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The Nike Women's Half Marathon 2015 as told through group text between runners: Runner 1: At Mile 6, feel great, how are you guys? Runner 2: Still running at Mile 7. Might be my personal record! Me: Mile 5, it smells like weed and bacon here. Awesome. Runner 1: At Mile 9.5. Sooo there's this hill. Runner 2: Mile 10, crying and walking, find me. Me (after an hour cause I am slow): Mile 9.5. WTF WTF WTF WTF... Let me warn you, you may start this race on a high and end on a low note. The hill on Mile 9 is a dream killer. Especially when you train on the East Coast and there is nothing comparable to this Hill to run up. Otherwise, it was a fun race. This is my third Nike Half Marathon and first one in San Francisco, although I tried entering the lottery every year since it started. There are many perks to the race, such as: 1-Prompt start. I was in the first corral and we were off four minutes after the gun. 2-Great shirts. The tank top was awesome this year and I could get it personalized. You have to size up cause they run small. 3-Scenic course. You run by Alamo Square, through the city and over to the Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge. You actually run through pine tree forests that smell like pine sol. Even the hill from hell was gorgeous and offered great panoramic views. The route has changed over the years so I heard this route was less scenic than before. 4-SFPD-watching cops yell at bikers that wander on the course and cut off runners is awesome. Also they gave out lots of high fives. 5-The spectators and volunteers. The volunteers are really pumped up and avid huggers and screamers, and the spectators had great signs. 6-Easy bag check- it follows you from the start line to the finish. 7- the necklace- Tiffany's! If you don't like the style of your finishers necklace you can easily sell it on ebay for a few hundred $. Mine is personally not coming off. Now here are some lows: 1-No expo. They used to have an expo in union square, but I heard as years and years go on there are less sponsors and less swag.Packet pick up are at various locations in the city and the south bay. 2-They offer one earring as swag. I did not say "pair" just one. Basically you have to go to different pick up sites and Nike locations to get other earrings. According to rumors, they keep running out, so basically I am walking around with one earring like George Michael. 3-Not the most spectator friendly race. As you get close to Chrissy field, you will have zero cell reception so it is hard to get in touch with people waiting. The area around the finish line is small given the number of spectators, so it is hard to find a spot. 4-they charge $20 for the shuttle back to Union Square, it is quite a walk to the shuttles and a long wait. Some info for dudes, although it has "women" in the title, there are guys running and they all seem to have a great time. One dude yelper claimed that women were mean to him, the race was too "feminist" and complained about the male firefighters in tuxedos at the end. Basically his flawed argument is that there is no need for women only races anymore. Women were excluded from long distance racing until the 70s when they got their own races to prove their uteruses do not fall out after strenuous exercise. Gentlemen, Don't listen to him, we are not pelting dudes with tampons and giving them stink eye. Yes, the race is geared towards women, but the idea is to support each other and have fun so come out and race with some gorgeous ladies!! Also, if you're wondering what to do the finishers necklace, you could always give it to your gf/wife, or if you're single you could save it for future girlfriend (although this depends on how far in the future cause the necklace says 2015 on it) or just sell the necklace on ebay and get back the $$ you spent on the bib. All in all, glad I did this race and recommend you add this to your racing bucket list.
After 5 years of waiting, I was finally able to partake in the Nike Women's Half Marathon. This year the run was only a half. Not sure why the full was removed. Additionally, the route changed. I have to say, this is the most organized, fun and best run I have ever done in my number of races over the years. As an injured runner, I was skeptical with all the hills. Sure there were hills on this course, but I have experienced worse (i.e. San Fran RnR back in April - HOLY HILLS!) and I was pleasantly surprised how there were less hills (in my opinion). For those who live in the area, there was the option of early packet pick up. COOL! We arrived Friday afternoon and was able to pick up my packet with ease in Union Square. Super easy peasy to pick up the packet. The tank runs small so we had to go to Niketown to exchange it (across the street and on the 5th floor). The lines for the various booths were short (compared to Saturday!). Spent about 15 mins at the expo and went to Niketown to exchange tank and buy souvenir gear. The window has all 25K runners' names, so look for your name by first name, and take a photo! Of note: runners do not get comped shuttle service back to the start line (Union Square). Had to buy $20 shuttle ticket. BOO! Race morning, my hotel was a block away from the start. I'm glad they check wristbands for each corral. Made the start a lot cleaner! I started in the 9-9:59 corral and we didn't start until 650a (race started at 630a). It was a little crowded at first, but as you ran the streets it opened up. Every couple miles there was a water station. I was really impressed that some of the stations had luna bars! What a lifesaver!!! I was starving my mile 5 and I ate a half of a luna bar. GU blocks were also available too. Really happy with the organization and the cheers along the race! Perfect weather, so glad that panned out well! It was cool and as we approached Golden Gate Park there was a little mist, which I totally loved since I was getting warm. Ran in tank, shorts, compression socks and arm sleeves. Could have ran without sleeves since I felt warm. Watch out for Mile 10 with that big azz hill!!! OUCH!!! Then you're coasting downhill and then flat course until the end of the course. The finish line was smooth and I didn't feel crowded. The volunteers were amazing. Cheer squads were amazing as well! The blue box and Tiffany's necklace was definitely worth the experience! Would totally love to do this again perhaps in DC! The walk to the shuttle seems like it was 3-4 blocks. After running a half, you still need to walk a distance for the shuttle?! UGH!!! Lots of streets were closed, so take the shuttle back! This is a fun race to coast. Definitely NOT PR-able. Lots of picture opportunities and I did take photos!!! =================================================== STATS: Official finish time: 2:21
111. Three words: Hills, hills, hills! I was completely uninformed about the deets of the course, and blindly signed up for my first race. The NWM has been happening for a few years now, and it has gotten better and better. Get your packet early before the traffic so you won't have to wait in line forever. The expo is pretty packed, but it's something worth checking out. You can get snacks and complimentary samples from the sponsors. There were 25,000 people running the NWM last year, so you can imagine the chaos on the day of the race (http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=AZAHewMubeTX_vXHHbPIKg&userid=qEdxnnadZ2tcU9JOXjnGdw). The corrals are labeled, but you can start wherever you want because no one checks. So obviously, there were people in front of me who had planned on walking this entire race. Not safe and not cool! The course of the race was padded with adequate water and snack stations. You can grab Luna bars, oranges, and gel shots, which is great if you need a pick me up to finish the rest of the course. At the end of the race, you get a bunch of food thrown at you, literally-- bagels, water bottles, chocolate, bananas, coconut water, chocolate milk, more Luna bars... I forget the rest. But it's enough to hydrate and refuel your body. What really sucked was that there was no service in the area near the finish line, so there was no way of contacting other people. It took me forever to find my friends. Good thing Verizon was stationed there to offer runners their phones. I ended up getting plantar fasciitis for two weeks and it HURT. A lot. But I wasn't wearing appropriate shoes for this race, so that was my fault. It's a big race, so obviously there are parts that are going to be a bit disorganized. But you run for a great cause and you get an amazing experience out of it. I don't even need to mention the cool necklace you get in the end. This race has definitely got me hooked on running. __________ My 2¢: - They have student discounts. Take advantage of it if you're still in school! - Don't buy the shuttle ticket. If you are okay with public transit, take the 5 by Muni. It's only $2. Transfers included.
THANK YOU Nike for presenting me with numerous FIRSTs today: FIRST half marathon. FIRST free massage. FIRST wave of emotion that comes w/spectators cheering & motivating. FIRST feeling of true camaraderie with thousands of women. FIRST time running through my knee pain. FIRST sense of true athletic accomplishment. FIRST teal Tiffany box.
Well the time has come, for me to update me review :) This was my first year entering the NWM raffle and finishing a full marathon and it won't be my last :) I was pleased with all aspects of this race. Communication is done mainly via their Facebook and Twitter pages with minimal emails until a couple weeks leading up to the race. I arrived at the Expotique Saturday morning at round 9A, checked in and had my bag/bib in hand within minutes. I waited in a long line to take a picture which was to be picked up at the Lady's Footlocker up the street then loss my photo claim stub - bummer!!! I visited the Luna, Safeway and Nuun stations - they were all great. Safeway gave away awesome reusable snack packs filled with trail mix. I also made sure to go across the street to Niketown and check out my name on the wall and sign the large scroll inside. I later returned to the expo and waited in line at the Paul Mitchell station - this was a long wait (over an hour) but I had time to kill - the stylist were all doing great jobs. I was able to have my hair curled and sit down for awhile to be primped and pampered. RACE DAY: Finding my assigned corral was easy and the course was better than I expected. I was a little worried about the hills and although one of the climbs was nearly a mile long - I didn't have any problem with any of them. They all seemed to be a gradual increase in incline. There were plenty of water stations though I didn't stop at one until around mile 13 to refill my bottles. I did pick up 2 Luna bars at around miles 8 and 17 or wherever the other Luna stop was. I also picked up Cliff shots at one station until I realized I had taken "margarita" and I just didn't feel like tasting margarita that early in the morning so I dumped them. The cheer squad areas were a nice touch for those who had family and friends there to support them. I believe they are shuttled along the course to different areas at different times. You may need to purchase a spectator pass for this. I personally loved the power song areas - hearing a power song along the course is just the pick me up I needed at certain points. I wish there were more of these :) I know they gave away Ghirardelli chocolate at one point and even had a bra exchange, I didn't stop at either of these. I did notice the pavement was not very smooth around miles 16-19 leading up to Lake Merced and 23-26, which felt very uncomfortable after your feet and ankles are already sore. I kept looking for smooth areas to run, but there really weren't any. This was the path beside the ocean and although beautiful - I was really wishing the concrete were smoother. I loved the signs along the course, they were cute, motivational and funny - referencing skinny jeans, Tiffany necklaces and hot firefighters :) You know all the things to keep a girl going ;) There were plenty of restroom stops but the lines often looked very long - I stopped to use one at mile 23 and there were only a couple of people in line. Plenty of med stops as well - thank gosh I didn't need to stop at any of these, but there if you needed them. I did notice that the TNT presence is very large as I had read in many reviews outside of Yelp for this particular race. They are all in purple and have their names on their tops. Their coaches are extremely supportive but hearing "Go Team" for 26.2 effing miles began to really wear on my nerves. They don't cheer for other runners but I didn't notice them walking in groups of blocking the course as mentioned from previous years. FINISH LINE: Approaching the finish line after 26.2 miles was great, part of me wanted to cry as I saw a few others crying. It is such an accomplishment. I was terrified at what it would feel like and anxiety got the best of me leading up to race day but now that I know the course and what 26.2 miles feels like I know there is nothing to be worried or scared about. I really held back and listened to my body because I wanted to ensure I finished the entire course so I played it very safe and recovery couldn't have been any better than it's been. Seeing the firefighters in their tuxedos and stacks of Tiffany boxes tied with bows sitting atop silver platters just for us :) is such a treat. I didn't spend much time in the Finishers village. I received my finishers t-shirt, which I was were different from those who did the half. I do think those who complete the full should be given something different. I browsed around the finisher gear boutique area very quickly, passed the Verizon area where they were giving out free red Yoga mats :) very nice! and headed toward the shuttle transpo back to Union Square. This seemed like the longest ride ever but hoping off of that bus, I knew I had completed what I had come to complete :) I can't wait to enter the raffle again next year! This is a race that I would love to do again.
