California · Race calendar
Upcoming running races in and near San Francisco, California - 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and more, with dates, pricing, finish-time stats, start-line maps, and local run clubs to train with.
29 upcoming races · 3 with finish-time stats
San Francisco running is a study in contrast: you can log flat, fast miles along the Embarcadero or Crissy Field in the morning and be grinding up steep neighborhood staircases by afternoon. Golden Gate Park pulls runners from every corner of the city, and the Kezar Stadium track has been a training anchor for as long as anyone can remember.
The mild climate means there is no real off-season here - the bayfront paths, Ocean Beach promenade, and the bridge crossing stay busy year-round. That same accessibility shapes the race calendar: events lean toward the classic city distances, but the terrain underneath them ranges from fast waterfront pavement to the kind of cross-country dirt you find tucked inside Golden Gate Park.
By the numbers
The San Francisco races that stand out on the numbers: the biggest field, and the longest unbroken run of editions.
Train for it
The easiest way to a start line is a standing group run. These San Francisco clubs welcome runners of all paces.
Browse all San Francisco run clubs →How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.
Most events here offer a 5K alongside longer distances, so you are not forced into a big commitment to find a starting point. A handful also include a 1-mile option, which takes almost any pressure off. The entry fees are reasonable - the typical fee is $30 - and 24 of the races say they include a shirt, so you will not leave empty-handed.
Paid entries range from $25 to $50, with a typical fee of $30. One race is free to enter. Two races already have a price increase scheduled, so if you spot one you want, locking in early is worth it.
Published field-size figures are rare in this calendar. The Ruth Anderson Memorial Endurance Run - a free ultra with 50K, 50-mile, and 4.5-mile options - lists a field of 51 runners, giving you a sense of what a smaller, more intimate event looks like here. Most races do not publish a field size, so it is hard to say across the board.
Finish-time data is limited. The Ruth Anderson Memorial Endurance Run, which has published results, shows a median finish time of 5:45:34 across its ultra distances. Only 3 races in total have published results, so a broad picture of finish times across the whole San Francisco calendar is not available.
Fall is the busiest stretch, with 12 races from September through November. Summer and winter each hold 8. If you want the widest choice, target the fall block. Spring is the quietest window, and March in particular has just 1 race on the calendar.
Yes, 2 races around San Francisco get you off the pavement: 1 is a trail race, and 1 mixes road and trail. Surfaces are not always published, so it is worth checking a specific race before you register.
