Rock ‘n’ Roll San Francisco 1/2 Marathon
San Francisco, CA
- Half Marathon
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Through the years, Rock ‘n’ Roll San Francisco has become an iconic bucket list race as it’s one of the only half marathons that cross the Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll have an amazing time rocking the streets, hills and the Golden Gate Bridge at the United Airline Rock ‘n’ Roll … MORE
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Beautiful views the entire race!
I did not set out to run this race to PR. I knew in San Francisco I wanted to take in the views, the experience of running over the Golden … MORE
I did not set out to run this race to PR. I knew in San Francisco I wanted to take in the views, the experience of running over the Golden Gate Bridge and appreciate my surroundings. I was able to do just that! There are hills, but the bridge makes up almost 4 miles of the race, so that was flat. As someone who lives in Ohio, I think the race went by so quickly for me because I was literally looking around the ENTIRE race. This was a “runcation” for some girlfriends and myself, so we spent the two days prior walking and biking around San Fran. We stayed in a hotel walking distance to the start/finish of the race, which was very beneficial. I recommend it!
Probably the best race I've done
Good: Awesome course! Weather was amazing with beautiful sunrise over the city. Great aid stations with plenty of different snacks. Extremely supportive crowd and lots of music stations. Cool and … MORE
Good:
Awesome course!
Weather was amazing with beautiful sunrise over the city.
Great aid stations with plenty of different snacks.
Extremely supportive crowd and lots of music stations.
Cool and colorful medal.
One of the best organized races I’ve participated in.
Meh:
Early start but the race still began about 20 minutes after the planned start time.
With the amount of people running, the footpath on the Golden Gate Bridge is not wide enough for this kind of race.
Bad:
Running down under the bridge included running on a dirt track which was steep and a bit dangerous to run on.
First race of my life I chose not to run
I never not run a race that I have signed up for (except in the case of injury) because I don't like to waste money, but this year, I decided … MORE
I never not run a race that I have signed up for (except in the case of injury) because I don’t like to waste money, but this year, I decided to pass on the SF RnR because of all the changes they made to past years, including:
1) No shuttles from the East Bay. This was one of the best perks! I would park at West Oakland BART, the shuttle would take me to the start and I would then BART back to my car. This year, my only option would have been to drive to the city ($5 for bridge tool) and park in a lot (at least $20)
2) Course completely changed. As another reviewer wrote, just a glorified out and back from Pier 39, across the GG Bridge and back. Boring
3) Didn’t realize this until I drove across the GG Bridge that morning to run a much more fun Marin Headlands run with my running team, but they didn’t close any lanes on the bridge but forced runners to run on the sidewalks. I can only imagine the congestion and annoyance this must have caused. No thanks
4) This race never has good music. It’s called a Rock n Roll but I’ve run lots of other races where the music was much better. Who wants to listen to an acoustic band when they’re running the Rock n Roll half? Not me
I will not be signing up for this race again. It’s no longer convenient, and the cost of packet pick up and getting to the start line no longer makes it a good value, no matter how cheap the early bird price is.
Disappointing
The course downgrades from RNR Marathon Series were absolutely shameful. Instead of paying the city of San Francisco to shut down the bridge as I they have done in the … MORE
The course downgrades from RNR Marathon Series were absolutely shameful. Instead of paying the city of San Francisco to shut down the bridge as I they have done in the past, they relegated a race of 5000+ people for which they charged some runners $125 or more to the narrow bike paths. The course path underneath the bridge featured a sharp sloping heavily downgraded narrow dirt path with extremely precarious footing. The finisher’s medal seemed cheaply designed compared to past issued RNR races. The original starting line advertised when I bought my entry (in golden gate park) had been changed so that the race was practically an out and back from Fisherman’s Wharf. Water stations were almost always worked by volunteers without gloves who had not been trained to hold the water cups safely and sanitarily for runners (dirty fingers stuck inside the lip of the cup). I’m officially done signing up for RNR races after this experience. The fast deterioration of the care and attention to detail given to their races has been shocking to me and fairly sad as well.
