The San Francisco Marathon: Golden Gate Challenge IV

San Francisco or Bust!

By Diane Rudholm

The San Francisco Marathon is July 27 — that’s less than three weeks away! This will be my husband’s and my first full marathon, and it’ll be the first time I’ve actually spent time in San Francisco.

And, this is the point in our adventure where I begin to over-plan (while trying not to overwhelm my husband with my over-planning). For instance: I know what I’m wearing on race day, down to my socks (black with pink and green squiggles, moisture-wicking, very comfortable). I know what I will eat before, during and after the race, how much water I’ll probably need (it’s kind of a lot) and how I will braid my hair. I also have a good idea of which points during the race my husband is going to have to drag me along because I’m going to want to stop and take pictures (all of the pictures!).

What I’m still figuring out is what to check out in the city before the race and where to relax after the race. What to see first? We’ll already run across the Golden Gate Bridge for part of the marathon. A trip over to Alcatraz Island sounds incredibly cool. The trail systems in the Golden Gate National Recreation area look awesome. At least one morning, I’d like to drink my coffee in quiet solitude while I wistfully stare at the boat-speckled San Francisco Bay. (Ahhh…) Riding around town in cable cars and being tourist-y in Chinatown are obvious to-do’s. I want to eat food at every restaurant (yes, I’m feeling 1. ambitious, and 2. generally excited about food). We can stuff this all into a three-day trip, right?

We’ll be staying at a hostel (my favorite lodging option in a new city), so I’m sure we’ll meet some great people — maybe even some other people who are running in the marathon. So, perhaps our plans will change when we get there. In the meantime, though, maybe you can help me over-plan.

Where are your favorite places to visit in San Francisco? Where would you go if you had only a few days to visit? Where would you go to relax after running 26.2 miles (after going back to the hostel for a nap, I mean)? Let me know in the comments or over at twitter @OutdoorsNWmag

Learn more about the San Francisco Marathon at www.thesfmarathon.com

Diane Rudholm is the managing editor and social media manager of OutdoorsNW. Check back for a San Francisco Marathon Recap on Aug. 5, 2014.

Other posts about the San Francisco Marathon. . .

>> I. Up the hill!

>> II. Rain or Shine

>> III. Shift, improve and grow

>> IV. San Francisco or bust!

 

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