10 years, they must be doing something right... To know about it is one thing, to experience it is another. I equate this race with hills and cold weather, which is exactly what I got a taste of this past Sunday. A lovely little email arrived saying I was "IN!" And that my credit card has been charged $175! Yeah, you read that right. The charity to the Lymphoma society doesn't come cheap, nor does the Tiffany's necklace you receive at the end. So, I'm in. Book a hotel fast, they sell out quickly and prices are already through the roof. It is suggested to get one near the start, which is in Union Square. Although, unlike most races, the ending is in a completely different area..go figure, another logistical nightmare. Only $20 for transportation, just add it to the tab. It's time to find the Expotique, as it has been dubbed by Nike, a huge tent that takes over Union Square. In addition, there are a few smaller tents for packet pick up, transportation ticket purchases, and goody bag pickups. The Expotique is literally a social media maven's Heaven. All the top sponsors had booths and were giving away free swag, Paul Mitchell was even doing hair - braids and beachy waves and all. All the free stuff was okay, nothing was great. They should have just had a red carpet directly from the Expotique to Nike Town. Cause once you've exhausted yourself with the crowd, you HAD to walk over there and go find your name on the wall...it's a MUST! What race starts at 6:30AM? Oh this one. There are four corrals, not including the ones for sub-6 miles and the professional athletes. But don't be fooled, just because they are based on time, people don't care. Walkers will take it upon themselves to be in the first corral and clog up the beginning of the race; it's no big deal (insert serious sarcasm). The race is as promised. Cold. Hills. Women. Who knew men would do this race, I didn't? But they do, it's smart for a single guy - tons of women of all shapes and sizes and half naked or in really tight clothes! The two miles are really, really, really congested. No matter the effort, you aren't going anywhere fast. After that it starts to spread out somewhat, but honestly, the whole race people are around you. It's not bad, but if you're really trying for a time, push your way to be right behind the fasties! Read the elevation map if you want to foresee your tortuous future. Or just go with the flow. There are some serious hills, mile 3, 6-ish, and 10. They are almost bad enough to make you start to walk, but stay strong Girl, you'll get through them! Tons of freebies throughout the course. Some notable, yet random offerings, chocolate, Luna bars, oranges and wipes, shot bloks, Nunn, and some other stuff I can't remember because I didn't take anything! There are water stations about every 2 miles, thanks to all the awesome volunteers who were out there so early and on this cold, foggy day to give is some hydration! The spectators are out there in droves. There really aren't many places where someone is NOT cheering, clapping, screaming, signing, cheering, picture taking, or sign holding for the runners. It's really great to see their faces on the hills; it's definitely something to look forward too. Another cool touch is around mile 11. They have mats that you run over and your name comes up on a huge screen, under a little note of encouragement. Although I almost sprained my neck waiting for my name, which I never got to see, I still appreciated the gesture. The End. The Finale. What everyone is really looking forward too. No, not the finish line. No, not the Whole Foods, water filled sports bottle. No, not my Nike finisher shirt, but Yes...my Tiffany's necklace handed to me by a handsome (if you get in the right line) fire fighter in a tux. Once that 3 seconds wears off, you can then go find another fire fighter and have your picture taken with them, maybe even a few of them. You can get creative, have them hold you, jump on their back, or just stand next to them (as boring as I did) - they are game for anything, as mine said "hey it doesn't matter, that's why we rent the tuxes"!! The finish area also has more shopping available in case you didn't get enough at the Expotique, Nike Town, Nordstrom, or Macy's. Verizon was out there with free phones to use to called loved ones. There are also alphabetized sections so you could meet family. This really comes in handy if you are sans phone for the race. Once you are finished oh-la-la-ing at all the finisher stuff, its best to take your foil wrapped self to the shuttle, unless you are special enough to have a ride. The shuttle, as one would think, does NOT take you back to Union Square. It takes you a few blocks out from US - why it does this, would be a great question for the organizers. Girls will do crazy or (half crazy) things for that blue box...
So let me start off my review by saying that I was COERCED into this painfest by my best friend Sandra. She was so good that I was pushed into signing up for the FULL thing. ugh. But you know what made the 26.2 miles all worth it? The hot, amazing, friendly firemen at the finish. Makes me want to set fire to my kitchen right about now. Nike should've made them wear full nametags at the photo booth so we could stalk... uh I mean tag them on facebook pictures. And wasn't the chocolate milk simply divine?
Tiffany necklaces, firemen, and San Francicso! I'm sold! This is my second year running the NWM. I did the full last year and this year committed to just the half. I love San Francisco and this race definatley shows you the beautiful city. They changed the course this year, which I thought was a but more hilly and coming from SoCal, not many hills, so training was not enough. My hips and thighs hurt! The expo was pretty cool this year! Seemed like I was going into some fashion show event. Seemed like a really small expo compared to most race expos I've gone to. I loved the names on the Nike store, I actually to to to see my name this year. Running the half marathon was fun and the city is just plain beautiful! The necklace was very pretty this year, although I did like last year's necklace too! I loved that the shirts this year distigused which race you finished. I wish they did that last year considering I did a full last year! Oh well. Overall, I think the half for this race is good because you still get a Tiffany necklace in the end. The frustrating part this year was at the end of the race because it was too crowded and the cellular service was poor for all phone services. You'd think they'd have better cell towers or something to help get cell service. It took me an hour to find my family. Le sigh. Oh and the shuttle service took forever! My family ended up walking up hill to Geary to catch the 38 muni and then the 1 muni to our hotel. Let me tell you, that hill towards Geary was WAY steeper than the hills we ran during the race. I think this will be my last NWM. It is getting too crowded and the merch is a bit overpriced. I loved the jacket I got last year, the color and landscape of the city was stitched in perfectly. Anyway, Happy 10th Anniversary NWM!
It was my first time and last time doing the Nike Half in San Francisco because Nike is pulling it out of SF. The weekend was epic with the various events they had. The "scavenger hunt" for the earring was a complete adventure in itself with massive lines, longer than waiting for Space Mountain at Disneyland! The race itself was so amazing with the beautiful route they have set up. When I think of San Francisco and hills I think of the steep 45 degree hills and there were no such hills that we ran. There were slight inclines at mile 9 and mile 2 and some too many turns during the beginning of the race. I understand that the streets were closed so it was a good idea that they would tell the us to go a different direction to help alleviate the traffic for drivers. The big hill in mile 10 and the cheering was absolutely the best. There were so many people and so many motivational words that I did not stop running and pushed even harder. The finish line was also epic. As I finished I was expecting a sexy and hot fireman to put my finishers medal on me, but that wasn't the case. Oh, well. Wherever Nike does the race in the following years I would love to be a part of it.
WOW! My very first year participating in the Nike Women's Half Marathon and I am HOOKED! I've done events like these numerous times...I love the community and the positive vibes that accompany events like this but I've never participated in this run. To me I thought it was far fetched that I would be picked to run this, then I learned that my bf's brother's gf has done this run several times with her girls. So there I was joining her group of gals along with my boyfriend's sister and we got it!! Amazing! Another great thing about participating in this run was that I was brand spankin' new to SFO! What better way to "see" the city of hills than to "run" the course throughout the beautiful city?! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ya0tA1RREWS2hkY8zVQ_Qw?select=4BdTVe7Lmez-yYWRCs-1HA#4BdTVe7Lmez-yYWRCs-1HA The three of us ladies arrived that thursday and after dropping our loot back at our Hotel we headed out to the expo. Huge tip here gals, if you can in any way pick up your packet on thursday or even friday during the day do it do it do it! It will save any wait time and frustration with the crowds of people. AND you can get in on the free stuff they offer. My favorite was the cute safeway containers they were giving with the trail mix, perfect to carry any and all snacks! Have kids, even better! The morning of the race, IMO, was really organized. The buses to drop off gear were easily found, and the volunteers that morning regulating the pace time sections were on it. The actual course was beautiful. It was a bit cold and foggy that morning but I was able to still experience all of the SFO beauty that everyone raves about. Start: it was a huge turn out! It took awhile to get all the runners through because it's pretty much a concrete jungle here but by the time we got going it was smooth sailing. On the run I was disappointed that all the bras were gone so hopefully they can provide more of that so more people can benefit from it. The photographers through out the run got some great pictures and the volunteers?! Hands down awesome! Loved the cheer squad and that the volunteers were so motivating and helpful! When we finally reached the finish line it was awesome! I've done a big race before, the Walt Disney Marathon and the Disneyland Half Marathon, both of which are incredibly organized so I was hoping and expecting it to be the same with NIKE. I was absolutely MORE than satisfied with their organization. After the finish line those firefighters were right there ready to hand us our beautiful Tiffany's boxes with our Nike Finisher's necklace! Then off to get our shirts, a good tip here is to make sure you are getting in to the correct size line for you. Then the food line. I was disappointed that there was such a huge line for the merchandise and the neutrogena stuff. But all in all this event was wonderful. I hope to participate again in it another year and maybe even DC!