Survives Through the Bridge
My husband and I were looking forward to running this race for three years, and were finally able to do so this past March. We were a bit disappointed. The … MORE
My husband and I were looking forward to running this race for three years, and were finally able to do so this past March. We were a bit disappointed. The highlight of this race is running across the Golden Gate Bridge, which was fantastic (and several other races feature this as well), but the rest of the course is boring (especially when running on long, straight, stretches of hard pavement next to the ports). The expo is small, and I was given a hard time about bringing my dog, an emotional support animal, into the expo venue (first time anywhere I’ve ever had push-back, and that should NEVER happen). City regulations also require a quiet, rather low-key and unenthusiastic start, not at all characteristic of the Rock N’ Roll Series. San Francisco is probably not a city we’ll run again, no matter who is organizing the race.
Brutal Hills but Beautiful Course
The course was amazing, first time in SF The hills were brutal especially the one around mile 11 Was awesome to run on the Golden Gate Bridge MORE
The course was amazing, first time in SF
The hills were brutal especially the one around mile 11
Was awesome to run on the Golden Gate Bridge
First time
Great scenery, fun course and a great production - Rock n Roll really knows how to showcase a city. This was my 4th Rock N Roll race, and everything was … MORE
Great scenery, fun course and a great production – Rock n Roll really knows how to showcase a city.
This was my 4th Rock N Roll race, and everything was as great as usual. The expo was good, plenty of swag and lots of nice race staff. The shuttle service to the start line was easy to use and very good, easy to find and way easier than trying to park out in Golden Gate Park. There were plenty of aide stations and bathrooms – always nice on a long race and not always that plentiful in big races.
I don’t love point to point races, but in San Francisco it always makes for a beautiful race. You start in Golden Gate park, then run out into SeaCliff and on into the Presidio where you get amazing views of the Pacific and a few good hills to tire you out. Then you’re on to the Golden Gate Bridge which is always an amazing experience. From there you drop down into Crissy Field and the Marina on your way over to down town and the finish line. I beautiful way to experience San Francisco.
New this year, a “City to Town” combo/challenge medal in partnership with the Oakland Running Festival. All you had to do was both races and you got an extra medal. I’m not going to lie, this was the reason that I did this race since I always do the Oakland race.
Beautiful but hilly
It was my birthday! And it was hard. I regret not training better. I live in an area with zero hills and was wholly unprepared for the hill at the … MORE
It was my birthday! And it was hard. I regret not training better. I live in an area with zero hills and was wholly unprepared for the hill at the beginning and at the end. However, I decided to enjoy the race for what it was, which was beautiful and greatly supported. Even though I was very much toward the back pack, none of the stations were empty and the bands were still playing. Running over the Golden Gate Bridge was also an experience I’ll never forget!
The blue area that honored fallen soldiers and veterans was very emotional. It was also heading up a hill, which gave you time to slow down and appreciate it. There was also a section that featured quotes from participants about why they run and mine was featured! That was a wonderful motivator.
It was my first Rock n Roll race and probably not the last! The expo was great, the tech shirt was nice, and the medal was adorable (featuring a cable car).
Pales in comparison
The band map did not match up with reality. I think it was around mile 6 when i came across the first band. You also go through quite grimy neighborhoods. … MORE
The band map did not match up with reality. I think it was around mile 6 when i came across the first band. You also go through quite grimy neighborhoods. I did this one to be able to run across the golden gate, if that’s your reasoning… I recommend finding a different run. The city of San Francisco does not come out to support like other rock and roll destinations. I won’t do again. Hardly any band even performed.
The other Top 2 Half in SF
The best Half ti run the Golden Gate bridge and enjoy the San Franciscan atmosphere. The course takes you through the best scenery: starting by the ocean, testing your legs … MORE
The best Half ti run the Golden Gate bridge and enjoy the San Franciscan atmosphere.
The course takes you through the best scenery: starting by the ocean, testing your legs with a great hill by the Presidio, across the Golden Gate Bridge (with closed lines for runners… which is great as other Halfs crossing the bridge do not do that ;-((), along Crissy field and across Polk gulch to have the most San Franciscan crowd cheering for you on the way to the City hall.
The 2 hills are a great challenge. This race is great if you are a runner or a tourist 😉
The crowd is fun as you get to run in the city, and entertainment is great (rock bands especially).
