San Francisco: The Heart, The Energy, The Love
November 27, 2019 | “I love San Francisco — the experience of the whole weekend — from the minute I set foot at the Expo. You see the same people from previous years, your friends and your community. Everyone says hi because they remember you from last year,” reminisces Vanessa Wallace, San Francisco Marathon Race Ambassador.
You might come to San Francisco for the beautiful views and to run in the big city on the Bay, and you’ll definitely get that.
Vanessa says, “I absolutely love running in San Francisco. It’s really exciting to see so many aspects of San Francisco on foot that you would normally miss when you’re driving through.”
But, you’ll come back for the people, the community, and the experience.
“I love that the residents of the City are out cheering for you on their driveways and their lawns and they’re spraying their hoses for you and playing music. And all the great groups that come out to volunteer and are cheering you on at the aid stations,” describes Vanessa.
She continues, “You get a sense of community in a big city. You’re surrounded by so many people, but you just really feel the heart and the energy and the love for the city and for the athletes. That’s exciting for me. You feel celebrated.”
The community of San Francisco is something special that can’t be replicated anywhere else. It’s got that big city feeling, mixed with European neighborhoods, creating a charming small town feel. And then, you add the running community coming back year after year — the 2020 San Francisco Marathon will be its 43rd year — and it’s an experience unlike any other.
The San Francisco Marathon has runners from all over the country and the world. You’ll hear different languages and accents and meet lots of interesting people who come just to run in San Francisco, the City on the Bay.
And you’ll also see a broad variety of people — all different ages, physical capabilities, and athletic abilities — but they’re all there to run, enjoy the experience, and they’ll be celebrated by the amazing community of San Francisco.
Leana Lai, another Race Ambassador, said she loves seeing all the different people on the course. One time she said she saw a guy trotting along with a boombox, just enjoying the course for what it was. She’s also seen firefighters in full gear and older people, who have come to the race year after year.
“It has a special place in my heart. I love the City,” said Leana. And she recommends that runners take in everything because it’s so pretty, even if it’s foggy.
If you’ve run the San Francisco Marathon in the past, you’ll want to make sure you come back for the community and the experience again too.
Plus, you won’t want to miss out on your Loyal Runner Awards, for anyone who has run two or more consecutive years, with special gifts at your five and ten-year anniversaries.
Register today for the San Francisco Marathon 2020.