Can you imagine yourself running through the finish line and receiving a Tiffany & Co. necklace from a hot firefighter dressed up in a tuxedo? Well no need to imagine when you can have that actually happen! This is one of many great things of running the Nike Women's Marathon. The Nike Women's Marathon helps benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society every year with this big running event. Not only do thousands of women from all around run/walk this event, but men participate in it as well :D This event hosted by Nike is a very popular and crowded race. Thousands of people gather around the morning of around 5-6am at Union Square in San Francisco to stretch before the start of the race. It is organized well in which the volunteers collect our belongings and store them in buses and we don't end up getting them until after our race at the finish line near the Pacific Ocean that is along the Great Highway. Weather is a bit gloomy and cold, but what do you expect coming from SF during the Fall Season :P SF makes it a great place to run and enjoy the view from all around. Not only were dry fit shirts and a Tiffany & Co. necklace were given out at the end of the race, but there were also bagels, bananas, water bottles, and other foods and drinks as well. Massage were given out too along with free goodies like make-up kits, sunblocks, yoga mats, etc. Throughout the race, water, gatorade, sport chews, oranges, and chewy bars were given out to the runners that passed by. And even chocolate before the last mile! There were so many supporters along the side of the run with encouraging and hilarious signs. Even drum corps, music, bands, and dancers were cheering everyone on too! When running this course, be prepared to face a few steep hills around the 6th/7th mile (I love hills), but once you hit the 13th mile (if you are planning on running the full) it is all flat ground from there! I have done the Nike Women's Marathon twice: my first half marathon (13.1 miles) in 2011 and my first full marathon (26.2 miles) in 2012. I have been a runner all my life since the 8th grade and I can never get enough of it. I was so proud of myself when I completed my first half marathon at the time of 2:04. But I was even more proud of myself when I accomplished my first full marathon the year after at the time of 4:45. To be honest, I did not train as much as I wanted to for the full marathon but I was proud of myself for not walking at all until I hit the 23rd mile because my left ankle was screaming in pain for me to stop and take a break for just a little bit. On and off I ran on an injured ankle, but sprinting to that finish line as best as I could was worth that pain. Running the Nike Women's Marathon for 2 years now has made me realize what to do/don't do and what to be aware of and here's to list a few... - TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN if you want to do well and if you are planning on running the whole thing whether it is the half or full marathon. - Start early! Start training/running early. Earlier the better! - Don't overwork yourself! You're body needs rest to recover so definitely have a rest day. - Challenge yourself. Try increasing your miles everyday. "No pain, no gain". - Have a running body/group. It's always fun to run with other people and having them motivate you or you encouraging them is always a bonus! (PS. running by yourself is fine as well, I do it often anyways.) - Carb up before race day and make sure you eat a nice healthy breakfast the morning of. - Try to arrive early on the day of the event so you can avoid crowds when checking-in your belongings. Getting there and stretching early is also a good thing and getting near the front of the start line is a plus too so you can avoid the crowd. - Last but not least, have fun! Whether you're running/walking this event, remember to have fun and enjoy the view and the people around you. Remember, you are running for a good cause! :D After running my first full, I became more determined and motivated to do another one. I have signed up for my 2nd full marathon with Nike on October 20th, 2013 and I am ready to challenge myself and get a PR for it. This year, I want to be able to run around 4 hours for the full. With proper training and focus, I think it's do-able. Anything is if you just believe right? Like what Nike always says, "JUST DO IT".
Oh Nike, how I love you so. This is my third year running with you and each time it has been nothing short from amazing- before, during, and after. I love the support before the run- *big announcements *motivational speaking *group effort stretching *national anthem I love the support during the run- *consistent water/ gatorade stations *snack stations (luna bar, oranges from kaiser, caramel squares from ghiradelli) *entertainment- music & dancers *cheer squad points I absolutely love the support after the run- *Tiffany necklace *pink nike dry-fit shirt *chocolate milk, bananas, juice, water, & bagels from safeway *massage booths *picture booths *and one more time, Tiffany necklace Fun fun fun!!! I still can't believe it's all for a good cause, too.
"CMON, IT'S JUST A 5k RUN WITH A 10 MILE WARM-UP", one of the spectators shouted as I ran pass. Thanks man, I needed that. This was my first 1/2 marathon and what an experience...It was quite a contrast from the other 10k runs I've done, which were events on a much smaller scale. So with 25,000+ participants, I was expecting UTTER chaos but it was more like organized chaos at worst. Prior to race day, they offered early packet pick-up at various locations, which is great for those who don't live in the city. I went to the one at Nike Stanford and they also carried the limited edition SF gear so I was able to shop the collection in advance. The day before the run (Saturday), I headed to the city and attended the Expo I had heard SO much about. It wasn't the greatest experience because it was way too crowded and there were long lines for everything (samples, photo-booth opportunities, free makeovers). I would suggest attending on Thursday, if you can, to optimize your experience... After checking out a few booths, my sister and I decided we had better vamoose :[ Race day...I booked a hotel in Union Square so the start-line was only 2 minutes away. The course was challenging...but it's SF so I knew what I was getting into. Having said that, the hill at mile 10 was still a doozy !#$%. At most mile markers, there was something waiting for the runners....orange slices, chocolate truffles, medic, electrolytes, a band, DJ, or what have you...so it made the course more lively! I also loved the excitement and energy from the spectators & volunteers. The crowd was truly world class! Finish line/village...They had a tent with foam rollers so you could stretch post-run--sweet! There wasn't much of a line for it as there was for everything else...Especially the massage tent + the line for the photo opp with the fire-fighters in tuxedos. I had been worried about the supposed spotty cellphone reception but, thankfully, didn't experience any problem. Nike also had designated a meet-up spot, sectioned off by alphabetical order, so I was able to find my family members easily. Parking near the finish is cuhrazy and non-existent so I'm truly grateful for the family friends who picked me up. Overall, it was a great first 1/2 marathon experience, hills and long lines and all. This race will always have a special place in my heart & the finisher necklace and race tank make for cool souvenirs. If you're on the fence about whether to do it or not...I'd say go all in and train, train, train! It supports a good cause (LLS) and it's worth experiencing once and ...dare I say it... maybe even a second time around :)
Nike Women's marathon no#5 for me and I had to write an updated review!! It gets better every year and for all a good cause. For those of you who don't know-Nike Women's Marathon is the sponsor for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Each year all over the states, Nike holds the event and all proceeds go to the those who are fighting the battle. The Perks: Training & keeping in shape Supporting a good cause Water & Gatorade at every 2 miles Snacks & Medical stations Scenic route's through SF Thousands of supporters cheering Running the SF hills @ mile 6-10 lol Reward: Customized TIFANNY'S Necklace & Nike dry fit T-shirt In the end all the pain was worth it, because I run to be a bad ass!!! lol read more
I ran my first 1/2 marathon this past October and it was an amazzzzzing experience! I am NOT by any means a runner, nor do I live a healthy lifestyle. I don't smoke but I drink often (not a cheap date) and the only exercise I do is chasing my baby. I have never ran more than 3 miles max and did not train for this marathon at all.. and I SURVIVED!!! #TEAMNOTRAINING If I could do it over I would have trained for this marathon (Har! Har!) I ran and walked it (to avoid injury) and probaly wouldn't drink the night before race (not smart) Such a humbling experience, to run with men and women (mostly women) from all over and being apart of something so big. You receive tremendous support from volunteers and SF natives, but the best motivation comes from running along side cancer survivors themselves. I spose the hottie-bomb-bottie Firefighters waiting at the finish in Tuxedos with silver platters containing Tiffany's Boxes for you aint too bad either ;) Race is fairly organaized and plenty of stops strategically placed along the run for you. There were parent and child teams, teams from Canada and all over the US all running for the same cause. The run is scenic and the atmosphere is something you must experience. You run parts of SF you'd never think to see. You start in Union Square and end at Ocean Beach. It was cold, and all incline after mile 8.. it was definately not easy but I will surely do it again!! I am so grateful to have been a part of this marathon. When I finished the marathon I was in tears. It was just so beautiful and I felt so amazing!!! I survived the marathon without any problems.. But here are some tips for other couch to marathon runners: 1) Train. Train. Train. -to avoid injury (google Runners guides to 1/2 marathons) 2) Break in a good pair of running shoes (I Reccomend Asics) 3) Invest in some Dry Fit gear (I ran in leggings and a sweater the entire time. If it gets too hot you can donate your sweater/jacket at donation stations along the way) 4) If you plan to wear a fanny pack, get a runners pack (i.e. SPIbelt) no need to carry your own water/energy gels, there are plenty of hydration stations) 5) There is no reception at the finish, so plan to meet your friends at a designated location 6) Pick up your registration packs EARLY 7) Spend the night in SF if possible -there is no parking! 8) Use a ride service like Uber for post race transporation. 9) carb-load & hydrate before and after race 10) Poop before the run -lines at port-o-potties are long and nasty At the end, when your legs are tired and your arms are giving out, GET ANGRY. Get angry that you are tired.. and then HIT IT HARDER. Happy Running! Grace H. Team No Training read more
