San Francisco · United States
Marathon races near San Francisco
6 races in 2026
next one in 23 days
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Race calendar
Upcoming Marathon races near San Francisco
JUL 1
25JUL
Run · road · Marathon
San Francisco Marathon
San Francisco · 2 km away
AUG 2
22AUG
Run · road · Marathon
Santa Rosa Marathon
Santa Rosa · 78 km away
29AUG
Run · trail · Marathon
SPASM Crystal Springs Trail Run
Woodside · 39 km away
SEP 3
6SEP
Run · trail · Marathon
Diablo Trail Run
Clayton · 45 km away
7SEP
Run · trail · Marathon
LARPD Marathon On The Move Trail Challenge
Livermore · 61 km away
San Francisco · 80 km
6 races mapped
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Recurring Marathon races near San Francisco
Races that repeat — weekly, monthly or yearly
RMH BC & Yukon Boundary Bay
Boundary Bay is a late-fall race series held at Boundary Bay Park, Centennial Beach in Delta, British Columbia, offering 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, and 4-person marathon relay distances. The marathon is presented as a final opportunity for runners aiming for a Boston qualifying time, featuring a straightforward course: a completely flat gravel oceanside trail with no elevation gain.
All distances follow an out-and-back route along British Columbia's southern coast, allowing participants to run beside Boundary Bay instead of through city streets. The course offers views across the Salish Sea towards the San Juan Islands, with migratory birds present and ocean weather as the primary variable. The race supports Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon. Organizers acknowledge the late-season timing by advising runners to dress warmly, bring dry clothes, and appreciate the clock-change weekend that may provide an extra hour of sleep.
Crystal Springs Trail Run
The Crystal Springs Trail Run begins at Huddart Park in Woodside, California, leading runners into the wooded paths surrounding King’s Mountain and Bear Gulch. This winter trail race offers distances from a 5-mile run to an ultramarathon, including a half marathon, 22 miles, a marathon, and a 50K. A free 50-yard dash is also available for children aged 6 and under. Established in 2006, the event does not offer prize money, fostering a community atmosphere rather than a professional competition.
The course is predominantly unpaved, with approximately 95% of the route on dirt trails, featuring a total elevation gain of 4,810 feet. Participants will traverse redwood forests and areas dense with ferns. The organizers emphasize trail etiquette, requesting runners announce passes, remain on marked paths to avoid poison oak, and refrain from using headphones on single-track sections, road crossings, aid stations, and near the finish line. Bibs indicate each runner's chosen distance, and participants can change their race distance via email or during check-in.
Golden Gate Trail Run
The Golden Gate Trail Run is a winter trail race in San Francisco offering distances for various runners, from an 8K and half marathon to marathon, 50K, and longer ultra options in the Spartan Trail version. A free 50-yard dash for children aged six and under is also available, showing the event caters to more than just ultrarunners. The running surface is soft trail, the route is hilly, and typical conditions are mild, around 64°F.
The course takes runners across the Golden Gate Bridge and into the Marin Headlands, with views over the Pacific Coast, Tiburon, San Francisco, and the bridge. The average altitude is low at about 426 feet, but the Headlands provide significant climbing and exposed coastal trail running, distinct from a flat city route. Volunteers can earn credits toward other U.S. Spartan events, and published results are available for several recent editions.
Montara Mountain Trail Run
The Montara Mountain Trail Run is a February trail-running series held in San Pedro Valley Park, Pacifica, California. The main races begin in the morning, offering runners a selection of distances: 10K, half marathon, 20.7 miles, marathon, and 50K. A free 50-yard dash is available for children aged six and under, alongside a free Coastal Testing event that starts before the main races.
The course ascends Montara Mountain, an area noted by the race organizers as the sole undisturbed coastal mountain habitat along over 100 miles of coastline. Participants will run past huckleberry, honeysuckle, lilac, chinquapin, and manzanita groves, with views of the Pacific Coast appearing as they climb. The event likely attracts a diverse field because of the range of distances from a short trail race to an ultramarathon, and the kids' dash encourages families to attend before the longer races commence.
2027 Oakland Marathon
The Oakland Marathon takes place over a weekend in March in Oakland, California. It offers a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, and a Kids Fun Run. Kaiser Permanente presents the full marathon. The event is designed for a broad spectrum of runners, not exclusively marathon specialists. The expo, kids run, and race festival also attract spectators and families who are not participating.
The marathon course is a single loop passing through Oakland landmarks and crosses the Bay Bridge. The finish line is at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, a location also noted as a good vantage point for the final stretch. The full marathon is known among runners for its scenic and challenging terrain. The event collaborates with Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, with race entries, donations, and fundraising benefiting local youth.
Redwood (Spring) Trail Run
The Redwood (Spring) Trail Run is a spring trail-running event held at Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, with races taking place within Redwood Regional Park. Participants can select from a short sprint or 5-mile run up to a half marathon, 30K, marathon, and 50K, accommodating children, novice trail runners, and those seeking a long run on trails.
