . 2004-08-01 . 2010-08-01.
  62. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon Race Results 2003 . Marathonguide.com . 2003-07-27 . 2010-08-01.
  63. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon Race Results 2002 . Marathonguide.com . 2002-07-28 . 2010-08-01.
  64. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon Race Results 2001 . Marathonguide.com . 2001-07-08 . 2010-08-01.
  65. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon Race Results 2000 . Marathonguide.com . 2000-07-09 . 2010-08-01.
  66. Web site: The San Francisco Marathon: Elites. www.runsfm.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20100118043450/http://www.runsfm.com/registration/elites.html . January 18, 2010.

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