The Nike Women's Half Marathon 2015 as told through group text between runners: Runner 1: At Mile 6, feel great, how are you guys? Runner 2: Still running at Mile 7. Might be my personal record! Me: Mile 5, it smells like weed and bacon here. Awesome. Runner 1: At Mile 9.5. Sooo there's this hill. Runner 2: Mile 10, crying and walking, find me. Me (after an hour cause I am slow): Mile 9.5. WTF WTF WTF WTF... Let me warn you, you may start this race on a high and end on a low note. The hill on Mile 9 is a dream killer. Especially when you train on the East Coast and there is nothing comparable to this Hill to run up. Otherwise, it was a fun race. This is my third Nike Half Marathon and first one in San Francisco, although I tried entering the lottery every year since it started. There are many perks to the race, such as: 1-Prompt start. I was in the first corral and we were off four minutes after the gun. 2-Great shirts. The tank top was awesome this year and I could get it personalized. You have to size up cause they run small. 3-Scenic course. You run by Alamo Square, through the city and over to the Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge. You actually run through pine tree forests that smell like pine sol. Even the hill from hell was gorgeous and offered great panoramic views. The route has changed over the years so I heard this route was less scenic than before. 4-SFPD-watching cops yell at bikers that wander on the course and cut off runners is awesome. Also they gave out lots of high fives. 5-The spectators and volunteers. The volunteers are really pumped up and avid huggers and screamers, and the spectators had great signs. 6-Easy bag check- it follows you from the start line to the finish. 7- the necklace- Tiffany's! If you don't like the style of your finishers necklace you can easily sell it on ebay for a few hundred $. Mine is personally not coming off. Now here are some lows: 1-No expo. They used to have an expo in union square, but I heard as years and years go on there are less sponsors and less swag.Packet pick up are at various locations in the city and the south bay. 2-They offer one earring as swag. I did not say "pair" just one. Basically you have to go to different pick up sites and Nike locations to get other earrings. According to rumors, they keep running out, so basically I am walking around with one earring like George Michael. 3-Not the most spectator friendly race. As you get close to Chrissy field, you will have zero cell reception so it is hard to get in touch with people waiting. The area around the finish line is small given the number of spectators, so it is hard to find a spot. 4-they charge $20 for the shuttle back to Union Square, it is quite a walk to the shuttles and a long wait. Some info for dudes, although it has "women" in the title, there are guys running and they all seem to have a great time. One dude yelper claimed that women were mean to him, the race was too "feminist" and complained about the male firefighters in tuxedos at the end. Basically his flawed argument is that there is no need for women only races anymore. Women were excluded from long distance racing until the 70s when they got their own races to prove their uteruses do not fall out after strenuous exercise. Gentlemen, Don't listen to him, we are not pelting dudes with tampons and giving them stink eye. Yes, the race is geared towards women, but the idea is to support each other and have fun so come out and race with some gorgeous ladies!! Also, if you're wondering what to do the finishers necklace, you could always give it to your gf/wife, or if you're single you could save it for future girlfriend (although this depends on how far in the future cause the necklace says 2015 on it) or just sell the necklace on ebay and get back the $$ you spent on the bib. All in all, glad I did this race and recommend you add this to your racing bucket list. read more
After 5 years of waiting, I was finally able to partake in the Nike Women's Half Marathon. This year the run was only a half. Not sure why the full was removed. Additionally, the route changed. I have to say, this is the most organized, fun and best run I have ever done in my number of races over the years. As an injured runner, I was skeptical with all the hills. Sure there were hills on this course, but I have experienced worse (i.e. San Fran RnR back in April - HOLY HILLS!) and I was pleasantly surprised how there were less hills (in my opinion). For those who live in the area, there was the option of early packet pick up. COOL! We arrived Friday afternoon and was able to pick up my packet with ease in Union Square. Super easy peasy to pick up the packet. The tank runs small so we had to go to Niketown to exchange it (across the street and on the 5th floor). The lines for the various booths were short (compared to Saturday!). Spent about 15 mins at the expo and went to Niketown to exchange tank and buy souvenir gear. The window has all 25K runners' names, so look for your name by first name, and take a photo! Of note: runners do not get comped shuttle service back to the start line (Union Square). Had to buy $20 shuttle ticket. BOO! Race morning, my hotel was a block away from the start. I'm glad they check wristbands for each corral. Made the start a lot cleaner! I started in the 9-9:59 corral and we didn't start until 650a (race started at 630a). It was a little crowded at first, but as you ran the streets it opened up. Every couple miles there was a water station. I was really impressed that some of the stations had luna bars! What a lifesaver!!! I was starving my mile 5 and I ate a half of a luna bar. GU blocks were also available too. Really happy with the organization and the cheers along the race! Perfect weather, so glad that panned out well! It was cool and as we approached Golden Gate Park there was a little mist, which I totally loved since I was getting warm. Ran in tank, shorts, compression socks and arm sleeves. Could have ran without sleeves since I felt warm. Watch out for Mile 10 with that big azz hill!!! OUCH!!! Then you're coasting downhill and then flat course until the end of the course. The finish line was smooth and I didn't feel crowded. The volunteers were amazing. Cheer squads were amazing as well! The blue box and Tiffany's necklace was definitely worth the experience! Would totally love to do this again perhaps in DC! The walk to the shuttle seems like it was 3-4 blocks. After running a half, you still need to walk a distance for the shuttle?! UGH!!! Lots of streets were closed, so take the shuttle back! This is a fun race to coast. Definitely NOT PR-able. Lots of picture opportunities and I did take photos!!! =================================================== STATS: Official finish time: 2:21 read more
13 years ago
111. Three words: Hills, hills, hills! I was completely uninformed about the deets of the course, and blindly signed up for my first race. The NWM has been happening for a few years now, and it has gotten better and better. Get your packet early before the traffic so you won't have to wait in line forever. The expo is pretty packed, but it's something worth checking out. You can get snacks and complimentary samples from the sponsors. There were 25,000 people running the NWM last year, so you can imagine the chaos on the day of the race (http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=AZAHewMubeTX_vXHHbPIKg&userid=qEdxnnadZ2tcU9JOXjnGdw). The corrals are labeled, but you can start wherever you want because no one checks. So obviously, there were people in front of me who had planned on walking this entire race. Not safe and not cool! The course of the race was padded with adequate water and snack stations. You can grab Luna bars, oranges, and gel shots, which is great if you need a pick me up to finish the rest of the course. At the end of the race, you get a bunch of food thrown at you, literally-- bagels, water bottles, chocolate, bananas, coconut water, chocolate milk, more Luna bars... I forget the rest. But it's enough to hydrate and refuel your body. What really sucked was that there was no service in the area near the finish line, so there was no way of contacting other people. It took me forever to find my friends. Good thing Verizon was stationed there to offer runners their phones. I ended up getting plantar fasciitis for two weeks and it HURT. A lot. But I wasn't wearing appropriate shoes for this race, so that was my fault. It's a big race, so obviously there are parts that are going to be a bit disorganized. But you run for a great cause and you get an amazing experience out of it. I don't even need to mention the cool necklace you get in the end. This race has definitely got me hooked on running. __________ My 2¢: - They have student discounts. Take advantage of it if you're still in school! - Don't buy the shuttle ticket. If you are okay with public transit, take the 5 by Muni. It's only $2. Transfers included. read more
19 years ago
THANK YOU Nike for presenting me with numerous FIRSTs today: FIRST half marathon. FIRST free massage. FIRST wave of emotion that comes w/spectators cheering & motivating. FIRST feeling of true camaraderie with thousands of women. FIRST time running through my knee pain. FIRST sense of true athletic accomplishment. FIRST teal Tiffany box. read more
14 years ago
Well the time has come, for me to update me review :) This was my first year entering the NWM raffle and finishing a full marathon and it won't be my last :) I was pleased with all aspects of this race. Communication is done mainly via their Facebook and Twitter pages with minimal emails until a couple weeks leading up to the race. I arrived at the Expotique Saturday morning at round 9A, checked in and had my bag/bib in hand within minutes. I waited in a long line to take a picture which was to be picked up at the Lady's Footlocker up the street then loss my photo claim stub - bummer!!! I visited the Luna, Safeway and Nuun stations - they were all great. Safeway gave away awesome reusable snack packs filled with trail mix. I also made sure to go across the street to Niketown and check out my name on the wall and sign the large scroll inside. I later returned to the expo and waited in line at the Paul Mitchell station - this was a long wait (over an hour) but I had time to kill - the stylist were all doing great jobs. I was able to have my hair curled and sit down for awhile to be primped and pampered. RACE DAY: Finding my assigned corral was easy and the course was better than I expected. I was a little worried about the hills and although one of the climbs was nearly a mile long - I didn't have any problem with any of them. They all seemed to be a gradual increase in incline. There were plenty of water stations though I didn't stop at one until around mile 13 to refill my bottles. I did pick up 2 Luna bars at around miles 8 and 17 or wherever the other Luna stop was. I also picked up Cliff shots at one station until I realized I had taken "margarita" and I just didn't feel like tasting margarita that early in the morning so I dumped them. The cheer squad areas were a nice touch for those who had family and friends there to support them. I believe they are shuttled along the course to different areas at different times. You may need to purchase a spectator pass for this. I personally loved the power song areas - hearing a power song along the course is just the pick me up I needed at certain points. I wish there were more of these :) I know they gave away Ghirardelli chocolate at one point and even had a bra exchange, I didn't stop at either of these. I did notice the pavement was not very smooth around miles 16-19 leading up to Lake Merced and 23-26, which felt very uncomfortable after your feet and ankles are already sore. I kept looking for smooth areas to run, but there really weren't any. This was the path beside the ocean and although beautiful - I was really wishing the concrete were smoother. I loved the signs along the course, they were cute, motivational and funny - referencing skinny jeans, Tiffany necklaces and hot firefighters :) You know all the things to keep a girl going ;) There were plenty of restroom stops but the lines often looked very long - I stopped to use one at mile 23 and there were only a couple of people in line. Plenty of med stops as well - thank gosh I didn't need to stop at any of these, but there if you needed them. I did notice that the TNT presence is very large as I had read in many reviews outside of Yelp for this particular race. They are all in purple and have their names on their tops. Their coaches are extremely supportive but hearing "Go Team" for 26.2 effing miles began to really wear on my nerves. They don't cheer for other runners but I didn't notice them walking in groups of blocking the course as mentioned from previous years. FINISH LINE: Approaching the finish line after 26.2 miles was great, part of me wanted to cry as I saw a few others crying. It is such an accomplishment. I was terrified at what it would feel like and anxiety got the best of me leading up to race day but now that I know the course and what 26.2 miles feels like I know there is nothing to be worried or scared about. I really held back and listened to my body because I wanted to ensure I finished the entire course so I played it very safe and recovery couldn't have been any better than it's been. Seeing the firefighters in their tuxedos and stacks of Tiffany boxes tied with bows sitting atop silver platters just for us :) is such a treat. I didn't spend much time in the Finishers village. I received my finishers t-shirt, which I was were different from those who did the half. I do think those who complete the full should be given something different. I browsed around the finisher gear boutique area very quickly, passed the Verizon area where they were giving out free red Yoga mats :) very nice! and headed toward the shuttle transpo back to Union Square. This seemed like the longest ride ever but hoping off of that bus, I knew I had completed what I had come to complete :) I can't wait to enter the raffle again next year! This is a race that I would love to do again. read more
