Is this where I can meet my husband? In San Francisco? Ode to pancakes and virgin bloody mary's..as well as my prize medal for running the presidio 5k that also is offered by SF Marathon...even this year..thanks for telling me these tips the hard way. Running is a nice way to socialize and meet people in a new city or old city.. As long as you can practice for the real thing. As long as you bring your kids...as long as you forgot to get married. Don't forget to wake up after your hangover and head over to brunch in San Francisco CA bro--kay? read more

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Picture perfect views on the course, fun after party at the finish line all in the name of charity, what more could you ask for?! The guardsmen have been hosting this race for some time and every year ( this was my 9th) it gets better and better! Pros: well organized and supported course Well staffed aid stations and awesome volunteers Race day packet pick up Staggered race times for each race Cocktails and breakfast at the finish line Newly upgraded race finisher shirts ; no more cotton Proceeds go to fund activities for underprivileged youth Great music and party atmosphere post race Beautiful, scenic course Cons: Tough to get into your own groove/pace as the stretch on the bridge is crowded. Bottlenecks when connecting from the northbound to southbound side of the bridge As you can see, the pros outweigh the cons, I am looking forward to my 10th year and many more in the future. Thank you guardsmen for hosting an A+ event. read more

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This was the worst race we've ever done. The signage was terrible and multiple groups got completely lost. My husband ended up with a group that did just 4 miles vs. the 10K; I was with a group that did 8 miles. My group even asked one of the race helpers which way to go, and she told us the wrong thing. Everyone at the end was kvetching to each other about how badly managed this race was. Skip it and save your racing for something else. read more

The dating scene can be rough. Girls get so many hollers that realistically, they can only respond to the ones that are most creative. Don't get discouraged, I got you broski. -- Check it Hey girl how'd you like to go on a weekend run It's great for your health and I hear it's fun I know this is aggressive but just gimme a chance To take you on a date to run the Presidio 10 Oh wow that was kind of a long pick up line But I promise a short same-day bib pick up line And look at the design on the free shirt too I'm gonna go with the extra large cause i like to wear mine loose I'm thinking we can run while we intro ourselves Great way to train your cardio which in turn trains your health The route is excellent and the scenery's great How often do you get to run across the Golden Gate? It's no conventional date but here's the deal We can still do a sit down & talk at the post-run meal So what do you say? Wanna give this a go? This will be the best first Tinder date, I know it fasho -- You're welcome, just invite me to the wedding read more

One of my top races each year! I love this course, I love the Guardsmen and all the volunteer and charity work they provide the community. It is for a great cause, and you get drinks at the finish line, how can you possibly go wrong? I love that you can park anywhere (mostly) in the Presidio and be within walking distance to the start line without having to pay hardly anything for parking. Some spots require a day pass, but just a few dollars. As with any race with shorter distance options, once you cross the finish line for food, drinks, and the other goodies it does cluster up in the area. The lines were crazy long by the time we got in the bloody mary line, but it moves quickly and even after taking our time to get in line, we made the cut off before they ran out. Which does happen, so don't wait too long for those free cocktails. I was surprised actually, this year my drink was excellent! It has just the right balance of spice and kick. A perfect toast to a fantastic course. The course is challenging for 10 miles. I've never done the shorter distances. There is also a 5k and 10k option if one is so inclined to avoid higher mileage. I am a glutton for punishment, so I take it all on. The first few miles are climbing uphill and going over the bridge is a rolling incline as well. I think the hills are the least of my issue, miles 8-10 are the worst! Mile 8 is on the sandy bank of the beach with loose gravel and packed sand. By the end of that mile I am over it. Actually before that mile I'm over since I know it is coming. It requires a little more energy than a regular flat course at that point and your legs are already tired from all the miles leading up. Once you get on the home stretch though it is back to pavement as you run into the finish corral. I think anyone local should give this one a go; you get incredible vistas of SF bay, run across the GG bridge, help at risk youth in our community, get to hang out on Crissy field with other runners drinking free cocktails and soaking up the sun while enjoying your concert post-race. It is a fabulous way to celebrate our city! read more

