San Francisco in 5 Runs
The iconic Golden Gate bridge, bustling farmers’ markets with fresh seafood and the whole host of hipster cafés, San Francisco is a vibrant city with a lot to eat, see and do! Deemed as the #1 running city in the world by Runner’s World, it is no surprise that the best way to get the most out of your trip would probably be to run through the streets. Here are some of our favourite runs:
Presidio Park 13K
Originally known as El Presidio Real de San Francisco or The Royal Fortress of Saint Francis, Presidio is a park and a former military base. This majestic area is home to some of the best cafes, museums and not to mention, most beautiful views. This 13K route will take you on a very scenic trip around some of San Francisco’s gems through trails. If you’re running on a Sunday, be sure to check out Off the Grid: Picnic at the Presidio at Main Lawn Post from 11 am - 4 pm for some of the best food trucks in the city.
Photo by Ingrid Taylar / Creative Commons 2.0
Embarcadero 3K is a fun run along San Francisco's waters bringing you to Fishermans Wharf! Fun fact: The embarcadero gets its name from the Spanish verb embarcar which means "to embark". Work yourself an appetite with this run - You'll be welcomed with a wide variety of food choices at Fishermans Wharf! After your run, you can take the Muni F line back to the ferry building!
Missed the Across the Bay 12K this year or simply want to challenge yourself? This fun route will take you across the iconic Golden Gate bridge through the Embarcadero and Sausalito, ending off your run with a very scenic and memorable ferry ride back to Fisherman’s Wharf.
Photo by Erik Söderström / Creative Commons 2.0
One of the most photographed places in the city, you can’t leave San Francisco without seeing the painted ladies! This is a fun loop that starts at the Ferry Building.
If you’d like to capture a scenic picture of your run, we recommend heading to Alamo Park - You’ll get a gorgeous view of the city scape in the backdrop along with the iconic painted ladies!
Photo by Dave Glass / Creative Commons 2.0
If you're short on time, this run would be the best. You'd be able to check out some of the must-see sights and run along some of the best food joints and views the city has to offer!
Have you been to San Francisco? What are your favourite runs?