10 years, they must be doing something right... To know about it is one thing, to experience it is another. I equate this race with hills and cold weather, which is exactly what I got a taste of this past Sunday. A lovely little email arrived saying I was "IN!" And that my credit card has been charged $175! Yeah, you read that right. The charity to the Lymphoma society doesn't come cheap, nor does the Tiffany's necklace you receive at the end. So, I'm in. Book a hotel fast, they sell out quickly and prices are already through the roof. It is suggested to get one near the start, which is in Union Square. Although, unlike most races, the ending is in a completely different area..go figure, another logistical nightmare. Only $20 for transportation, just add it to the tab. It's time to find the Expotique, as it has been dubbed by Nike, a huge tent that takes over Union Square. In addition, there are a few smaller tents for packet pick up, transportation ticket purchases, and goody bag pickups. The Expotique is literally a social media maven's Heaven. All the top sponsors had booths and were giving away free swag, Paul Mitchell was even doing hair - braids and beachy waves and all. All the free stuff was okay, nothing was great. They should have just had a red carpet directly from the Expotique to Nike Town. Cause once you've exhausted yourself with the crowd, you HAD to walk over there and go find your name on the wall...it's a MUST! What race starts at 6:30AM? Oh this one. There are four corrals, not including the ones for sub-6 miles and the professional athletes. But don't be fooled, just because they are based on time, people don't care. Walkers will take it upon themselves to be in the first corral and clog up the beginning of the race; it's no big deal (insert serious sarcasm). The race is as promised. Cold. Hills. Women. Who knew men would do this race, I didn't? But they do, it's smart for a single guy - tons of women of all shapes and sizes and half naked or in really tight clothes! The two miles are really, really, really congested. No matter the effort, you aren't going anywhere fast. After that it starts to spread out somewhat, but honestly, the whole race people are around you. It's not bad, but if you're really trying for a time, push your way to be right behind the fasties! Read the elevation map if you want to foresee your tortuous future. Or just go with the flow. There are some serious hills, mile 3, 6-ish, and 10. They are almost bad enough to make you start to walk, but stay strong Girl, you'll get through them! Tons of freebies throughout the course. Some notable, yet random offerings, chocolate, Luna bars, oranges and wipes, shot bloks, Nunn, and some other stuff I can't remember because I didn't take anything! There are water stations about every 2 miles, thanks to all the awesome volunteers who were out there so early and on this cold, foggy day to give is some hydration! The spectators are out there in droves. There really aren't many places where someone is NOT cheering, clapping, screaming, signing, cheering, picture taking, or sign holding for the runners. It's really great to see their faces on the hills; it's definitely something to look forward too. Another cool touch is around mile 11. They have mats that you run over and your name comes up on a huge screen, under a little note of encouragement. Although I almost sprained my neck waiting for my name, which I never got to see, I still appreciated the gesture. The End. The Finale. What everyone is really looking forward too. No, not the finish line. No, not the Whole Foods, water filled sports bottle. No, not my Nike finisher shirt, but Yes...my Tiffany's necklace handed to me by a handsome (if you get in the right line) fire fighter in a tux. Once that 3 seconds wears off, you can then go find another fire fighter and have your picture taken with them, maybe even a few of them. You can get creative, have them hold you, jump on their back, or just stand next to them (as boring as I did) - they are game for anything, as mine said "hey it doesn't matter, that's why we rent the tuxes"!! The finish area also has more shopping available in case you didn't get enough at the Expotique, Nike Town, Nordstrom, or Macy's. Verizon was out there with free phones to use to called loved ones. There are also alphabetized sections so you could meet family. This really comes in handy if you are sans phone for the race. Once you are finished oh-la-la-ing at all the finisher stuff, its best to take your foil wrapped self to the shuttle, unless you are special enough to have a ride. The shuttle, as one would think, does NOT take you back to Union Square. It takes you a few blocks out from US - why it does this, would be a great question for the organizers. Girls will do crazy or (half crazy) things for that blue box... read more
So let me start off my review by saying that I was COERCED into this painfest by my best friend Sandra. She was so good that I was pushed into signing up for the FULL thing. ugh. But you know what made the 26.2 miles all worth it? The hot, amazing, friendly firemen at the finish. Makes me want to set fire to my kitchen right about now. Nike should've made them wear full nametags at the photo booth so we could stalk... uh I mean tag them on facebook pictures. And wasn't the chocolate milk simply divine? read more
Tiffany necklaces, firemen, and San Francicso! I'm sold! This is my second year running the NWM. I did the full last year and this year committed to just the half. I love San Francisco and this race definatley shows you the beautiful city. They changed the course this year, which I thought was a but more hilly and coming from SoCal, not many hills, so training was not enough. My hips and thighs hurt! The expo was pretty cool this year! Seemed like I was going into some fashion show event. Seemed like a really small expo compared to most race expos I've gone to. I loved the names on the Nike store, I actually to to to see my name this year. Running the half marathon was fun and the city is just plain beautiful! The necklace was very pretty this year, although I did like last year's necklace too! I loved that the shirts this year distigused which race you finished. I wish they did that last year considering I did a full last year! Oh well. Overall, I think the half for this race is good because you still get a Tiffany necklace in the end. The frustrating part this year was at the end of the race because it was too crowded and the cellular service was poor for all phone services. You'd think they'd have better cell towers or something to help get cell service. It took me an hour to find my family. Le sigh. Oh and the shuttle service took forever! My family ended up walking up hill to Geary to catch the 38 muni and then the 1 muni to our hotel. Let me tell you, that hill towards Geary was WAY steeper than the hills we ran during the race. I think this will be my last NWM. It is getting too crowded and the merch is a bit overpriced. I loved the jacket I got last year, the color and landscape of the city was stitched in perfectly. Anyway, Happy 10th Anniversary NWM! read more
It was my first time and last time doing the Nike Half in San Francisco because Nike is pulling it out of SF. The weekend was epic with the various events they had. The "scavenger hunt" for the earring was a complete adventure in itself with massive lines, longer than waiting for Space Mountain at Disneyland! The race itself was so amazing with the beautiful route they have set up. When I think of San Francisco and hills I think of the steep 45 degree hills and there were no such hills that we ran. There were slight inclines at mile 9 and mile 2 and some too many turns during the beginning of the race. I understand that the streets were closed so it was a good idea that they would tell the us to go a different direction to help alleviate the traffic for drivers. The big hill in mile 10 and the cheering was absolutely the best. There were so many people and so many motivational words that I did not stop running and pushed even harder. The finish line was also epic. As I finished I was expecting a sexy and hot fireman to put my finishers medal on me, but that wasn't the case. Oh, well. Wherever Nike does the race in the following years I would love to be a part of it. read more
WOW! My very first year participating in the Nike Women's Half Marathon and I am HOOKED! I've done events like these numerous times...I love the community and the positive vibes that accompany events like this but I've never participated in this run. To me I thought it was far fetched that I would be picked to run this, then I learned that my bf's brother's gf has done this run several times with her girls. So there I was joining her group of gals along with my boyfriend's sister and we got it!! Amazing! Another great thing about participating in this run was that I was brand spankin' new to SFO! What better way to "see" the city of hills than to "run" the course throughout the beautiful city?! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ya0tA1RREWS2hkY8zVQ_Qw?select=4BdTVe7Lmez-yYWRCs-1HA#4BdTVe7Lmez-yYWRCs-1HA The three of us ladies arrived that thursday and after dropping our loot back at our Hotel we headed out to the expo. Huge tip here gals, if you can in any way pick up your packet on thursday or even friday during the day do it do it do it! It will save any wait time and frustration with the crowds of people. AND you can get in on the free stuff they offer. My favorite was the cute safeway containers they were giving with the trail mix, perfect to carry any and all snacks! Have kids, even better! The morning of the race, IMO, was really organized. The buses to drop off gear were easily found, and the volunteers that morning regulating the pace time sections were on it. The actual course was beautiful. It was a bit cold and foggy that morning but I was able to still experience all of the SFO beauty that everyone raves about. Start: it was a huge turn out! It took awhile to get all the runners through because it's pretty much a concrete jungle here but by the time we got going it was smooth sailing. On the run I was disappointed that all the bras were gone so hopefully they can provide more of that so more people can benefit from it. The photographers through out the run got some great pictures and the volunteers?! Hands down awesome! Loved the cheer squad and that the volunteers were so motivating and helpful! When we finally reached the finish line it was awesome! I've done a big race before, the Walt Disney Marathon and the Disneyland Half Marathon, both of which are incredibly organized so I was hoping and expecting it to be the same with NIKE. I was absolutely MORE than satisfied with their organization. After the finish line those firefighters were right there ready to hand us our beautiful Tiffany's boxes with our Nike Finisher's necklace! Then off to get our shirts, a good tip here is to make sure you are getting in to the correct size line for you. Then the food line. I was disappointed that there was such a huge line for the merchandise and the neutrogena stuff. But all in all this event was wonderful. I hope to participate again in it another year and maybe even DC! read more