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PROS: -For a great cause -Absolutely beautiful course in the Presidio over the Golden Gate Bridge... scenery cannot be beat -Good balance of uphill & downhill & flat -After the race vendors are great: beer, bloody mary's, pancake/eggs/sausage breakfast, coconut water, massages, chia seed drink & more -Check in process very simple and smooth CONS: -T shirts underwhelming... not even dry fit or anything like that... plain old cotton T-shirt -They do not stagger the start times so make sure to get at the start line promptly if you don't want to be behind the crowds -Bottleneck to get on to the Golden Gate Bridge and also under the Golden Gate Bridge when crossing to run back -After party has crazy long lines... not exactly a scene I want to endure after finishing a run Tip: brace yourself for the early uphill part of the course, & go early to get closer parking! While it is free on the streets in the neighborhood, we parked pretty far and after the race it was no bueno. read more

If you judge runs by post-race activities, then the Presidio 10 would rank near the top with its hot breakfast and adult bevies. I've done a couple of races in the city where I know you are lucky to get half a banana, a cold bagel, and maybe some yoghurt after a long run. That's where the Presidio 10 ups the game with eggs, sausage, and pancakes. Wash this down with some beer or bloody marys and it's a nice post-race treat. The lines however were really long so we had neither after our 10 mile run, proceeding instead for boozy brunch elsewhere. It is a little of a cluster at the end of the race with the 5k, 10k, and 10 milers all gathering in an enclosed square at once. The start of the 10 mile race is the toughest part with plenty of incline but it's pretty much smooth sailing once you head towards the Golden Gate Bridge. Speaking of which, the highlight of both the 10 mile and 10K run is running across the Golden Gate bridge although you are only running on the pedestrian path so it's pretty narrow. I found a nice pocket up front but it looked pretty tight when the the 10 mile and 10K runners merged on the bridge further back. In times like that, a little consideration goes a long way. This is a fun run and not one to achieve a new best time so don't push your fellow runners out of the way. Shame on the runners that did. Shame. Just relax and enjoy the views of the city and the bay. All in all, the Presidio 10 is a fun race to run, isn't that pricey for a race, and it benefits at-risk youth served by The Guardsmen which is perhaps the best reason to participate. read more

Consisting of a 10K and 10 miler, the '09 race is in its 25th year, and benefits The Guardsmen and the Ashlyn Dyer Foundation. This race is all new to me, but the 10 mile course had just the right mix of hills, trails and road to keep everything exciting. It gave me a brand new appreciation for the Presidio in all its beauty and breathtaking vistas. I was so fascinated, in fact, that I returned the next day to explore the park's trails on my own. For a local scenic race (both courses traverse the bridge), this ranks as one of the top. Water, beer, and Bloody Marys were flowing at the finish line, not to mention, plenty of steamy hot pancakes and burritos to enjoy amidst the backdrop of the Golden Gate. What more could you want? read more

Boyfriend was waiting for me at the finish line when I clocked in at 56:19 for my first 10K. After congratulating me on my time and handing me a cup of water to stop my huffing and puffing, he said, "How was it?" "That bitch was HILLY," I wheezed. Which pretty much sums up the course, and my experience with the Presidio 10. While the biznatch is hilly, it's also drop-dead gorgeous (and drop dead I nearly did, several times, though I'll never be sure if it was the breathtaking views or the breathtaking hills that nearly did me in). Starting at Chrissy Field and running the GG bridge is a surreal experience, and I think the Presidio 10 has already made me jaded; I'm toying with the idea of running the 1st Half of the SF Marathon in July and I'll probably be blase about running the bridge at that point. The Guardsmen put on a super well-organized affair, with plenty of clear mile markers and aid stations; I believe there were 3 on the 10K alone. It's a smaller race (about 750 ran the 10M, 1300 or so, maybe, for the 10K), but it was a nice feel-- not so crowded that you have to spend most of your efforts dodging, dipping, ducking, diving, and dodging your fellow runners, but enough people to get some good energy going, especially across the bridge. At $40, it's a bargain price tag for a good ass-kicking, and with the breathtaking views thrown in for free, it's safe to say that I'll be showing up again next year. read more

