2016 San Francisco Giant Race Recap

I have said this a 1,000 times… I love the Giant Race!  Aside from being a huge SF Giants fan, the course is a great San Francisco race course.  This year Little Monkey ran the kids race on Saturday and I ran the half marathon on Sunday.  All the races are so well organized with lots of volunteers and knowledgeable staff to help direct you and answer any questions.

On Saturday the Kids Race was organized by age.  The bigger kids run 3 laps, the next age group down run 2 laps, and Little Monkey’s group ran 1 lap.  The lap is around the warning track inside AT&T Park.  How fun is that?!?!

They start with the bigger kids in waves and then work their way down the age groups.  This way kids run with kids their own size and it is safer for everyone.  They also have a Family Relay which is after the youngest group goes.

On Sunday, I got up at 4am and headed to San Francisco with my sister and BFF who were both doing their first Giant Race 10k.   The 10k and Half Marathon start at the same time, 7am, and the 5k starts at 10:55am.  So, I had never really thought about it, but apparently people run the half and then do the 5k!  Genius!  I love a double race bling day and I might have to do this next year. 

Most of the course for the half marathon, 10k and, 5k is along the Embarcadero.  You pass the Bay Bridge.

You will see the Ferry Building, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Pier 39, which is where the 10k turns around.    I was running the half marathon, so I kept going.  You turn a corner and head up a few little hills (I promise not huge at all, especially by San Francisco standards).  You will see the Ghirardelli Chocolate sign.

Now you get to run down a couple hills and make your way past the Palace of Fine Arts and through Crissy Field.  You turn around really close to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge.  

On your way back you get a nice view of Alcatraz.

Don’t forget to smile big when you make your way back to AT&T Park because as you enter on to the field, where the finish line is, you will be on the Jumbotron! My sister and friend were run/walking the 10k, so we knew they would finish about 30 min before me.  After I crossed the finish line I sent a text message asking where they were and I got a reply that said, “The dugout of course”. 

Getting to be on the sacred ground of the field is my favorite part.  How often do we get a chance to stand where Hunter Pence stands, right?!?!?  

We all had a really good time and I definitely recommend this race, and the whole Giant Race series.  This race offers something for everyone! 

Have you run the Giant Race?