Running in San Fran

Yes. GG Park is awesome. And there are a couple nice tracks in its vicinity.

run over golden gate bridge. can't beat the views even though the surface isn't great (concrete)

run in the presidio, nice trails etc.

GG park is great too.

Is it true there is a 400m track in GG Park as well?

Don't call it San Fran. It makes you sound like a hick.

Go run the Dipsey Trail if you want a workout.

Start at Fisherman's Warf in Downtown SF. Run through Crissy (sp?) Fields along the water, over the Golden Gate Bridge to Salsolito (sp?). It's approximately a thirteen mile run. I made it with my daughter a few years back. Enjoy a nice breakfast/brunch along the water. Take the ferry back to SF. It goes right past Alcatraz Island.

I know we are talking about San Francisco here, and I am familiar with the concept of "when in Rome" and all, but.......I still would re-word what you wrote below:

The Real ACXC wrote:

I made it with my daughter a few years back.

the embarcadero-crissy field route and Golden Gate park are both excellent for long runs. Kezar Stadium, on the inner edge of the park, has the best public track. A little Googling will tell you how to get there.

I second the Dipsey trail.

popeye doyle wrote:

the embarcadero-crissy field route and Golden Gate park are both excellent for long runs. Kezar Stadium, on the inner edge of the park, has the best public track. A little Googling will tell you how to get there.

So far, this is the best advice if you don't want to deal with public transportaion or cabs.

Champ Kind wrote:

Don't call it San Fran. It makes you sound like a hick.

What should the shortened version be then? Frisco? Help us out here. Heaven forbid we should ALL sound like hicks.

Why do you need a shortened version? Four syllables too much for you? Are you George Bush?

Locals don't shorten it, they just say it faster, like "Safr'cisco". More commonly, if the context allows, it's just "the city".

you can call it "the city" or SF

Hey Bro wrote:

I second the Dipsey trail.

Dipsey??

He asked about Running in San Francisco, not about going camping.

Look at a map of the city - there's tons of good running there. The Presidio alone can keep you busy for a while, whether you want roads, trails or a combination. GG Park is great too - fewer hills than the Presidio, one "lap" is close to 7 miles. Lake Merced is 4.5 miles around and pretty flat - but a bit remote.

Running is also good along the waterfront on all three sides, so for a long run you can connect the Presidio, GG Park and/or Lake Merced and hit only two or three stoplights in 20 miles. One of the most scenic runs you can do in any city in the world would involve Fort Mason to the Presidio via Lands End to GG Park, following the coast line the whole way.

If you want to run it just one way and make it a long run, park you car by the ballpark and jump on the N-Judah. Get off at UCSF and run down the hill past Kezar Stadium to JFK Drive, turn left and head out to the beach, then turn right and follow the coast all the way to the ballpark. Spectacular! If there's ever a run worth bringing your camera on, that's it.

To prove that San Franciscans really are friendly towards tourists (as long as they don't say "Frisco") I mapped it out for you in the rough:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1516850

Lots of opportunities to add some detours and make it longer than 15 miles, but this should get you started.

Skip the lake. I've run there and it's great. But a bit too close to the zoo and the tigers with there low walled enclosure.

Very nice, but how do I get back to where I started?

Read his posts. He said to park at the ballpark and take public transportation to UCSF and start running from there...

Nowadays, I wouldn't recommend running in the Presidio and Golden Gate Park. They've gotten quite dangerous over the past few years, lots of gang activity, drugs, shootings, etc. I would stick to the safer areas of the city, such as the Tenderloin and the Mission.