Great! This most beautiful race I have ever participated in, hands down. The atmosphere was great and the preparation/set up was really well thought out. From the initial payment to the free beer concluding the race, everything was spot on. They gave us ample directions of what its to park in and where the event would take place. The race actually started exactly on time, plus they worked with you on stretching and post-race yoga. The beer line was a little long but that was to be expected, and the breakfast buffet was pretty thought out. They ran out of eggs about an hour after the race was over and the beer/blody marks were consistently flowing. All in all, I will definitely participate last year-what a great cause! read more

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Ah, what do I say about an event that made me realize once again how awesome it is to be in SF! The morning of the 2011 race was chilly and overcast with a breeze. As we were going through our pre-race warm up stretches, the fog had completely covered the GG bridge to the point that we couldn't see it anymore down below at Chrissy Field. Great, just what I needed. I've never run on the bridge and there's nothing more frightening to me than low visibility, brisk winds and sharing a narrow, wet surface area with a few thousand people a couple of hundred feet above a freezing and choppy body of water. Was it going to start hailing too? However, just before the start of the 10 mile/10K races, the fog lifted, the clouds parted, the winds died down and the sun provided some much needed warmth. Hallelujah! Woo hoo! Conditions could not have been more perfect (the sky became overcast once again soon after most folks finished). The 10K course started off at Chrissy Field and quickly proceeded up a small hill to the GG Bridge. At the other end of the bridge, there was a short set of steps that led down to a passageway underneath the bridge before another set of steps led runners up the other side. On the return, the crowds started to thin out a bit and the view was simply stunning - the sun was rising, there was a clear view of SF, Alcatraz, the bay, etc. It was so stunning that several runners stopped to take pictures of themselves during the race! Once reaching the other side, a small crowd of tourists cheered us on. It's all down hill from that point - down hill with some crazy turns! We emerged near the Warming Hut and proceeded to run along the waterfront to the finish line. For the 10K there were two water stations along the route, one on the Marin side of the bridge and one on the SF side on the return trip. Mileage markers were hung along the route. Cocktails, breakfast burritos, pancakes, fruit, coffee and the usual vendors were waiting for us at the expo. Everything was pretty well organized, from the pre-race training runs, the registration and bib pickup, pre-race pub crawl to the post-race events with food, beverages and live music. The vibe is mellow and everyone was pretty friendly. Overall a great event and a race I would recommend to those that are looking to have a fun time on a beautiful course, and it's all for a great cause. if you live and/or train in SF, the hills on this course should be a piece of cake! Many thanks to The Guardsmen and volunteers for putting on such a great event to benefit the Ashlyn Dyer Foundation! read more

Beautiful scene! Perfect distance for easy run on Sunday between races. I was a preggo when I did it so I was so the trail slowing me down was not a problem at all. Mix of trail, stairs & the golden gate bridge(we went under the bridge to across it - fun!). I did UShalf few times & I thought it would be the similar route but it was totally different. I will do it again in 2012. Lots of food after the race!! read more

The Presidio 10 . . . which includes both 10 mile and 10 kilometer runs (USATF certified) . . . was a well-organized, fun, beautiful event . . . for a good cause. I ran the 10K this year, my first year of participating in this enjoyable run. There were over 2,500 runners participating in the 2 races together -- and the courses are concurrent to a great extent, which means you will be running in close quarters in some places, particularly over the Golden Gate Bridge. However, the over and back course offers some great views from the bridge, as well as along Crissy Field. I particularly enjoyed the fresh ocean breeze to accompany me throughout this event. The race starts near Sports Basement, runs uphill during the first 1/2 mile or so to get you up onto the Golden Gate Bridge (so be prepared for a challenging start), but then this is just a really great run over (& back) on the Bridge, back downhill off the Bridge, through Crissy Field, and back to the Start-Finish line. The event is electronically timed, and results were posted online witin a day or two after the races. The Presidio 10 is organized and sponsored by the Guardsmen, and race proceeds support disadvantaged Bay Area youth. 'The Guardsmen' is a service organization of Bay Area professional men formed in 1947 that dedicates its efforts to providing disadvantaged youth an opportunity to participate in camping, educational and other culturally enriching opportunities. Photography for Presidio10 was offered through www.brightroom.com, but prices for photos were really expensive for digital images (though they were strategically taken from an angle to catch you in the foreground with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop . . . which was pretty cool). read more

