Overall Rating
Overall Rating (46 Reviews)
4.1
(46 Ratings)  (46 Reviews)
DIFFICULTY
2.8
SCENERY
4.2
PRODUCTION
3.9
SWAG
3.9
Join us as we make history (again) across the brand-new Bay Bridge for the first & only Half Marathon. We’ll depart from West Oakland and initiate a wide, fast and fun few miles before arriving at the entrance to the bridge path. As we proceed toward Treasure Island, you’ll enjoy … MORE
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Recent reviews

    maddybarton FIRST-TIMER '23

    Great course, but tough last few miles. Nothing but construction for last 4 miles and the stretch got very lonely. Race production was overall good. Packet pickup party could be … MORE

    Great course, but tough last few miles. Nothing but construction for last 4 miles and the stretch got very lonely.

    Race production was overall good. Packet pickup party could be better developed. After race party was great!

    Loved the views, great course. Amazing crowd and good communication with race team.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    3
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    3

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    donatorydell98 FIRST-TIMER '23

    As a first half marathon, I think this race is a great option! Packet pickup was a little bit diffcult due to the location being in a downtown area. During … MORE

    As a first half marathon, I think this race is a great option! Packet pickup was a little bit diffcult due to the location being in a downtown area.

    During the race, I felt everything from the pacers, to the directions, to the water stations, and all the way to the finish ran very smoothly.

    The mini finishing event at the end for the runners was a great ending and I think that was the cherry on top!

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    3
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4

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    lesliecohen1 FIRST-TIMER '23

    Loved running this stunning course! Mostly flat for 4 miles, then mostly uphill for 2.5 miles up the bridge, then turn around and come back down the bridge and mostly … MORE

    Loved running this stunning course! Mostly flat for 4 miles, then mostly uphill for 2.5 miles up the bridge, then turn around and come back down the bridge and mostly flat to the finish. Spectacular views and beautiful free race photos taken on the bridge! There were no age group awards but participants got a nice medal and a beer glass. Would love to run this one again!

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    4
    My Media

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    ny1700.nyp FIRST-TIMER '23

    Race week Friday, I picked up the package visiting Moxy hotel in Oakland downtown. Friendly staff ,good music and a good vibe in the lobby. From that point, I was … MORE

    Race week Friday, I picked up the package visiting Moxy hotel in Oakland downtown. Friendly staff ,good music and a good vibe in the lobby. From that point, I was already feeling like the good race weekend was coming.
    Race day, under a very good sun rise, I drove to the start line. Full of street park, enough toilet boxes and good music already. Coaches gave the good instruction for pre-marathon stretch. Perfect preparation. With the countdown, moving forwards to the bridge, fresh air from the sea, perfect gentle morning sun light. After 3miles, the climbing on the bridge, I thought it would be tough but it was simply go strait until the turn around. After the turn around, that gave me the moment to feel the happiness on the peak of the bridge and the beautiful bay itself. As I saw only downhill for that point, felt so achieved already, the legs were rolling so good.
    Goal~~!! DJ called my name !! Amazing moment with cheerful galleries and staffs. Water, fruits, snacks and various beer. You know what I mean. : )

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    5
    My Report
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
    My Media

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    jzuegel REPEAT RUNNER '23

    Initial/final surface of road on this out-and-back course has lots of big pot holes, so be careful. But the remainder of course is awesome. There is a lot of road … MORE

    Initial/final surface of road on this out-and-back course has lots of big pot holes, so be careful. But the remainder of course is awesome. There is a lot of road noise from cars and trucks while on Bay Bridge; of course, this is unavoidable but suggest wearing in-ear earphones.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    alexisjuarez FIRST-TIMER '23

    Upset because i paid 180$ and was told multiple times there would be free tacos and beer and nothing. I paid 180$ for a free shirt and medal. Won’t do … MORE

    Upset because i paid 180$ and was told multiple times there would be free tacos and beer and nothing. I paid 180$ for a free shirt and medal. Won’t do again for that price. Loved the experience overall and had a great time but not throwing away 180$ again.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    3
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    2

