Pam Borealis's Staging Area

I am writing this review to warn other runners about the ineptitude of this race organization.  The last thing I want to do is put another ounce of energy or thought into the San Francisco marathon, but I am writing out of obligation to review a very disorganized and disappointing race experience.
I qualified for the Subseed Athlete program which advertises a discounted race entry.  If you are looking to qualify for this, be aware that the discount only covers approximately a quarter of the very high price tag of this race.  Furthermore, if you want to use the discount, don’t bother to try to sign up on one of their promotional weekends.  They will force you to choose between the promotional race swag or the subseed athlete discount.  
Now for my review of the race and COVID-19 experience with them.  I was told I had to register for the race by mid-March in order to participate with the Subseed Athlete program.  Participating in this program was important to me and so I did register prior to that given deadline.  As many other race participants have mentioned, when the race organizers finally decided to cancel the race, they offered only the option of participating in the virtual race or deferring for an additional $39 fee.  The emails stated that if you did not choose an option, your registration would automatically be converted to the virtual race.  I emailed to ask if there was a way to waive the $39 fee for Subseed Athletes and was simply referred back to the deferral registration page (which required the fee to be paid).  On the weekend of the virtual race, I went to look up my name.  It did not exist in the system.  I emailed them that weekend to inquire if by chance, my race had been deferred.  I did not receive an email back from them until Tuesday afternoon (you would think they would be working and troubleshooting issues like this on the race weekend but they were not).  I was told there was a mistake with their system and that I should have in fact been participating in the virtual race and could now enter my time.  They still refused to grant me a deferral despite their mistake.
I have run 23 marathons in my life.  I have never had a race experience as disorganized and disappointing as this one. I would never consider running the San Francisco marathon again.