Can you imagine yourself running through the finish line and receiving a Tiffany & Co. necklace from a hot firefighter dressed up in a tuxedo? Well no need to imagine when you can have that actually happen! This is one of many great things of running the Nike Women's Marathon. The Nike Women's Marathon helps benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society every year with this big running event. Not only do thousands of women from all around run/walk this event, but men participate in it as well :D This event hosted by Nike is a very popular and crowded race. Thousands of people gather around the morning of around 5-6am at Union Square in San Francisco to stretch before the start of the race. It is organized well in which the volunteers collect our belongings and store them in buses and we don't end up getting them until after our race at the finish line near the Pacific Ocean that is along the Great Highway. Weather is a bit gloomy and cold, but what do you expect coming from SF during the Fall Season :P SF makes it a great place to run and enjoy the view from all around. Not only were dry fit shirts and a Tiffany & Co. necklace were given out at the end of the race, but there were also bagels, bananas, water bottles, and other foods and drinks as well. Massage were given out too along with free goodies like make-up kits, sunblocks, yoga mats, etc. Throughout the race, water, gatorade, sport chews, oranges, and chewy bars were given out to the runners that passed by. And even chocolate before the last mile! There were so many supporters along the side of the run with encouraging and hilarious signs. Even drum corps, music, bands, and dancers were cheering everyone on too! When running this course, be prepared to face a few steep hills around the 6th/7th mile (I love hills), but once you hit the 13th mile (if you are planning on running the full) it is all flat ground from there! I have done the Nike Women's Marathon twice: my first half marathon (13.1 miles) in 2011 and my first full marathon (26.2 miles) in 2012. I have been a runner all my life since the 8th grade and I can never get enough of it. I was so proud of myself when I completed my first half marathon at the time of 2:04. But I was even more proud of myself when I accomplished my first full marathon the year after at the time of 4:45. To be honest, I did not train as much as I wanted to for the full marathon but I was proud of myself for not walking at all until I hit the 23rd mile because my left ankle was screaming in pain for me to stop and take a break for just a little bit. On and off I ran on an injured ankle, but sprinting to that finish line as best as I could was worth that pain. Running the Nike Women's Marathon for 2 years now has made me realize what to do/don't do and what to be aware of and here's to list a few... - TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN if you want to do well and if you are planning on running the whole thing whether it is the half or full marathon. - Start early! Start training/running early. Earlier the better! - Don't overwork yourself! You're body needs rest to recover so definitely have a rest day. - Challenge yourself. Try increasing your miles everyday. "No pain, no gain". - Have a running body/group. It's always fun to run with other people and having them motivate you or you encouraging them is always a bonus! (PS. running by yourself is fine as well, I do it often anyways.) - Carb up before race day and make sure you eat a nice healthy breakfast the morning of. - Try to arrive early on the day of the event so you can avoid crowds when checking-in your belongings. Getting there and stretching early is also a good thing and getting near the front of the start line is a plus too so you can avoid the crowd. - Last but not least, have fun! Whether you're running/walking this event, remember to have fun and enjoy the view and the people around you. Remember, you are running for a good cause! :D After running my first full, I became more determined and motivated to do another one. I have signed up for my 2nd full marathon with Nike on October 20th, 2013 and I am ready to challenge myself and get a PR for it. This year, I want to be able to run around 4 hours for the full. With proper training and focus, I think it's do-able. Anything is if you just believe right? Like what Nike always says, "JUST DO IT". read more
Oh Nike, how I love you so. This is my third year running with you and each time it has been nothing short from amazing- before, during, and after. I love the support before the run- *big announcements *motivational speaking *group effort stretching *national anthem I love the support during the run- *consistent water/ gatorade stations *snack stations (luna bar, oranges from kaiser, caramel squares from ghiradelli) *entertainment- music & dancers *cheer squad points I absolutely love the support after the run- *Tiffany necklace *pink nike dry-fit shirt *chocolate milk, bananas, juice, water, & bagels from safeway *massage booths *picture booths *and one more time, Tiffany necklace Fun fun fun!!! I still can't believe it's all for a good cause, too. read more
12 years ago
"CMON, IT'S JUST A 5k RUN WITH A 10 MILE WARM-UP", one of the spectators shouted as I ran pass. Thanks man, I needed that. This was my first 1/2 marathon and what an experience...It was quite a contrast from the other 10k runs I've done, which were events on a much smaller scale. So with 25,000+ participants, I was expecting UTTER chaos but it was more like organized chaos at worst. Prior to race day, they offered early packet pick-up at various locations, which is great for those who don't live in the city. I went to the one at Nike Stanford and they also carried the limited edition SF gear so I was able to shop the collection in advance. The day before the run (Saturday), I headed to the city and attended the Expo I had heard SO much about. It wasn't the greatest experience because it was way too crowded and there were long lines for everything (samples, photo-booth opportunities, free makeovers). I would suggest attending on Thursday, if you can, to optimize your experience... After checking out a few booths, my sister and I decided we had better vamoose :[ Race day...I booked a hotel in Union Square so the start-line was only 2 minutes away. The course was challenging...but it's SF so I knew what I was getting into. Having said that, the hill at mile 10 was still a doozy !#$%. At most mile markers, there was something waiting for the runners....orange slices, chocolate truffles, medic, electrolytes, a band, DJ, or what have you...so it made the course more lively! I also loved the excitement and energy from the spectators & volunteers. The crowd was truly world class! Finish line/village...They had a tent with foam rollers so you could stretch post-run--sweet! There wasn't much of a line for it as there was for everything else...Especially the massage tent + the line for the photo opp with the fire-fighters in tuxedos. I had been worried about the supposed spotty cellphone reception but, thankfully, didn't experience any problem. Nike also had designated a meet-up spot, sectioned off by alphabetical order, so I was able to find my family members easily. Parking near the finish is cuhrazy and non-existent so I'm truly grateful for the family friends who picked me up. Overall, it was a great first 1/2 marathon experience, hills and long lines and all. This race will always have a special place in my heart & the finisher necklace and race tank make for cool souvenirs. If you're on the fence about whether to do it or not...I'd say go all in and train, train, train! It supports a good cause (LLS) and it's worth experiencing once and ...dare I say it... maybe even a second time around :) read more
13 years ago
This was my 4th year running this race. The weather was perfect. A little bit of fog in the morning, but it burned off to reveal a gorgeous day! As always, there are a ton of people out there cheering you on. All of the team in training, families and friends are out their rooting you on until the finish line. Whenever I hit the wall, I hear their words of encouragement, and it pushes me to the finish. Once I get to the last stretch and see the finish line, my eyes light up. I see the firefighters in tuxes waiting for all the runners with the pretty blue Tiffany boxes on silver platters. That just makes all the aches and pains worth it! This event is always very organized. Once you cross the finish line, you get to different stations where they give you your finisher's necklace, remove your timing chip, get water, and grab food(banana, bagel, cliff bars, granola). And this year, Safeway was the big sponsor, so in their efforts to go green, they gave each finisher a reusable shopping bag. This is one of my favorite races, and I look forward to running it again next year!!! read more
11 years ago
My second half marathon ever, and I loved it! I'm definitely planning on doing it next year. Overall gorgeous and I wasn't even as sore as I was after my first! So sign up! And only read on if you want all the nitty gritty deets. I hate that it started at 6:30am bc I'm not a morning person/runner, but that's my personal issue and I can deal. It was dark the entire time we waited to start & few minutes into the race. It was slightly cold, but nothing I couldn't handle in my shorts & long sleeve. The weather definitely felt nice during the run. When you register you pick your pace which dictates which wave you start with. (You can always go to a slower/later wave but not the opposite). The waves were so big (too many participants) that it took about 15 minutes for each wave to start. Being in wave 3, I didn't cross the start line until 7am.. Could've slept in a little! Also because there were so many people the start was even slower than normal.. Walking pace for quite awhile! Super annoying to waste energy weaving through people.. Even worse, the volunteers somehow messed up and rerouted our wave an extra third of a mile! So my running app (Endomondo) said I ran a total of 13.5 miles. I ran about 15 minutes slower this race, which was expected bc of the hills. I was not expecting the first 3 miles to be mostly uphill though! But it flattened out until about mile 7/8 with slight incline. But the big killer was around mile 10!!! Which I walked! This was also where most people stopped to take selfies bc you can see the Golden Gate Bridge. Then flat until the end with extra entertainment! (Including my fave: lion dancers!) The high price of the race is offset by the Tiffany's necklace you receive in my mind.. I just wish there was a way to deal with the crowd. The photographers definitely did a good job! I loved my photos and you can't beat "free." I thought there were too many ppl and every time I smiled for the camera they seemed to be taking a photo of someone else.. But I had plenty of pics! They do have food (gels, chocolate truffles, peanut butter snacks) at the hydration stations, so I didn't bring any gels or extras with me. After the race, be prepared to walk since the streets are blocked off for the race and no one can drive in to pick you up. Pre-race: I like that they have multiple packet pick up days.. But it didn't apply to me sadly bc I'm from out of town. I went to Westin Hotel Saturday around 2pm.. Crazy line! But it went by very quickly, apparently the Internet was down before I got there. Plenty of signs and volunteers helping the process go smoothly. I went across the street to Union Square after for photo ops. The most popular, "we run" sign had a 20 minute wait.. But it makes the photos cuter since no one else will be in it. Then I headed to Nike Town to check out my name on the window! Too cool. Then dropped big bucks on race gear! Which is annoying bc they have different/nicer colors after the race! I am sad though bc I didn't know the details about the earring scavenger hunt :( so another negative about Nike race was they don't give out enough details in the emails/confirmation they send. read more