This is the second year I have done this race, and for the second time, I loved it. I am not sure if the Guardsmen have some clout with Mother Nature, but the day couldn't have been more perfect. A cool breeze at the morning start, still cool air on the bridge (what?! no wind on the bridge? I KNOW!), and the warm smell of colitas...oh, sorry, I mean sunshine and heat at the end while we racers were enjoying our beers and bloodys. The support stations were in the right places for the 10K (since most of it is on the GGB, it would be hard to set on up there!), and miles clearly marked (as noted by my friend, "What, 3 miles? We HAVE to be further than that!"). While there is a really fun, casual vibe to the race, it is well run and professional. Can't wait to run again next year! read more

One of my favorite running events! Parking is not an issue (despite being in SF), and the course is marked well, has beautiful views, and has a mixture of easy + difficult. For the most part, it's fairly flat, but there are random areas during the course that contain some hills. I've done the 10k twice, and this year I did the 10 mile. I have enjoyed both courses and highly recommend this race to anyone. (and it's for a good cause!) read more

What an amazing experience!!!! I took part in the 10K with my parents. The day before the race, I picked up the packet at the Sports Basement near Crissy Field. This allowed me to see the start line, etc. and get accustomed to the location. The next morning, the parking was easy and it was a short walk down to the start line. First, the 10 mile race started at 8:00am. The 10K started after at 8:30am. It was chilly by the start line!!! This race starts with a hill - which killed my hips. I would prepare better next time and train more. Once you get to the bridge, you go under and run across the west side. It was much warmer on the bridge. At the other end of the bridge you had to walk down the stairs go under the bridge and then come up on the east side. Then, you run across the bridge and back down the hill to the finish line. My time was not great - but I shouldn't have been running with my bad knee. But, it was such an amazing experience that I couldn't help it! The expo after was not huge but had a great assortment of tents. You pick up your shirt after the race and the line for the small shirts was loooooong. I had a breakfast burrito to top it off! If you want to run an unforgettable race - this is it!!!! read more

One of the hardest, most beautiful, and fun races I've done thus far. First off, you must train for hills...something I thought I did but when the first 1-3 miles is all incline you get winded early. At least I did. Good thing was that the rest of the way was down hill or straight. It was a foggy morning but was just great for running for me. Lots of people around but there was enough space for everyone most the time. Only got hard with the crowd when we had to run up and down the stairs across the Golden Gate Bridge. Another bonus was that this race had plenty of hydration stations so I was never parched. Afterwards festivities included pancakes, breakfast burritos, and alcoholic beverages. There was supposed to be bloody mary's but they ran out of mix so I had straight up vodka cran...can't complain. Overall good turn out and good course. I definitely would want to do this again next year. read more

LOVE THIS RACE! I really love this race. It is super low key and they really take care of you once you complete the race. There are a few options from the 10k to the 10 miles. Running over the Golden gate Bridge is quite a treat (not a good as the SF marathon, b/c they close the bridge) but it is really fun. There are a few bottle neck places but overall it is a fun course that will keep you enegaged the entire time. Post race they have food and beer and mixed drinks as part of the ticket to the race. WHAT A DEAL! This is a fun race to get the race addiction started. I have this race on my calendar for next year, see ya at the starting line read more

Love this race! Have done it twice now and this year actually did the 10 mile! It was awesome and they really put on a great event! Pancakes and various other vendors to walk around and visit with after wards and a great start to a Sunday in SF! It doesn't hurt that it's put on by the Guardsmen either... just sayin read more