The course follows the park’s East Ridge and West Ridge trails, descending into sections of tall redwoods via the Stream and Bridle trails. The children's 50-yard dash is complimentary for ages six and under, youth 5-mile divisions offer reduced entry fees, and the primary adult distances commence in the morning. Distances are measured using a Rolatape surveyor’s wheel, a detail important for trail courses where GPS accuracy can be affected by tree cover and terrain.
Horseshoe Lake Trail Run
The Horseshoe Lake Trail Run is a 13.0-mile trail half marathon situated in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It begins and concludes at the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve parking lot, located on the west side of Skyline Boulevard. The event takes place on a Sunday, with check-in commencing at 8 am and the race starting at 9 am in the horse trailer lot. The race's informal names offer insight into its character: “There’s always one more hill half marathon” and “Steve Patt’s birthday half marathon.”
The course navigates both single-track trails and fireroads, passing through shaded woodlands, open hillsides, and featuring rolling ascents totaling 2,535 feet of elevation gain. Participants will travel northwest along the Bay Area Ridge Trail towards Rapley Ranch Road, descend from the ridge in the direction of the Pacific, ascend once more, and conclude with a clockwise circuit around Cathedral Hill. Proceeds from the entry fee support The Hatuey Project, an organization that supplies medicine to Cuban children battling cancer, with the race director matching each entry-fee donation.
SPASM Lake Chabot Trail Run
The SPASM Lake Chabot Trail Run begins at the marina in Lake Chabot Regional Park, Castro Valley, California. Runners follow dirt paths around the reservoir and adjacent hills. This is primarily an unpaved trail race, with distances from short runs to the half marathon, marathon, 30K, and 50K. Some editions also include a 2-mile sprint or 8K. The event, established in 2010, caters to those preferring a trail run over a road race.
The course encircles Lake Chabot Reservoir, constructed to supply water for the East Bay. Thus, the run takes place around a functional piece of local history, not a venue solely for racing. Approximately 95% of the running occurs on unpaved trails. Organizers use a Rolatape surveyor's wheel for distance measurements. The event accommodates novice trail runners, experienced long-distance participants, and families, offering a free 50-yard kids' dash for children aged six and under.
Looking for something else near San Francisco?
Other races in the next 90 days
JUL 335 km away
cycling
Bike Hut Classic
JUL 1935 km away
triathlon
East Bay Kids Triathlon
AUG 177 km away
cycling
Kelyn Akuna Classic
AUG 1571 km away
cycling
12th Annual Crush Challenge
AUG 1549 km away
cycling
MSBS Fremont - Session 3
SEP 1234 km away
cycling
2026 DharmaWheels Buddhist Bicycle Pilgrimage
SEP 1912 km away
multisport
Gold Rush Adventure Challenge: Dawn to Dusk
SEP 2648 km away
cycling
Infestation Gravel ($80)
About Marathon races in San Francisco
San Francisco Training Notes
San Francisco hosts 14 Marathon races in 2026 within 80 km of the city centre — upcoming dates, recurring series, and other races nearby, all in one place.
Golden Gate Park gives locals a seven-mile paved perimeter for steady Z2, and the park always has lots of runners. The Embarcadero gives a flat start when you link Fisherman’s Wharf, Marina Green, and the Golden Gate Bridge. 5 to 7 miles and feels like getting out of the city without leaving it. Crissy Field has a 5-mile paved loop for intervals. The Crosstown Trail runs 17 miles when base miles need bite. San Francisco Running Company puts people on Marin Headlands trails, Mt. They run a 5-mile, roughly 1,500-foot Ninja Lite loop. Lake Merced Half Marathon and Summer Evening Race Series make easy anchor races.
The Wiggle bike route keeps locals moving across town with one mile of mellow grade. The Embarcadero Promenade bikeway, Battery Street protected bike lane, Third Street bike lane, Presidio Loop, Golden Gate Park Loop, and Golden Gate Bridge bike path all stay in the normal rotation. San Francisco Cycling Club runs the Friday Coffee Ride at 0615 and finishes at The Mill with no shortage of conversation or caffeine. Hawk Hill, Twin Peaks, Mount Davidson, and Mt. Tam bring the climbing. The Headlands Loop packs over 2,000 feet into just over 18 miles. Point Reyes Loop runs almost 100 miles round trip from downtown with close to 4,500 feet. Race Across California 2026 can sit as the big anchor.
September and October are the cleanest bet, with warmer weather, great morning light, and peak riding season feel. Summer stays cool and foggy, so locals dress for wind, hit Ocean Beach or Lands End for running, and point bikes north when the Headlands or Mt. Tam look good. The fog lands less hard in eastern neighborhoods and late summer. Winter brings cool, moist days, so runners lean on Golden Gate Park, the Embarcadero, Lake Merced, and Presidio loops, while cyclists keep base miles rolling on city lanes, Golden Gate Park, Paradise Loop, and Headlands routes when the window opens.