15 years ago
I would love to have given this marathon 5/5 stars but there were a few things that I wish would have been better organized or communicated to the runners. Many people were walking throughout the race and were in large groups that would block others from getting around them. Our mile start times were not even enforced in the beginning of the race, so many people were in different slots. Overall, the race was incredibly fun and empowering to see so many beautiful women coming together to run for a good cause. I loved the Kaiser motivational signs. I appreciated the amount of supporters on the sidelines-a definite boost of confidence and support. I enjoyed the scenery throughout the whole race and the giveaways. I am still very thankful for the oranges because they were so refreshing and gave me that boost that I needed to keep on going. Let's not forget the expo, probably the best I have been too. Pom had a photo booth, free Neutrogena consults with free products and great NWM Nike clothing at the store. Last but not least...the finishing touch of handsome men handing out the little blue boxes. ;) read more
13 years ago
Wheeee! My first NWM completed. Ever since I registered and got into the NWM, everyone who ran it has been telling me about how rough the course is. Well, it's true! This is by far the hardest race for me yet, the hills are really killer but you feel pretty badass running up and with all uphills comes with downhills as well (just be easy on your knees!). What is there not to LOVE about the NWM? + Over the top Nike extravaganza Expo in Union Square + Awesome official merchandise (I went home with a pink running top and the blinged out Nike Dunk Sky Hi) + Chocolate bars on the course + A pretty scenic route over all (you start right next to Tiffany's in Union Square and run all the way to the beach) + Cute finisher's Dri Fit shirt. I know a lot of people have ish to say about this year's mustard-ish color but I happy to love it! + Tiffany necklaces at the end (though I wasn't too fond of the pendant this year) handed to you by your hardworking SF firefighters Deducted one star though. Why? Well... - Once you cross the finish line, you enter into a fury of madness. I'm serious! In most races, once you cross the finish line, you're handed your medal. Not NWM. After running 13.1 mi., you have to first LINE UP for a water bottle (sponsored by Whole Foods) then you LINE UP for your Tiffany's necklace then you LINE UP for your finishers shirt and then lastly, you LINE UP for your goody bag. See? You line up quite a bit... I don't even think I'd want to line up that much on a regular day let alone after a race. - Oh yea, I paid close to $200 for registration... Will I run NWM again? Probably but a word caution to all, be prepared for hills, hills, hills! read more
17 years ago
I had a good time but it was super congested. The Expo: It was in Union Square and fairly basic. There were a few vendors but since most of the shopping could be done at Niketown there wasn't much see. I was hoping to buy a slim running pack, but couldn't find one. The Start: Also at Union Square, pretty nice. There wasn't a need to get there early, unless you're an elite, since there was a bottleneck at the start, like usual. It took us over 20min to actually pass the start. The crowd filtered off after the second mile. The Course: I'm sure the economy has hit even the biggest companies, but the port-a-potties didn't have hand sanitizer, that was disgusting. Other than being sanitary, I enjoyed it. It took us through the picturesque scenes of Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square and the Golden Gate Bridge (to name a few). If they decide to change it up, I would like the opp to run through the Golden Gate Bridge, like the SF Marathon. The Finish: I liked how we finished at Golden Gate Park but I didn't enjoy the crowd. Squeezing all those people through that area was more tiresome than finishing the actual run. The Goodies: Finishers got a Dri-Fit T-shirt and a Tiffany's Necklace, really cool. There were also a whole bunch of companies who had volunteers hand out granola, a reusable bag, and bottles of juice, water and chocolate milk. It was a nice run and I had fun, but the volunteers at the finish added to all the traffic. I don't remember any of the companies that were handing out their product because we basically had to get the items and keep moving because if we didn't, we would have been trampled. If all of it was in one bag, the finish wouldn't have been as congested and as far as marketing, I would have remembered who was there. Tips: -Get a ride to the start/from the finish or take the Muni. The line for the bus back to Candlestick Park was ridiculous. -The Men's Dri-Fit Finishers' Shirt is fitted, it was an obstacle trying to exchange mine for a larger size after I got through the chaos. -BYOWW: Be sanitary, bring your own wet-wipes. PS: To the company that gave out the chocolate milk - that was some amazing stuff. Thanks! read more
One week before the race, I scored a bib from a friend and was over the moon excited. The last time I actually participated in this race was in 2009 and I ran the entire course without knowing I had a herniated (L4) and bulging disk (L5). I didn't get a PR but I finished. Albeit slow and in a LOT of pain but I made it. 2009 went down as the year of pain! Fast forward two years. While I've just recently completed several Olympic Distance Triathlons over the past few months, I have not technically trained for a half marathon distance. Nevertheless, I felt pretty good about it and knew I was going to be ok. The race course itself is spectacular and very scenic. I don't mind all the hills along the course - signing up or running the Nike Women's Marathon, you know they're there and come to expect them...but if you were to ask, I think my least favorite miles are from 7-9. Just because they are the least scenic and fewer spectators to cheer you on. Once you round that corner to that stretch of highway along the coast and onto miles 10 and beyond, those two miles are a distant memory. Since I was in a lot of pain in 2009, I noticed a lot more this time around and pretty much ran the entire thing with a HUGE smile on my face. As a fellow Team in Training member, I loved all the purple on the course! The environment is electric and you can't help but want to run! run! run! This energy inspires you to keep pushing forward. And for me, it reminded me that I am a strong person and can overcome a lot of obstacles in life. Just two short years before, I was in a lot of pain and was bed ridden for months, recovering from surgery and going through months and months of PT and core conditioning--and have since made the right choices to get healthy again. So, here I was doing my first half marathon since then and I was so proud. The signs along the way; Fearless, sexy, fierce inspire, courage...were my personal cheerleaders reminding me how far I've come. Crossing the finish line was epic. My reward...not the typical finishers medal but getting handed a signature Tiffany Blue Box by a handsome fireman in a tux. Nice! This has to be one of my favorite half marathon courses around. The event is very well executed and seems to go without issue. The weather happened to be perfect this year. Sure the start is a huge cluster but what do you expect with 20k+ runners? If you ever plan to do this race. Make sure you train properly for hills and be prepared for your cell phone not to get coverage. Especially at the finish area. Have a plan to meet up with anyone who comes out to support you. It could get ugly without no cell communications. Overall, a great race where $9M was raised for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and will undoubtably change the lives on many. I hope to do this race again for many years to come. Go TEAM! ...Oh and if you read my prior review of my visit to the hospital the day before. Yes, I completed the half marathon with my broken fingers and all! FEARLESS! = ) Relentless for a cure: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sd/sealtri12/sharon read more
Bestest Race Ever (that I've experienced)! I was one of the luckies who Ran SF Nike style. My friends and I joined Team B.Strong in the journey to trek the SF hills in 2014. I saw why most of the running population try to get in to Nike Women's Marathon. I repeat - Run Nike SF = Bestestes race ever! Race course: I was told the course changed this year by previous participants from 2012/2013. Longer and higher climbs, but you can't feel the burn coz you're too distracted - except Mile 10 - that was bum killer. Magnificent views throughout the course, however! Weather: Cool and misty (no fog this year & never heat). By the time I finished the race, I was drenched - mist and sweat... sexy kinda right? ;P Pre-race: Nike did a spectacular job organizing the bib pick-up considering this was a huge race. Of course, expect to wait in line for everything, but truly... wait times didn't last over 15 minutes. My team and I came later at night an hour before they closed. Booths included Nike shop displays, temporary tattooing, Paul Mitchell hair styling, Neutrogena make-over-ing, as well as a couple of charities fundraising. Swag: $25 giftcard, tank, miscellaneous coupons and goodies. Race Day: Tip: It is wise have a hotel close to the start line. Oober crowded. There are gatekeepers all over so you can't climb the fences to get in to the corrals. As with many crowded races, corals get backed up so you may be slow to start, but once you start cutting through everyone... you can take off like Superwoman - cape and all. Course support whether it's for fuel, hydration or for a quick high five is nothing short of excellent. Close to the finish line they provide a Neutrogena face wipe. I think it's cool how they have jumbotrons showing you run or flashing your name while you run. Post-race: Again, more changes. Most obvious one being the firefighters NOT waiting for you right at the finish line. Instead, there are students who provide you with a water bottle filled with H-two-O. You also get a swag bag full of sample goodies (cookies, powerbars, nuts). Then you walk towards a line of more students. There, they check off your bib that they've provided you with "the necklace". Then... they direct you towards the point/area of no return. This is like a black hole type grass area where you lose all phone signals. TIP: Make sure you let your friends/team know where to meet or you'll be walking the park like crazy looking for each other. There is a lost and found booth... maybe meet around there? The Photo Op: Aaah... hot firefighters found! This is probably the longest I've waited in line throughout the entire experience. Women get creative when taking a picture with a "hot" firefighter. Some photo ops include these muscular knights lifting a woman (picture husband lifting wife across the threshold) and some firefighters were asked to kneel as if they're proposing with the Tiff. After all that excitement, everyone is asked to walk many more steps to the shuttle bus that will take you to the start line area. It felt like eternity to get to the shuttle. Tip: Make sure you grab some goodies on the way back to the hotel. Coz you will be starving. Will definitely do this race again... and again... and again! read more