I just finished the Presidio 10 a few hours ago. It was a fantastic race. It was great to see so many runners out to support such a great cause. The run started at Sports Basement in the Presidio, ran across the Golden Gate Bridge and back, and ended at Sports Basement. It was a beautiful day with a great turnout. Lots of water stops were provided. The post race set-up was excellent for a race this size. They had a great band playing (who I believe were friends of Ashlyn Dyer). Lots of food was provided, including fresh fruit, coffee, water, and Askew was even out there! Although I didn't have one due to post-race light-headedness, there was a Bloody Mary booth, I think it was The Guardsmen out there making those. Overall, it was such a great vibe for a race, both before, during, and after. I'll definitely run this race again next year! Only four stars though because the miles and kilometers were not marked well. We asked at each water stop how far we had run. That was a little frustrating. I hope they fix it for next year's race. read more

This race rocked in 2011. I ran the 10k and was nervous about the hill to get up to the Golden Gate Bridge but was glad that it was within the 1st mile so that it was out of the way. What a gorgeous run. Both directions along the Golden Gate Bridge. Fog for first half then sun for the back half. Actually got to see the emergency telephones along the bridge. It was such a beautiful way to get in a workout and see one of the most beautiful parts of San Francisco. read more

Presidio 10: at first it was just an event that I volunteered for (just helping a friend out). Besides, it's a great way to be apart of my community and meet a lot of cool people. And, I've always wanted to run a race so I thought I would also be inspired when being around the runners. Serendipitously, this race turned into an amazing experience for me. The Guardsmen are a great group of guys that want to impact our community, starting with tomorrow's generation. They are so much more than Christmas tree hook ups! This event was so well ran (no pun intended), I was impressed. The pre-parties, concerts, the race itself and the post-race entertainment. They know how to have fun! But throughout the volunteering, I was so inspired for what they believe in and are apart of: The Ashlyn Dyer Foundation and Guardsmen: that while signing up runners- I signed myself up! The race itself was amazing! The run, the location, the people. What a great way to wake up! When the race was over, the fun just getting started: Food, Bloody Marys, treats, prizes... I LOVED the pancakes! :) I can't wait for next year. You will find me volunteering and running! read more

Just finished the Presidio 10K this morning and I'm very pleased by the entire event. I'm in the middle of training for the half in July and this was a nice run to put in place of my usual weekend runs. PRE-RACE: 10M started at 8am and 10K started at 830am right past Sport's Basement. Sweats check and registration/bib pick up are right near the start, and both races had the national anthem sung, a warm-up and stretch routine, and music to keep you energized. WEATHER: Today differed from other years in that it was a little foggy and gloomy but thankfully there was no rain. It was warm down below and breezy on the bridge (especially by the posts). I think the forecast for today was supposed to be upper 50's/low 60's - I was a bit warm wearing full length leggings and a light long sleeve, but I appreciated it on the windy portions. 10K COURSE: I didn't notice, but if you haven't been training, PREPARE FOR THE HILLS! I heard a bunch of people complaining about them during the run. For those with weak knees like myself, don't overlook the downhill portion either! There is a mix of sidewalk, asphalt, trail, and stairs. I only noticed mile markers for the 10M, not the 10K. The 10K and the 10M eventually meet up, but the turnoffs for the 10K are clearly marked. CROWD: I liked this race because it wasn't too crowded. It gets a little tight going across the bridge a few places where it bottlenecks so having a smaller turnout (compared to other bigger races) was actually beneficial. I also noticed the people running this race were more friendly and aware of the runners around them (as opposed to the "gotta win, gotta win" runners that crash into/cut off other runners or the runners that stop dead in their tracks right in front of or in the middle of everyone. POST-RACE: This was your typical post-race event with music, awards and goodies that included tents with: beer, bloody mary's, chocolate milk, pancakes, breakfast burritos, 5hour energy, coconut water, pop chips, and more. The swag bag contained: a magazine, a couple coupons, 3 clif bars, and tshirt. For a smaller race, the swag and goodies were totally on it! OVERALL: I totally loved this race because it had more of a grassroots vibe and didn't have all the flashy start/finish banners, crazy course barriers, or the craziness of the bigger races but it was modern enough that they had the time chips, appropriate staffing along the course, and great hospitality throughout the race. I'm pretty positive that I'll do the run again next year unless there's another great race going on :) read more

