San Francisco, US · July 2027
The San Francisco Marathon
The San Francisco Marathon pacing strategy with per-km splits from your VDOT, weather-adjusted for the typical 12–18 °C race day in San Francisco.
- Distance
- 42.20 km
- Elevation gain
- 329 m
- Typical temp
- 13–19 °C
- Cutoff
- 6:30:00
The short version
A genuinely hard course
- Most runners crack near km 32 — fuel before km 30, not at it.
- Low sun in your eyes around km 9 — bring a cap or shades.
- Full overhead sun from km 40 — sunscreen and run the shaded side.
Next edition
July 2027
Typical race-day conditions
13–19 °C
We lock the real forecast into your plan in race week.
Course difficulty
HardDriven by 329 m of climbing, 323 m of quad-pounding descent. Harder than Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (6.8), easier than Maratón de la Ciudad de México (7.4) — tougher than 65% of the races we cover.
Race data quality
Medium confidence
Auto-generated from GPS route + elevation data
Course distance, climate, and broad course features are suitable for pacing previews. Elevation profiles and aid-station details are approximate and should be checked against the official race packet before race day.
Elevation profile
Route-derived (GPX + DEM)
Paid strategy guardrail
Official race packet remains source of truth
- Open-Meteo historical climate archive (2022–2024)
Step 1 · Free preview
See the course-adjusted plan first
Enter one recent result. The preview returns course cost, first splits, and fuel target from the deterministic engine and the current course data model.
VDOT
49.1
Estimate
3:22:53
Course cost
+9:09
Fuel target
60 g/h
60 g/h needs a trained gut — practise it in training, never try new fuelling on race day. Your full plan tunes this to your experience.
First 5 km preview
full race locked
- km 14:46
- km 24:48
- km 34:52
- km 45:24
- km 54:32
First race free · then €7 Race Pass · no monthly subscription
Uses an approximate course model; verify final logistics against the official race packet.
Step 2 · Your full The San Francisco Marathon plan
The preview shows the shape. The plan races it for you.
Course preview
Free
what you see now
- Difficulty score & course data
- Course-cost & toughest km
- Your first full plan free, ever
Race Pass
€7
one-time, this race
- Every km split, weather-adjusted
- Nutrition & fluid timeline
- Heat, wind & sun race tactics
- Danger zones + watch file (GPX)
- Race-week forecast & reminders
Annual
€19
per year, every race
- Everything in Race Pass
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- Re-plan as your fitness changes
No subscription required — one race is a one-off €7. See a full sample plan →
Continue with approximate course data →Course elevation
329 m total gain · 323 m loss · max 102 m, min -7 m.
Fly the course
Sun & shade
Sun in your eyes
12 km
Sun on your back
11 km
Side / overhead
19 km
Expect low sun roughly in your eyes around km 9 — pack a peaked cap or shades; low glare hides kerbs and potholes. From km 40 the sun sits high overhead — peak UV and radiant heat, so keep sunscreen on and run the shaded side of the road where you can.
Approximate — solar position from the route geometry and a 05:32:00 start (timezone estimated from longitude), for a mid-pack finishing time.
Signature sections
Golden Gate Bridge · km 7–14
Out-and-back across the bridge with a 60 m climb to the midpoint each way.
Aid stations
8 stations on course — plan your fueling around them.
Race overview
SF is the hilliest big-city marathon in the US — 350 m of climbing including the Golden Gate Bridge crossing. Cool, foggy July mornings are ideal for marathon physiology, but the climbs at km 8 and km 13 must be paced by effort, not by clock.
How hard is this course?
Reference table — how the The San Francisco Marathon compares to a flat sea-level course for four typical fitness levels. Computed from the route profile, mean course altitude, and typical race-week climate (16 °C / 80 % humidity). Your personal strategy uses your VDOT, per-km splits, nutrition timing, and the typical climate baseline for this static sample; paid strategies use Open-Meteo when a verified race date is inside the forecast window.
| Runner | Flat-course finish | The San Francisco Marathon finish | Course cost | Adjusted pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner (VDOT 35) | 4:16:08 | 4:28:14 | +4.7% | 6:11/km |
| Intermediate (VDOT 45) | 3:28:17 | 3:38:08 | +4.7% | 5:02/km |
| Trained (VDOT 50) | 3:10:41 | 3:19:42 | +4.7% | 4:36/km |
| Competitive (VDOT 60) | 2:43:24 | 2:51:07 | +4.7% | 3:57/km |
Reference nutrition
For a 70 kg runner finishing in 3:19:42 at 16 °C. Adjust to your weight and tolerance — these are ISSN-window targets, not prescriptions.
- Carbs / hour
- 60 g
- Total carbs
- 200 g
- Fluid / hour
- 640 ml
- Sodium / hour
- 500 mg
FAQ
How hilly is the The San Francisco Marathon?
350 m of cumulative elevation gain across 42.2 km. Net climbing — pace by effort, not by clock, on the major ascents.
What is the typical weather on race day?
12–18 °C with 80 % relative humidity. Heat acclimatization makes a measurable difference if the forecast trends warm.
Get your personalized strategy
The numbers above are samples. Sign up free and get the full The San Francisco Marathon strategy from your VDOT, the current course model, Open-Meteo race-week forecast when available, and your nutrition preferences.
First race free · €7 per additional race · €19/yr for unlimited
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New to the marathon? Start with our marathon pacing strategy guide or run the VDOT calculator.