I RUN TO BE...FIERCE! This was my first half marathon and by far the longest distance I've ever run. The lead-up to the weekend was great. The weather was PERFECT. There was a huge expotique that started Thursday and ended on Saturday for race bib pick-ups, free samples, and stands set up by the sponsors. I was a little disappointed by the expo since I had gone a few years ago with my cousin and the expo was much better. This year seemed to be so much more commercial and crowded. On race day, my cousin and I skipped the pre-race warm-up, but came down from our hotel room about 20 minutes before the start. We were met with a huge crowd. It was hard to get to the corrals. I was stuck and so was she. She wanted to get a photo of me starting but it was impossible. I didn't cross the start line until 16 minutes after 7 am. The participant total was around 22,500 women and a few good men. The hills were not as bad as I thought they would be, partly because it's easier to run up them, than walk. Navigating around people wasn't too hard but it was frustrating when people started to walk on the left side. Follow runners etiquette! There was a station along the run that was swapping out sports bras for a new Nike sports bra. If I had known I'd have worn one I wanted to part with. Oh well. Team in Training has a huge presence at this race and it was great that they cheered everyone on. The only issue was that there were purple shirts EVERYWHERE. The most hazardous parts of the race weren't the hills, but the aid stations where people lined up for water and Gatorade. It was a hazard since people threw their cups on the ground and it became slippery. The great thing about this race besides the gorgeous views of SF is that the finishers' medal is a unique necklace designed by Tiffany & Co handed to you by a fireman in a tuxedo. There's a different pendant design every year so this is a coveted race. Every finisher also gets a Nike Dri-Fit shirt as well. The post-race expo was ok. There was a ton of freebies at the end like fruit, bagels, Gatorade recovery shakes, and water. There were massage stations and the Lite Pom station was serving Effen Vodka/Pom drinks. There was a lot of people and it was chaotic. We tried to look up my results at the results tent, but the site kept crashing. The Cheer Me On feature didn't work during the race. It posted to my FB after I finished which was worthless. We ended up catching the MUNI for $2 instead of paying for the $20 shuttle ticket. This race is hard to get into if you aren't raising $3K for Team in Training. The proceeds go towards the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. It's a lottery to get in though; maybe I'll try to run it again in the future. read more
Oh my god, Nike finally did it. They put on an organized event and got all of be runners through the start line within an hour! For any other runner, that sounds insane, but if you've ever run this before, then you know it's normally a disaster. I like the newer course (second year of this course) and the finish at the Marina Green. The hill at mile 10 was a killllllllllllller. But, the NTC coaches and lots of people were there to help people get through it. The finishers village was spread out. There was not a bottleneck to get the necklace -- yay! Thanks for having early bib pick up too. I went to the regular one in Union Square but it's a nice option for those that can pick them up. Nicer necklace this year than in 2013. Run it if you can and hope that the weather is beautiful. Oh, and get your hill training on y'all! read more
I hadn't run a half marathon since the 2012 Long Beach Half and wasn't really looking to do another organized race again but some friends dragged me out of retirement and convinced me to run (lookin' at chu, Alice C). We formed a team because we'd heard it's easier to get in and "Worst Pace Scenario" was born. Picking up our bibs and shirts was easy, but it would've been easier if they'd mailed them it to us, like they were originally going to do. We liked all the photo op stations they had, which were fun. Checking out the Nike Store was cool too but I can't believe they didn't give us any coupons or anything--everything was so dang expensive! Speaking of which, this is by far the most expensive race I've done, including the LA and NY marathons. 200 bones, baby, but I guess we gotta pay for those Tiffany necklaces somehow :/ On that note, even though this is called "Women's Half Marathon" men are welcome to join and I saw quite a few on the course, mostly with their significant others. But I wonder what kind of swag the men get? Maybe they can run at a discount if they don't want the necklace? If anyone has the answer to this, I'd like to know. The morning of the race was easy because we were staying at a hotel nearby, but those of us in the slower corrales had to wait SO long to start! Standing around for an hour before actually running sucked, but with a race of this size it's to be expected. I'd run the SF Half before and this course was much like it except in reverse: the killer Presidio hill happened at mile 10, instead of earlier in the race. Having run up and and down other hills I was pretty much burnt by then and barely shuffled up but once that was cleared it was literally all downhill into Chrissy Field. GREAT view of the Golden Gate Bridge here, though--almost worth the torture. Water station support throughout the race was good, and we'd run into an occasional treat station--my favorite was "Shuffle for the Truffle" around mile 11 where Whole Foods was handing out truffle chocolates. It was certainly a challenging course overall and you do get a good sense of accomplishment afterwards. After the finish line they got the people through pretty fast, with many lanes handing out the necklaces and post-race goody bags. The bag check area was at the far end, which was good for dispersing the crowd even further. We briefly toyed with the idea of taking pics with the firemen with our necklaces but the lines were so long and we were pressed for time, so alas. The post-race area could've had a more festive atmosphere--people were just milling around but there was no music or anything like that, kind of boring. They also could've used more trash cans; we were looking for places to throw away our banana peels and whatnot but were hard pressed to find any near the bag check area. So that was it; I'm now officially retired again. STEPH JUDGEMENT: A decently organized race with good swag, but spendy. read more
ZOMG! Did I just complete 26.2 miles? This was my 1st ever marathon! Weather was PERFECT running weather, thank goodness!! The sun only peaked out a bit to smile on us and went back behind the clouds. I was apart of the RunClub SF and loved that I got to have a seperate clothes check in. They had a great prep station full of running ammenities ready for us (vaseline, hair ties, sunblock, etc) in the morning. We rode the 38 bus and there was tons of traffic (expected) towards union square. Ben and I started in the run club start which was right behind the 6-7:30 runners so we passed the start line at the 1:00 mark. Not bad at all. The hills- everyone told me they would be hell if i didnt train for them--I was cursing myself for not following their advice. I did 0% hill training for this race. I trained for 4 months and never integrated one hill for this race. And boy did I pay! I got through all the hills in the presidio but there were plenty more towards the beach-the downhills, the uphills--they were all tough to get through. Silly me thinking I could just plow through them! Wrong! By mile 16 I was pooped. The hills had wiped me out. I thought "Common Amy! Its only 10 more miles" These were the 10 hardest miles ever. It also didnt help that there is a lot less cheering and support for the second half of the race. Everything is kind of bunched in the first half of the race leaving the full marathoners with only their own will to keep running. I did however, appreciate the Safeway signs that said "You own the road today because..." followed by signs like "you've gone through a pair of shoes" "because you've had to paint your toenails black to hide bruises" "because you gave up sleeping in" etc. By mile 20 I was beyond pooped, i was putty. Finally, Ben and I crossed the finish line and it was awesome. I didnt feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment like I thought I did, just soooo happy to finally finish and get some R&R! Awesome Things: The Choir in the first mile. The Bagpipers in the 2nd mile. The cheerleaders doing crazy cheer moves! The port-a-pottes--OMG the more the merrier in a race filled with 20,000 women (and some men) All the student volunteers handing out the water/gatorade at the aid stations were awesome! They were friendly, enthusiastic and pretty thoughtful to the runners. The crowd of people along the presidio! The course was saturated with TNT supporters/coaches/runners which I have no qualms with except they seemed to only cheer for their own people. The presidio crowd was my favorite since there were a lot of regular people cheering all the runners on in general. Oh I guess this was the spectator cheer area at mile 4! Loved the Luna Stations on the race, the other stations: chocolate mile and oranges passed out by kaiser were nice additions to the race as they gave it variety. It was beautiful to finally see the finish line and be greeted by firemen holding tiffanys necklaces, downing a banana, getting my finisher's tee (which was a beautiful turquoise this year) and finally resting in the safeway stretching stations. Those pink mats felt soooo goood to sit on. There were other booths that I was too tired to go to because of lines: photobooth, massage, food vendors, etc. Speaking of Nike+... After the hills, I noticed that my Nike+ was about 2 miles ahead. Im assuming because my stride got me a lesser distance due to the hills? Anyway it was annoying hearing the ipod tell me "Congratulations you have just finished your marathon..." when i was just hitting mile 23. So when I finished the whole thing, it said I had completed 29 miles! so off...ohwell! Finding your time online is damm near impossible from what I hear in these other reviews but I know my time since my sister took a picture right at the finish line! I was too delirious at the end and I had no idea what the time said, i only knew after i saw the picture she took that my time was 5:40! She waited for me for almost 2 hours to cross since I took longer than anticipated and got the most perfect shot by standing in a restricted area. LOL. Betty is awesome! Thanks Bitty!!! * I found the webpage thanks to twitter: http://raceresults.eternaltiming.com/index.cfm/20091018_Nike_Womens_Marathon.htm * Ben and I ended truimptantly and I love him that much more for enduring 26.2 miles with me! read more
14 years ago
12 years ago
Advance warning: this review might be a little biased, because I ran in DC 2013/2014, and I loved it so much that I'm a brand ambassador for the college program in SF this year (which means there's a STUDENT DISCOUNT after the jump)! I can't say enough good things about the Nike series! Amazing finisher's prizes, cute guys, beautiful course, entertainment along the run, great sponsors, plenty of fun! The Expotique (their fancy name for packet pickup) was an event itself! The entire weekend was centered around their runners, and it felt like they really put a lot of effort into making it a unique race for women. Before the race, I had never run more than 6 miles - the course made it a great one for first-timers, but the corrals allow more experienced runners to race for time. So if you're hooked, head over to nike.com/events/register/werunsf If you have a valid academic ID (or if you're a 2014 grad) use the brand ambassador code KATI and get a $25 discount plus GUARANTEED REGISTRATION - that's right, students don't have to do random draw! read more
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