Beautiful course with awesome views. Crossing the Golden Gate was wonderful. The 10k was pretty low-key with lots of slow runners/walkers/kids in the back. The 10 miler seemed a bit more serious. The issue with being in the back was that by the time we looped back all the non-racers were out on Crissy Field and it didn't feel too festive going to the finish line. Pretty nice finish village with free hot breakfast and free beer. It was nice to chill out on the grass afterwards. I personally prefer long distances since I'm so slow, but this was a nice race to do just for fun. read more

The Guardsmen and the Ashlyn Dyer Foundation put together quite an amazing event. Not just a race, not just a concert, not just a fundraiser, not just a party. How many 10k races have pre-parties at bars in the days before the event?? As a volunteer I got to roam around helping out in random ways like telling people where and where not to park, signing up runners, eating donuts in front of people who were about to run 10 miles, setting up booths etc and it was interesting to view the event from so many different perspectives. I saw a few friends who were there to support the charities and run the race (one said he hadn't run a race since 6th grade), worked with some cool high school kids that needed community service hours, watched the Guardsmen guys do some kickass planning and execution (for months leading up to the event and on the day of). Mad props to those boys. Totally fell in love with the band Ultraviolet Sound that played, and enjoyed a Bloody Mary while asking runners crossing the finish line if they'd be drinking later so I could mark their hand (the looks on some of their faces when we said "Cocktails later? How's a Bloody Mary sound?" etc were priceless). Overall, it was a great event and an incredible experience to be a part of. To anyone who is interested in next year's race, I highly recommend getting involved whether as a runner, sponsor, entertainment, photographer, volunteer or supporter. read more

I think three stars is a fair rating for this race... I thought the finisher expo was way too crowded, to the point they should either limit the number of registrants, or increase the size of the expo by double. It's for this reason I can only give a three-star rating. I'm not a fast runner, but I averaged 11min miles for the 10mile race, and by the time I finished (just before 10am), the lines for food were too long for me to want to wait (probably would have taken 10mins), and people were just sitting in the middle of the whole expo eating, so it was a maze to maneuver around them inside the expo. Also, as people were leaving the race/expo, they had to walk through the course with the runners who were just about to finish. The logistics of that were NOT smart. There were just too many people all in one area. Maybe it would be better to start the 5k, then 10k, then 10milers that way the expo clears out a little bit before the next group comes through. Just a thought. The race itself was a good race, but tough. That first mile is a killer! The 2- and 3- mile markers, though, were in the wrong spots... The 2-mile marker was at about 1.3, and the 3-mile marker was at about 2... Oversight on their part... In the first 3 miles there weren't hardly any volunteers directing runners where to go. Also throughout the race, the volunteers weren't prepared with the water stations very well... Aside from that, the course was really nice. By the time I was on the bridge, around mile 4 (it was about 8:45), the fastest 10k runners had caught up and were on the bridge, too, so there were a LOT of runners on the bridge all at once! There weren't many walkers, though, so it wasn't much of a slowdown except at the end of the bridge where you turn around, but that's to be expected. The course was wide open, so there weren't really any bottlenecks. That's always important. Parking wasn't great, but parking at any race never is good. I'd probably skip this race in the future, but I'm glad I did it once. The race DOES benefit a great cause, and the race was completely put on, staffed, and organized by volunteers, so for that, it's a good race. If you want to get great views of the bridge and the ocean and get a hot breakfast afterward, this would be a race to check out! read more

For 2012, there was a Groupon (or something similar) for this race that I, and many others, took advantage of. I think it brought out a bunch of amateurs and walkers. Right out of the gate, there were walkers. It didn't make sense to me that if you were going to walk, to line up at the front of the pack. They should have announced multiple times for walkers to go to the back. There are a few choke points and stairs along the way, so keep that in mind if you want to do this race. Other than that, it was good, lots of post-race activities. If the grass/marina green is wet, your shoes will get muddy... read more