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    vgarcia2712 FIRST-TIMER '23

    this race was fantastic. very well organized. the course is flat with a little bit of a incline. but very well organized. race swag was fantastic. and the events after … MORE

    this race was fantastic. very well organized. the course is flat with a little bit of a incline. but very well organized. race swag was fantastic. and the events after the race are fun to experience. looking forward to next year.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    eapen FIRST-TIMER '23

    I ran as a 2 hour pacer and have to say that this is a great course for someone trying to set a PR. In fact, several folks who were … MORE

    I ran as a 2 hour pacer and have to say that this is a great course for someone trying to set a PR. In fact, several folks who were running with me to try to break 2 hours succeeded. The picture of the chart of elevation first scared me but the total elevation was only about 250ft and it was a smooth gradual climb. The great thing is that the way back down was downhill and can help with the negative split and help you achieve a PR.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    5

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    Carola FIRST-TIMER '23

    Beautiful day for a race. Course & volunteers were fantastic! Water stations were setup in good locations. Unfortunately, it most definitely is overpriced & over promised. There were no free … MORE

    Beautiful day for a race. Course & volunteers were fantastic! Water stations were setup in good locations. Unfortunately, it most definitely is overpriced & over promised. There were no free tacos or beer. What we did get was two new seltzers. I didn’t think the shirt was great.

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    2
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    2

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    rosaiselam FIRST-TIMER '23

    The race route was great. I really enjoyed running on the bay bridge. Volunteers were great. Swag was awesome. Only con is they ran out of beer and had some … MORE

    The race route was great. I really enjoyed running on the bay bridge. Volunteers were great. Swag was awesome.
    Only con is they ran out of beer and had some sort of seltzer/tonic that wasn’t very good. The taco line was insane so we didn’t even bother getting in line.

    DIFFICULTY
    4
    PRODUCTION
    2
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    joannf09 FIRST-TIMER '23

    The bridge view is amazing! You won’t want to miss this…getting there meh, but worth the wait! Everyone of the race volunteers was awesome and super helpful. Struggled through an … MORE

    The bridge view is amazing! You won’t want to miss this…getting there meh, but worth the wait! Everyone of the race volunteers was awesome and super helpful. Struggled through an injury and wasn’t my best time but would definitely recommend. If you are coming from out of town definitely check out the Moxy Hotel!

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    4

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    CurlieWhirlie FIRST-TIMER '23

    This race was so much fun. It's relatively flat, a very slight grade on the bridge but who could be mad when you have those views to look at? The … MORE

    This race was so much fun. It’s relatively flat, a very slight grade on the bridge but who could be mad when you have those views to look at? The production quality was great, there were lots of events leading up to the race, and the race day events and energy were really top-notch. I will definitely run this one again next year.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    jacchaves FIRST-TIMER '23

    Pros: pick up party with dj, beer, a lot of classes (boxing, yoga, etc), nice t-shirt a lot of pacers finish party with free beer, free pint glass, live music, … MORE

    Pros: pick up party with dj, beer, a lot of classes (boxing, yoga, etc), nice t-shirt
    a lot of pacers
    finish party with free beer, free pint glass, live music, nice medal
    race course provides a great view of San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate bridge and the Bay bridge itself (despite the part near docks and parking lots)
    Cons: many potholes in the beggining of the course
    initial race course inside an industrial/port area with a lot of containers and parking lots is not that scenic view
    the course lenght is shorter than 13.1 miles

    Recommend, specially if you’re not a serious runner

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    4

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    chmoscato REPEAT RUNNER '23

    I’ve been doing this run since the first Bay Bridge Half race in 2019, and I do it every year now! This year was a tough year for me since … MORE

    I’ve been doing this run since the first Bay Bridge Half race in 2019, and I do it every year now! This year was a tough year for me since I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My last chemo was the day before the race and I refused to let me cancer define me, so I ran! Not only is this race have gorgeous scenery, but has such a supportive community that roots you on!

