Four years ago, organizers of the The San Francisco Marathon (tm) had the perfect idea to increase the popularity of the event back to what it was in the early 1980s. They re-designed the course to include a downtown start/finish line and more views of the city’s landmarks.

But one thing was missing: a trip across the famous Golden Gate Bridge. So last year, race organizers incorporated an out-and-back trip of San Francisco’s most distinguished landmark. The addition was largely responsible for a spike in participation to almost 15,000 runners. A jaunt over, perhaps, the world's most famous span will again lure runners for this year's race on July 30.

To ensure that runners will have enough room on the bridge, and along the rest of the course, the race starts in waves. A new 6-hour course time limit will also reduce crowding along the course. In past years, 7-hour runners started early, resulting in congestion and frustration early in the race, particularly on the bridge. The City of San Francisco requires that the Embarcadero, where the finish line is located, re-open to traffic by noon.

Registration activity for this year's event is spirited. Under a new tiered entry system, race participants receive discounts for entering early. Each registration tier is lilmited to an available number of starting positions. As an additional bonus, entrants are eligible to win roundtrip flights on JetBlue Airways.

Last year, the readers of CitySports Magazine recognized The San Francisco Marathon (tm) with three of its Best of the Bay Awards - giving the event top honors in the categories of best local marathon, best local half-marathon and best even t-shirt.

Perhaps the most alluring feature of The San Francisco Marathon (tm) is the scenery. Runners have the opportunity to see many of the city’s premier landmarks, making this the perfect vacation marathon. The start/finish line is at Justin Herman Plaza, which is located along the Embarcadero, San Francisco’s historic fishing port. Prior to 2002, the race started and ended at Golden Park. Now, the course includes landmarks such as Fisherman’s Wharf, the Marin Green and Crissy Field, Baker Beach, AT&T Park (home of the San Francisco Giants) and the Haight-Ashbury District.

The course is considered challenging, especially the first half. The toughest hill is in the sixth mile, a 200-foot incline up to the bridge. Most of the city’s biggest hills, however, were left off the course, although a few are included. Still, the course is manageable for both first-time and experienced marathoners and much of the terrain is flat.

San Francisco’s natural “air conditioning” makes the marathon one of the coolest summertime 26.2 milers in the U.S. The average starting line temperature for the last five years is 56 degrees.

Last year’s race was won by 35-year old Tony Torres of Cedar Glen, CA in 2:31:57. The top female finisher was Sarah Hallas, 25, of Petaluma, CA in 2:56:55.

As part of the event, there will be an expo held in conjunction with the race on Friday, July 28, and Saturday, July 29, at the Justin Herman Plaza. Runners can pick up their race packets at the expo.

The marathon isn’t the only race of the day. There are two companion half marathons, one for each half of the course; a 5K run/walk; a “Progressive Marathon” for participants who run or walk 26.2 miles over a period of weeks or months, finishing their final 3.1 miles on race day; and a “Cause to Run” that allows participants in San Francisco Marathon events to raise funds for any of the event’s charities or beneficiaries.

Flash News: The 5K and Progressive Marathon will now go by the title RunSFM Karno Kids 5K and Progressive Marathon. Dean "Karno" Karnazes (also known as Ultramarathon Man, adopted from the title of his best-selling book) has been brought on board as Official Host of the marathon. Karnazes will take an energetic role in a new children's running program associated with these events.

For information on the race or to register online, visit the official website of the The San Francisco Marathon (tm) at www.runsfm.com.

Picture courtesy of MarathonFoto