The Presidio 10 is yet another gorgeous course in San Francisco. You have the option of running either the 10 mile or 10k , hence the name Presidio 10 :) I first heard about this event on Groupon in 2012. The course is a scenic course in the Marina District of lovely San Francisco, going over and back on the gorgeous Golden Gate Bridge. The first year I ran it (2012), I placed in my age division and the awards were pretty darn rewarding! This included a age division placing medal, Ivar backpack, Stainless Steel CamelBak sponsored by Athleta, and many other cute useful goodies! Would definitely recommend and run again. read more

Presidio 10 - Age Division Prize: Ivar Backpack, Medal, Camelback sponsored by Athleta - Races & Competitions Near Me - San Francisco, California

The course for the 10 mile is pretty spectacular, if difficult. The first two miles are mostly uphill, and very steep in places. Then it's downhill to the Golden Gate Bridge and back, with the final 2.5 miles on the Golden Gate Promenade by Crissy Field. The course becomes very congested in this stretch due to the 5K people, most of whom are walking. It seems like they could start the 5K earlier or on a different course to avoid conflict with the 10 mile people. The marker for mile 2 was placed at about the 1.25 mile mark. The marker for mile 3 was where the marker for mile 2 should have been. I have yet to see my race results online. read more

REVIEW OF THE 10-MILER on 4/18/2010: Holy hills, Batman! Continuous uphill (2-4% grade) for the first 2.5 miles, a couple milder climbs after that, dirt trails, steps down, steps up, the GG Bridge, more steps, then a nice flat finish. I was silly enough to run the course blind (never bothered to scope it out or better yet run it beforehand) so my legs were not happy with me the first 20 minutes. Still, I would do this again in a heartbeat (would just prep with more hill repeats next time). I'm a fan!!! FOUR STARS are for: 1) Being the most beautiful course I've run in the city. Truly showcases SF running at its best, with the jaunt through the wooded areas of the Presidio 2) Being a mellow, uncrowded (717 finishers @ 10 miles / 1184 @ 10K), low-profile race... it's not terribly well marketed, which is too bad really because it's such a great course 3) The eco-friendly expo with compostable water cups instead of water in plastic bottles, reuseable Lululemon goody bags, and separate landfill/recycle/compost bins 4) The sufficient level of organization and clear mile markers...it's fairly a well run small race 5) The friendly, hard-working volunteers 6) The time of year ... April is usually a sure bet for great running weather, and for two years in a row the weather did not disappoint (I ran the 10K in 2009 and it was equally gorgeous out then). MINUS ONE STAR for: 1) The lackluster post-race expo... for those who care about this sort of thing. There wasn't a terribly upbeat or energetic vibe at the race end. Could just be a function of a small race. The scarcity of vendors didn't bother me; these are tough times. The pancake breakfast was a nice idea but I personally can't eat anything sweet after a long race so I opted for the bfast burrito instead. Bananas and bagels would have been ideal (and probably a good bit cheaper from the organizers' standpoint?). The country singer was a nice touch but I was so exhausted I barely paid attention to him. 2) Discontinuing the kids' fun run... I could swear there was one last year...no? Or some kids' activities at least? Oh well. Tough times. SOME NON-FACTORS in this review: I can't speak much for the bathrooms, mid-race fuel, aid stations, cheering crowds, vendor freebies, or post-race booze (beer/Bloody Mary's/vodka shots) because I don't pay much attention to those things. I do know they were there in some capacity. YES, FAMILY FRIENDLY: A thumbs up for being kid-friendly because it still felt like a family-oriented event despite the lack of kids' activities ... and because Crissy Field is what it is! Tons of open space for kids to run around in post-race without getting into people's way. And the beach is just a few steps away. read more

Just got through running the Presidio 10 today. Loved the run! Well organized and we were fortunate to have a clear day crossing the Golden Gate and seeing the great views of the Bay from the bridge. The only small things I didn't like (but not the fault of the organizers) was that you had to stop to go down the stairs to get underneath the bridge to the other side and on a couple of occasions had to briefly stop so everyone could fit into some narrow openings on the pedestrian walkway. Other than those things, I really enjoyed the run. Be prepared for a fairly steep hill in the first mile approaching the bridge. The Yelp reviews prepared me as I trained for the hill and climbed it with no problem. After the race, the organizers served eggs, sausage, and pancakes to everyone at the race. There were also a lot of cool giveaways from vendors. I would run in this race again. read more

