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California > Golden Gate Headlands Marathon, Half Marathon & 7-Mile
San Francisco, CA • Saturday, March 31, 2012 • Course Map
Run along a backdrop that combines gorgeous natural vistas with views of San Francisco's urban skyline in the distance, as well as a hilly and challenging course, the Golden Gate Headlands Marathon, Half Marathon & 7-Mile race unfold over a course that features some dramatic changes in elevation -- the half marathon course climbs and descends roughly 800 feet overall in elevation.
The race starts across the bay from San Francisco's Presidio, in Sausalito at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, where runners start the race at the spot known as Rodeo Beach. From there, participants follow an out-and-back loop course through the area known as the Marin Headlands, which overlook the city and the Golden Gate Bridge, and take runners along a course that's truly postcard-perfect, a combination of single-track hiking trails, fire roads, pavement and a beach crossing, running throughout along the lush Pacific shoreline dotted with vibrant wildflowers.
The course through Sausalito is a single 13.1-mile loop that runners in the half marathon run once, and those running the full 26.2-mile marathon run twice. Though there are three aid & water stations laid out along the course -- at mile markers 4.5, 6.5 and 10.5 -- race organizers strongly encourage participants to bring their own water with them for the run. The race is virtually all trails, including Sausalito's Coastal Trail, Wolf Springs Trail, Old Springs Trail, Marincello Trail and Rodeo Valley Trail, in addition to a brief stretch of the race along Conzelman Road.
After the start time of 9:00 AM, runners have six hours to complete the course, which means they'll need to keep a pace of at most 13:45 minutes per mile. Just over 370 runners crossed the finish line in all three races combined at the 2011 running of the event, most of whom hailed from California but also many others from as far away as Illinois and Ohio.
Race
Weather & Climate
Weather in the "city by the bay" can be unpredictable throughout the year, and is famous for its cool-to-cold summer weather, though spring brings warming temperatures with occasional showers. March temperatures in the San Francisco area average between 62°F and 49°F, while rainfall totals average just over 3.2 inches for the month. On the day of the race (March 31), the average high is 62°F and the average low is 49°F.
Course Map
View the race route map for the Golden Gate Headlands Half Marathon
Fees
$50 for the half marathon, if registered before January 1, 2012
$55 on Jan. 1 and after
Registration
To reserve your spot in the early spring 2012 running of San Francisco's Golden Gate Headlands Marathon, Half Marathon or 7-mile race, register online at the event website.
Official Race Website
www.envirosports.com
Leave a Comment
Ever run in California's annual Golden Gate Headlands Marathon or Half Marathon? Share your impressions and read fellow runners' stories and tips for the event.
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