The t-shirt and medals were great too. The registration cost can be reasonable if you are an early bird.
Great Views But Hilly!
Well run Rock N Roll Race. Started at Ocean Beach and ended in Civic Center Plaza. Race is very hilly, including hill in first mile and long hill near Baker … MORE
Well run Rock N Roll Race. Started at Ocean Beach and ended in Civic Center Plaza. Race is very hilly, including hill in first mile and long hill near Baker Beach in the Presidio. Nice to run across the Golden Gate Bridge.
Scenic and challenging course.
Awesome scenic course with challenging hills and a run across the actual roadbed of the G.G. Bridge, not along the sidewalk. Fantastic race production and medal, although the event tech … MORE
Awesome scenic course with challenging hills and a run across the actual roadbed of the G.G. Bridge, not along the sidewalk. Fantastic race production and medal, although the event tech tee is waffle fabric, it should be of a more modern Brooks tech fabric since they are the official event apparel supplier. This venue for the Rock n Roll series events is smaller than most so the course is not too over-crowded. Nice finisher’s medal and only one free beer at the finish line.
Gorgeous! Some Hills; SF!
Course description: The 2013 course of the Rock 'n' Roll San Francisco Half Marathon was an out-and-back from Fort Mason, through Crissy Field, and across (and back) the Golden Gate … MORE
Course description:
The 2013 course of the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Francisco Half Marathon was an out-and-back from Fort Mason, through Crissy Field, and across (and back) the Golden Gate Bridge. From the pre-dawn lights and views from the Marina to those going through the Presidio and Crissy Field to those crossing and re-crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, this race was the most beautiful in which I’ve participated (I’m updating this in June, 2015, and this is still my opinion). Though much of the course was along the shore of the bay and the Golden Gate (the straight between the San Francisco and Marin Peninsulas), it was not flat! There was a ~150′ climb (over the distance of ~1/3 mile) from the Presidio up to the bridge that came close to kicking my tail (this was my second half marathon, so …). And, of course, there was a bit of a climb at the Marin end of the bridge as runners went under the bridge and returned by the other side. Looking at the 2015 course map, it looks more challenging. The course goes from the west end of Golden Gate Park, over a ~200′ hill into the Presidio, climbs ~250′ up to the Golden Gate Bridge, crosses and re-crosses it, traverses Crissy Field and the Marina District, climbs ~250′ up Russian Hill, and finishes at the Civic Center. Due to traffic control requirements there was/is a 3 1/2 hour time limit (from the start of the last wave?).
Organization & Production:
Rock ‘n’ Roll is probably THE premiere, international, organizer of large races in major cities that feature half marathon and marathon distances. And when I say “large” I mean 15,000 or more racers … sometimes many more. RnR events are great for racers who love LARGE races and traveling to large cities (including some outside of the US). RnR does corralling by estimated finish time and wave starts so that faster runners are not held back by slower runners and slower runners aren’t at risk of collision with faster runners. Every detail is done well, from online registration through finish area activities and goodies. Putting on large-scale, premium venue, races is expensive, as are the registration fees ($85-$120, depending on whether one registers a couple of weeks or >6 months before the event).
Swag & Goodies:
The race T-shirt features the name and date of the race, with a cable car climbing a hill. The back of the T-shirt has the name and date of the race, with a sailboat sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge.
RnR’s finisher’s medals are the quality standard to which many other races compare theirs (see pic). The finisher’s medal for the San Francisco Half Marathon has the Golden Gate Bridge – with guitars as towers – in the foreground, and the skyline of SF in the background.
My Results & Opinion of the Race:
As I said above, the hill up to the bridge came close to beating me, but I kept going, and it was worth it! I’m a walker, so I’m not setting the street or trail alight, but my time was a bit faster that in my first half marathon, RnR’s San Jose Half Marathon. So I was quite happy with how I did.
Large races are not my preference, nor does my checking account like high registration fees. And the San Francisco Half Marathon is in SF and is no longer an out-and-back, so getting there (the start is way too early to use BART), parking, and getting home require some planning and arranging (unless one lives in SF). So I don’t plan on doing the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Francisco Half Marathon again soon. All that said, I think this race should be on western US runners’, “I want to do this race someday,” list.