It was my first time running their event a few weeks ago on a suggestion from a friend who LOVES this race. I ran their 10k distance and although shin splints hit me with a vengeance that morning, I still loved the race! It was well organized and FUN! The post race party included breakfast (pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage) and a beer and I think Bloody Mary's (which unfortunately they ran out by the time I went there). Start and end at the lawn by Sports Basement and the weather was perfect! I will definitely be doing this race next year. And kudos for it being a fundraiser and supporting a great organization! read more

it'a a decent run. however, if you are a serious runner or about this particular race, i would go for the 10 mile. i did the 10k and holy moly, the first hill killed me. i couldn't help but smile because people around me were also out of breath! and asking their friends, "why am i doing this again?" or the few, "okay, i'm done. let's walk back." as you get on the bridge, there's quite a bit of traffic. and when i say "quite a bit" i mean it slowed down to a walk. that part kinda sucked. people stopped and took pictures which also slowed down traffic (if you were one of them, i'm waving my finger at you). just kidding. next time, just go to the side please. i didn't see too many mile markers (actually, i only saw one, the first mile) for the 10k but the boyfriend who ran the 10mile, said he saw them. after the run, they serve you breakfast! not great...but who can complain about free food? lots of alcohol too. a lot of the vendors ran out of goodies, but the chocolate milk guy snuck me one. points for him. bring him back next year please. zico ran out of coconut water too...but the bf gave me his so all was good. after the run, we drove around the 10mile loop, and all you 10milers, i give you bragging rights for the rest of your life because those hills were monstrous...and to do 3 miles of that? beasts. i'll do it again..once i forget the pain of running uphill.. read more

Ran the 10k again this year, what an amazing race! One of my favorites for sure. Burritos and booze at the finish, that's worthy of 5 stars in itself. Well supported, plenty of water and Gatorade, Clif Bloks were a welcome surprise. Fun hills. amazing views. And all to support two wonderful causes, win win all around! read more

The aptly named Presidio 10 takes you on a run through the Presidio and across the GG Bridge, ending back at Crissy Field. I usually run it to keep in shape in between half marathons or as a training run for an upcoming race. I like the logo, so I think it makes for a cute t-shirt. read more

This is one of the most beautiful and scenic races that I have done. Running on Golden Gate Bridge was cool. However, my knees did not like pounding on the pavement. So be sure to train on pavement. I do believe that all proceeds go to the charity at hand. Post race food had pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, beer, and Bloody Mary's. Get there to find free street parking that is close to start area. There were plenty of free giveaways at the post race festival. I will most likely sign up for this race again with my friends. read more

Came to San Fran for my birthday and saw this race and knew I had to do it. It was a week before my first half, so I used the 10K as a training run adn a way to calm myself during the "hype" of a race enviroment. I made myself stop and walk half way up the hill to the bridge. Not because I couldn't run up it, but becuase I was trying to save my energy. My coach made me promise not to "race" if I chose the 10K over the 10m. I loved running across the bridge. I was disappointed that there weren't mile markers for the 10k. I think a lot of beginners were running that one and it would have been nice to know how far along you were. I did not like that last half mile or so. i'm just not used to running on "trail". My fault, yes. I'm a road runner. My husband, who hates standing around waiting for me to finish races, was very happy they were serving beer at 9am, lol. he said if all my races were like this, he'd come to all of them. Without trying, I shaved almost 10 mins off my last 10K time read more

I won't lie. I don't even like running. The last time I ran was when I was caught hitting on a big guys girlfriend in a bar. I went to this event for the live bands, the bloodies and the pancakes! Such a great way to spend a Sunday and meet fit women. The pre-Party at the Independent was a blast as well! read more

Spectacular scenery! T- shirts, really??? I expected better from Levis. Good job on the water stations and after party.