    DIFFICULTY
    3
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5
    My Media

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    EdwardGarvey REPEAT RUNNER '23

    The course is over the industrial part of Oakland. So there are many potholes and not a lot of shade. Sun screen is a must. The post race party is … MORE

    The course is over the industrial part of Oakland. So there are many potholes and not a lot of shade. Sun screen is a must.
    The post race party is top notch. Lots of good food!
    The pre race attractions are really great. Free Yoga, Cardio Boxing, etc.
    The medal & shirt looked cool, the pint glass is very cool.

    DIFFICULTY
    5
    PRODUCTION
    5
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    Sama REPEAT RUNNER '23

    There are a lot of pot holes as you start the race and the sidewalks with lots of trash that City of Oakland need to fix and cleanup before the … MORE

    There are a lot of pot holes as you start the race and the sidewalks with lots of trash that City of Oakland need to fix and cleanup before the race.

    They ran out of Electrolytes on the course, and at the festival there were no beer and tacos as advertised.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    3
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    3

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    shashanknadig FIRST-TIMER '23

    The Bay Bridge Half Marathon was an incredibly well-organized event that provided a truly memorable and enjoyable experience. From the seamless registration process to the breathtaking course that took us … MORE

    The Bay Bridge Half Marathon was an incredibly well-organized event that provided a truly memorable and enjoyable experience. From the seamless registration process to the breathtaking course that took us across the iconic Bay Bridge, every aspect of the race was meticulously planned. The enthusiastic and supportive volunteers, along with the scenic views and well-stocked aid stations, made the run even more enjoyable. The post-race festivities were lively and engaging, with live music and delicious food options. Overall, I had a fantastic time and would highly recommend the Bay Bridge Half Marathon to anyone seeking a well-organized and fun-filled race experience.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    4
    SWAG
    3

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    Easy to find parking. Great view of the bay when on the bridge. It’s a little uphill going up the bridge but after that it’s pretty easy. Highly recommend … MORE

    Easy to find parking. Great view of the bay when on the bridge. It’s a little uphill going up the bridge but after that it’s pretty easy. Highly recommend

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    4
    SCENERY
    5
    SWAG
    5

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    sapphireblue1 FIRST-TIMER '23

    I was supposed to run this back in 2020 though it was cancelled due to the pandemic and my entry was deferred. I was planning to run in 2022 but … MORE

    I was supposed to run this back in 2020 though it was cancelled due to the pandemic and my entry was deferred. I was planning to run in 2022 but had to cancel due to other circumstances and finally got to run for this year. Most of the course itself was pretty flat and easy until you got to the bridge, though the roads before then are bad and cracked or have lots of potholes. The 3 miles before the bridge are very industrial and aren’t scenic at all, you’ll just be running by Bart stations, graffiti and highways. The trail before the bridge does smooth out and gets cleaner. I think it would’ve been better to have the race start in Emeryville instead, West Oakland wasn’t good at all. I was also surprised by how small the group was, only about 1,000 runners compared to the other half’s I’ve run that have thousands more runners. The part on the Bay Bridge was nice and I liked the views and my photos on there. My finisher’s medal was beautiful, and you get a finisher’s cup too. Though that’s about it that I liked. I’m not sure if I would want to run this again, it’s very overpriced for what you get.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    2
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    2

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    Brunner FIRST-TIMER '23

    Multiple people have complained that the course is a tenth of a mile short, and my experience confirmed this. however, the organizers don't seem to be interested in addressing the … MORE

    Multiple people have complained that the course is a tenth of a mile short, and my experience confirmed this. however, the organizers don’t seem to be interested in addressing the course distance. but what they will do is send you daily emails about the taco truck and DJ dance parties taking place at the “expo”. Website has no information about pacers and the course map isn’t entirely accurate. The portion of the course prior to the bridge is pretty dangerous. When you’re not dodging potholes and scrap metal on some of the worst roads in Oakland, you’re praying that drivers see the 2 – 3 haphazardly placed cones, and don’t drive onto the course.

    Avoid this race if you’re a remotely serious runner. the view on the way back from the 6.5 mile turnaround point is admittedly nice, but ultimately this is not worth the money.

    DIFFICULTY
    2
    PRODUCTION
    1
    SCENERY
    3
    SWAG
    2

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  1. Races
  2. Bay Bridge Half Marathon